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Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services
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  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Contact
    • New Client Questionnaire
    • Dog Selection Consult Questionnaire
  • Testimonials
  • Training Library
  • Lady'sBestFriendBlog
  • Supply Shop
  • Essential Oils
    • RELAX Essential Oil - Dropper
    • RELAX Essential Oil - Rollerball
    • CONVICTION Essential Oil - Dropper
  • The Sheba Chronicles
A blog for all things dog-related: training, behavior, fun new doggie items, veterinary information and, of course, ways to enhance your relationship with your best four-legged friend!

Lady's Best Friend

Bark-Humbug!  Helping Your Dog Deal with Doggy Visitors Over the Holidays

12/13/2017

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​​When we get together with friends and family over the holiday season, sometimes our dogs get to join us.  But if your friends and family also have dogs, and your dog is either going over to their house or they are coming to yours, sometimes it can be a lot for dogs to take in.  Another canine in their space, with their people, all the change from routine and bustling that ensues as part of the holiday trend.  Don’t let your dog be a Scrooge this holiday season!  Instead, use these tips to make the introduction between resident dog and visitor dog a smooth one…
1.  Have dogs meet for the first time outside of the home, on neutral territory, so as to avoid any territoriality or spatial “comfort bubble” issues.  If you can’t meet in a truly neutral space, like a park, going for a walk up and down your street together can still do the trick. 

Begin with some distance and let the dogs see and smell each other without getting right up in each other’s space.  This may look a bit messy at first, as they may be pulling to try to get to one another, but if you just keep walking they will soon settle in.  Praise your dog highly if he moves forward or checks in with you rather than trying to pull to or lunge at the other dog.  And as they continue to walk and do well, you can gradually decrease distance.  See my article Introducing Fido to Rufus: Dog-to-Dog Greetings, Pressure Free! for more tips on executing this.

Multiple dog caveat: it’s more difficult and intimidating for a single dog to integrate into a multiple dog situation, since dogs that typically live together can develop a “pack” and are already comfortable with one another and the hierarchy they have set.  Bringing a new dog into this situation can stir things up.  So when introducing one dog to a multiple of dogs, it is best to do the introductions each individually at first (starting with the most laid-back dog in the multiple-dog group and working your way up to the most “intense” dog of the group).  This will give each dog the chance to get to know one another a bit without the “strength in numbers” tactics.  If each of the individual greetings goes OK, you can start adding one more dog at a time to the situation as all dogs are comfortable.** (see body language signals to watch for below)

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A Doggy Holiday – Picking the Right Sitter or Boarding Facility for Your Pup’s Staycation

12/11/2017

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The holiday season can be hustling and bustling, full of parties, shopping, and for some – travel!  Many of us go to visit family near and far over the holidays and while we wish we could take our furry family members with us, sometimes we just can’t.  When our dogs must stay behind, how do we help make their staycation holiday the best it can be?

​When your dog sees that you are preparing to leave him, the world that he knows is already turning upside down a bit.  Unless you are a frequent traveler and he is used to you coming and going, your packing up and leaving him behind can cause him some concern.  He may display a lot more anxiety, seem “on edge”, and show some “side effect” behaviors (that you don’t typically see) as a result of his heightened emotional state.  So it’s important to make your holiday travel as casual and seemingly innocuous to your dog as possible.  This means who you choose to care for your dog while you are away, and where you are selecting for him to spend his time away from you, is key to making his doggy holiday staycation a positive one.

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    Maria Huntoon, CBCC-KA
    ​Certified Canine Behavior Consultant
    ​Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services

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