The holiday season means treats, twinkly lights, and a whole lot of unfamiliar hoomans coming through the door. While you’re excited to see family and friends, all that hustle and bustle can be overwhelming for your furry bestie. Every doggo loves attention, but too much excitement can lead to accidents, excessive barking, or those excited leaps. Fear not, pawrents! With a little prep, you can ensure your pup is calm, cool, and collected for the holiday crowd.

Why Your Doggo Gets Over-the-Top Excited

When a stranger walks through the door, your doggo’s brain goes into overdrive! They are hit with a flood of new sights, smells, and sounds.

• The Scent Bomb: Every guest brings new scents from outside, which is like a giant database of stories for your pup.
• The Attention Rush: For some doggos, a new person means new pets, new praise, and maybe even a dropped snack! They learn quickly that high energy gets them what they want.
• Lack of Socialization: If your doggo hasn’t had much practice greeting a steady flow of strangers (especially since the pandemic), they might feel anxious or simply too excited because the experience is so rare.

The goal is to teach your pup that meeting guests is a calm event, not a chaotic one.

5 Tips for a Paw-fect Guest Arrival

Preparation is key, but here are the vital steps for when the doorbell actually rings:

1. Burn Off the Zoomies First

Before guests arrive, give your pup a super rigorous session of fetch, a long walk, or a trip to the park. Maximum zoomies before the party means calmer greetings during the party.

2. Master the Redirection Game

Instead of yelling “No!” when your doggo jumps or barks, give them an immediate alternative. Ask them to “Go find your toy!” or sit calmly and wait for a Maxime treat. Redirecting their excess energy to a task they know is the key to managing that pre-arrival chaos.

3. Proper Greetings Only

Teach your guests the rules, too! Before they enter, ask them to ignore your doggo for a minute or two. No eye contact, no speaking, no petting. Once your dog is sitting or standing calmly, then the guest can offer a gentle, low pet. This teaches your dog that calm = attention.

4. The Safe Zone Sanctuary

Set up a quiet, comfortable “safe zone” in a separate room (like a den or bedroom) with their favorite bed, a puzzle toy, or a chew. If your doggo becomes overwhelmed or if the party gets too loud, put them in their sanctuary for a scheduled rest is life break. This prevents meltdowns and gives them much-needed peace.

5. Don’t Forget the Brain Games

Keep your pup mentally stimulated while the hoomans eat. Give them a frozen Kong, a jerky stick, or a snufflematt. Mental work is just as tiring as physical exercise and keeps their focus away from the food table!

By following these steps, you and your furry bestie can have a happy, stress-free, and pawsome holiday season!

REFERENCES:

American Kennel Club (AKC): Training Your Dog to Behave Around Guests. (www.akc.org)

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Preparing Your Pet for Holiday Visitors. (www.humanesociety.org)

Karen Pryor Clicker Training: Managing Greetings at the Door. (www.karenpryoracademy.com)

Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine: Dealing with Holiday Stress in Pets. (www.vet.tufts.edu)

ASPCA: Holiday Safety Tips for Dog Owners. (www.aspca.org)