Tips on Spending Time with your Dog during the Holidays

By Christine Matturro McLaughlin, guest blogger         

Holiday time is upon us. It gets earlier every year it seems with all there is to do—parties, entertaining, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. Often our furry family members tend to get ignored with so much hustling and bustling going on. Dogs can experience restlessness and anxiety as a result. So now is the perfect time to think about your pets and plan what you might do with them to celebrate the holiday season and ease the transition during this busy time.

Dogs Love a Parade

If your leashed dog can handle loud noises and lots of people, attending a Thanksgiving parade is always a howl for fun-loving doggies. In Philadelphia, where I’m from, dogs are often on the parade sidelines and enjoy the sights and sounds as much as their owners.

Play Catch

Dogs love playing fetch. Think about some places where you can give your pup a good run and wear him out before company arrives. This way he’ll be happy and tired when greeting guests. Dog parks are the optimal place as they can socialize with other pups and chase balls, and even your local park, elementary school grounds or tennis courts can be great places to play fetch and let him run safely, as long as the grounds don’t strictly prohibit dogs. Always remember to walk to and from the park with your pup on a leash and poop bags in hand.

Shop ‘til You Flop Together

Maybe it’s only for dog food, but think about what stores you’re able to take your socialized pooch so you can run errands together. Most big pet stores allow dogs on a leash but also smaller boutique pet shops will, too. Just think: You can shop for your pup’s or his hairy best friend’s gift together. And remember that a trip with you anywhere is always a treat for your four-legged family member.

For more tips on fun with your dog, feel free to check out my book The Dog Lover’s Companion to Philadelphia. Other Dog Lover’s Companion titles exist for cities across the nation.

 Christine Matturro McLaughlin is the author of The Dog Lover’s Companion to Philadelphia and contributing author to the American Red Cross: Dog First Aid and American Red Cross: Cat First Aid books. She’s also written hundreds of nonfiction articles for magazines and web sites—many of them about pets.
 

Readers’ Comments:

Andy Garfinkel wrote:
Great ideas, Michele. Almost makes me want to give up the cats and go get a dog (wait – no, never!). But a great article.
Andy

For a moment, there, you had me. I, too, adore cats. I love dogs too, but cats, I worship the ground they walk on. I have a few cat stories coming. Thanks again for commenting.Best, Michele

11/20/2009 1:03 PM Maggie wrote:
Nice article, Chris. It seems that our dog needs more attention at this time of year and we are so busy we tend to forget. We promise to do better with your excellent suggestions.–Maggie