Every household is bound to throw at least two yearly parties, whether a birthday party, Thanksgiving, Halloween, or just some random get-together with friends and family. But as fun as these celebrations can be, you and your guests aren’t the only ones you should consider.
Your dog will also be affected by this. So, for your dog to also have a good and stress-free time during the party, here are some tips you can take note of to make it a fun time for everyone:
Make sure you have your dog’s leash or crate ready.
Keeping your dog on a leash or a crate when people arrive at your house wouldn’t cause you to worry about your dog suddenly and accidentally leaving the house through the door that keeps on opening as guests pour in.
It’s also important to inform your guests.
Make sure that your guests know the do’s and don’ts with your dog.
Tell them that your dog is strictly off-limits to being fed by them. This is to avoid any unwanted tummy problems for the doggo.
Separate your dog by bringing him to a private room.
If you notice they start to get anxious or nervous because of the noisy crowd,
separating them will make them feel less anxious, as the sound will be softer, and they will not feel the need to keep their guard up.
If your dog reacts negatively when the doorbell is rung, try searching for training videos on YouTube about this problem.
Training
Training can help him change this habit. In addition, you should teach some never-failing commands: sit, stay, and leave it.
By teaching them to sit, you won’t worry about them jumping on your guests. You can teach them by placing a treat at their nose. This catches their attention.
Keep the treat on their nose, move it down slowly, and then back to their head. They will follow the treat, their head will go up, and they will end up sitting.
When they sit, affirm them by saying “Good dog,” then give them the treat. After some practice, execute the same process, but say “Sit” before placing the treat on their nose.
When you teach them to stay, you won’t have problems with them running out the door. Teach them by commanding them to sit, lay your hand flat facing your dog, wait for 2-3 seconds, and if they stay still, give them the treat. Do this repeatedly and increase the time gradually.
Teaching them to leave teaches them to avoid things. It is best to use doggy biscuits for this.
Place your dog on a leash and keep the biscuit out of the dog’s reach. Let the dog try to get it, but don’t let it have it inside its mouth. If the dog starts to ignore or leave it, praise it. Then, give the dog a small treat.
After some practice, execute the same process but say “Leave it” when they approach the biscuit.