The days after 4th of July, Halloween, and New Year’s are high volume for shelters as pets get spooked and run away from home. Please keep as many barriers between your dog and disaster as possible. Here are some ideas in case you are unsure how to do this… (I employ almost all of these on “scary holidays”)
- Collar with ID Tags
- Microchip with updated contact information
- Baby gate or x-pen blocking access to outside doors (airlock system)!!
- Relieve on leash only (even if I have a fence)
- Wear dragline in house
- Secure in interior room of house (bonus points if insulated from noise)
Here are some additional things I do to keep my dog calm…
- Create a safe space
- Close windows (muffles noise and reduces smell)
- Play music
- Keep them busy (frozen or PB Kong, puzzle toy, chew, etc)
- Feed treats after whistles and booms
And here are some things I train at other times of the year to make holidays go smoothly…
- Recall and Collar Grab
- Auto-stop at thresholds (doorways and gates)
- Condition positive associations to loud noises and novelty
- Crate is safe space
Stay safe and happy!
Elevation Behavior 