Is your dog a party animal? If yes, life is easy. If not, it adds stress to any gathering you host. The answer is simple – don’t invite the dog to your party.
Most household routines don’t include lots of different people, all kinds of comings and goings, and constant doorbell-ringing. That makes a holiday gathering unusual. Generally speaking, dogs don’t like different. They like routines and schedules.
So what do you do? Your dog is an integral member of the family. And you’d feel horrible guilt at leaving them out of the festivities.
Get over it
You don’t have to feel guilty for leaving the dog out of the gathering. They can have a special treat and have a good time all by themselves.
Plan ahead for your dog during the party. Find a quiet place, away from the action, where you can confine him/her. You can use a crate or playpen if your dog is accustomed to it. If not, dog-proof the room you’ll use. Then, in advance of the party by several days, spend some time in that room with your dog. Whether using a crate, playpen, or room, have a special chew toy, or treat the dog only gets when they’re in that place. It’s one way of having the dog look forward to going there, instead of being reluctant or stressed.
After a couple of days of practice, leave the room and close the door while your dog is enjoying the treat. Conventional wisdom says that if the dog is quiet for 15 minutes, they’re good for several hours.
Maybe a “meet and greet”
After the guests have arrived and the party settles into a calmer rhythm, you can bring your dog out to say “hello!” if you want. There may be people the dog knows and would like to see him/her. Again, it takes some planning. Put a harness/collar and leash on your dog and have some favorite treats with you to reward good behavior. The last thing you need is for your dog to snatch food, jump on people, or tip glasses over. There’s lots of potential for mayhem you want to avoid.
If your dog greets people nicely and seems to be under control, you can relax and enjoy the party. Someone, either you or a designated leash-holder, should keep a hand on the leash full time. There are lots of stories of people losing sight of the dog, only discovering the counter-surfing, or trash-tipping mess later.
Not welcome
If your dog isn’t a party animal at all, leave him/her in the safe place you’ve set up. If someone nags at you to meet the dog, either bring that one person to say hi, or arrange for a visit at a different time. Your dog isn’t on display – they’re a part of the family and their comfort is important. If you’re hosting a party, you have enough to take care of without worrying about your dog. They’ll be fine.
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