We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We have more events on the horizon. If your dog becomes overwhelmed, excited, and jumps on people, or if your dog feels anxious, scared, reactive, or frightened when guests arrive, it's time to prepare.
Here are some tips:
1) Extend their walk and include sniffing time before guests arrive. You might consider taking your dog on a hike or exploring a new neighborhood to provide a fresh sniffing experience. This will help them expend some physical and mental energy. Be cautious around New Year's Day, as fireworks might be set off, which could frighten your dog, causing them to panic and attempt to escape. In such situations, keep them indoors, and even for yard potty breaks, ensure they are on a leash and always have a form of ID on your dog.
2) Before guests arrive, create a safe and happy space for your dog indoors. Provide mental stimulation with hollow chew toys such as kongs (learn more about my methods here: https://www.oriondogtraining.com/post/great-tips-on-how-to-feed-your-puppy-or-your-adult-dog)
Additionally, there are dog puzzles, snuffle mats, bully sticks, collagen sticks, bones, and more. For your enthusiastic dog that jumps on guests, they can remain in their designated spot until all the guests have settled. By then, your dog's excitement will have decreased, and he might even prefer to stay in his spot, enjoying a chicken-filled frozen Kong.
3) For dogs that are fearful of people, exhibit fear aggression, or have been involved in a biting incident, do not force them to socialize; this is not the appropriate time for that, actually is never a good training to force your dog to say hi to people, please reach out to us if you need help with this. Having many people around can be very stressful for many dogs. Provide them with a SAFE space, and it's acceptable to place them in a separate room with all the previously mentioned tips, instructing people not to enter. Similarly, when fireworks begin, ensure your dog can hear them as little as possible by turning on a radio, fan, or TV to mask the sounds of the fireworks or your guests. Talk to your vet about behavioral medication or even better find a veterinarian behaviorist .
4) Safety tips: Always ensure your dog has a name tag with your phone number and an emergency contact number, as many dogs tend to get lost during the holidays, especially on New Year's and the 4th of July. Keep your dog leashed during walks and in the backyard, and secure them when guests enter the house if there's no designated area for them. With numerous people coming and going, doors might be left open, allowing your dog to escape. Additionally, much of our human food is unhealthy for dogs, and some can even be toxic. Visit this site for information on foods and plants to avoid, and they also offer a poison hotline you can call: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
5)These tips are also relevant when traveling with your dog to a holiday destination or dining at a friend's place. It's especially important to ensure your dog has a safe space, whether that's a crate or a playpen you can bring along.
At Orion Dog Training we specialize in adult dog and puppy training in San Jose,. e offer numerous classes designed to help you and your dog thrive. If you've just brought home an 8-week-old puppy, we have classes ready for you to begin their journey by safely introducing them to your environment. The crucial socialization phase starts when your puppy is 3 weeks old and concludes between 12 to 16 weeks. Therefore, don't wait until they've received all their vaccinations; you can safely expose them to various experiences to build their confidence. We can help with that. Read here on the importance of socializing your 8 week old puppy. and check out our puppy socials and AKC STAR Puppy 1 classes here in San Jose and Mountain View.
We offer a variety of adult dog classes, including Basic Obedience and Manners, Agility, AKC Fit Dog and Trick Training, Beginner Nose Work, Control Unleashed classes, Canine Good Citizen, Loose Leash Walking, and Recall. During the holidays, we provide a four-week "Doggie Holiday Etiquettes" class.
Be proactive in training your dog. At Orion, we exclusively use positive reinforcement methods and stay updated with the latest science-based dog training research and techniques. We are continuously learning by taking classes ourselves as well!
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