Dear Miss Behavin’: Our spunky terrier Charlie has gotten himself into more trouble than usual lately since we decorated our apartment for the holidays. Any tips on how to have an incident-free holiday season with a mischievous dog?
As you’ve discovered, there are many opportunities for Charlie to find mischief this time of year. If he is already prone to getting into things, you may have your work cut out for you. Supervision and management are going to be your best friends if you plan to keep Charlie healthy, safe, and out of trouble.
A Christmas tree can be of interest to dogs for many reasons. If your pup doesn’t try to lift his leg on a new fresh tree, he may mistake your shiny ornaments for toys. This of course could lead to swallowing small pieces or choking. If he doesn’t go for the ornaments on the tree, he may investigate the nicely wrapped and ribboned packages. When you’re home, supervise Charlie and encourage him to play with his own toys and provide treat-filled puzzle toys to keep him occupied. When you go out, lock Charlie out of the living room or put a baby gate around the tree.
You might find that it doesn’t stop at the tree! Charlie may be intrigued by the new poinsettia, holly, or mistletoe. Be careful to keep these out of reach at all times, as holly and mistletoe can be toxic, and your poinsettia could cause an upset stomach.
If Charlie has a sensitive stomach normally, try to resist the temptation to share your tasty table scraps with him. While a bite of turkey here and there could be tolerated just fine, it can add up over the holidays, especially if you have guests. Keep dog treats on hand for your visitors who may feel overcome by the spirit of giving.
Lastly, sticking to your normal routine as much as possible will provide Charlie some stability in an otherwise hectic time of year. Getting his usual amount of exercise and attention, if not a little more, should prevent the need to seek out mischief at home.