Preparing Your Pets for Holiday Travel
The holidays are fast approaching.
during parties or gatherings, the possibility of barking or jumping up on people, dealing with other pets in the home.
well with crowds, but is kennel trained, you may be able to place him in his kennel in a quiet, safe place during gatherings.
by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell
Has your canine kid been properly socialized and trained? If your dog is like ours and had a fear of children due to past abuse and you will be going to Uncle Jake’s house and 10 of your cousins will be there, it probably isn’t a good idea to expose your dog to the festivities.
This article at The Bark gives some great tips on helping you plan your trip with your pet.
When we had our first rescue, a miniature Dachshund named Hershey, we never traveled without her and our relatives knew if we were coming, she would be with us.
If your dog doesn’t know basic commands such as sit, stay, down or quiet, there is still time before the Christmas holidays to get him enrolled in a basic positive reinforcement training class.
The best option is to choose a trusted pet sitter to come to your home, which is less stress for your pets and also doesn’t expose them to illness found in kennels such as kennel cough. The Humane Society of the United States has tips for finding a reputable pet sitter.
If this is the first year you will be bringing your pet with you for the holiday celebration, the first thing you should do is talk to your hosts. Depending on various situations you may not be aware of, such as allergies or even someone having a fear of dogs, they may not want a 4-legged family member in their home.
If he hasn’t been properly socialized with other pets, that is another problem you will need to deal with, no one wants a scene like the one from Christmas Vacation in which Snots destroys the entire house (he was chasing a squirrel, but some dogs get just as crazy chasing cats).
Once you’ve gotten permission to bring your canine child, think about all of the situations your dog will be placed in with food, crowds
Planning is key; you will need to think of all of the situations your dog will be placed in and try to plan for them. If your dog doesn’t do
I
f you’re planning a trip this holiday season, you might be planning on taking your pet with you. If you are, that is great. However, you first must be sure it is ok with the friends or relatives you will be staying with.
18
SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE, EDUCATION & TRAINING, INC.
If you don’t think your 4-legged family member is up for the trip, there are plenty of reputable pet nanny and pet hotel services available.
You can also find many boarding facilities these days, but remember that the holidays are busy, so you will need to investigate pet hotels well before the holidays and book your reservation early.
