Holiday Preparations

As the holiday season approaches, I feel compelled to put a request out on behalf of animals everywhere.  Please talk to your animals and tell them what is going on so they aren't caught off guard.  Many people talk about how their animals behave strangely during the holidays and most of the time, I believe it is because they don't understand what is going on. Their regular routine is changed up and they often feel ill at ease because of it. 

If you've been reading my blog, you know I believe very strongly that animals understand everything we tell them.  I think we owe it to our animals to help manage their expectations, so that they can enjoy the holidays as well.  Please, talk to your animals!

Imagine if your spouse didn't tell you they were bringing 10 people over for dinner.  Wouldn't you be a little thrown off?  What if 7 people showed up and told you they were staying for a couple of days?  Would that potentially put your nose out of joint?  Especially if those people set up camp in your bedroom and didn't tell you they were going to?  

All I ask is that you put yourself in your animals shoes for a moment so you can understand how it feels from their perspective.  Then inform them of what will be happening.  Here are some tips:

If you are going to have a house full of people, let them know.  Tell them . . . this many people are coming and this is how long they are staying.  if you want your animal to do anything different, please let them know.  If your animal is going to have to sleep somewhere where they aren't used to sleeping, tell them that and explain why.  Let them know how long this new arrangement will last.

If your animal is used to having quiet time to rest in the house and you know that isn't going to be easy when you have a house full of people, tell them where they can go to be "alone" if that's what they need.  Give them a specific room in the house they can go to if they need to "get away from it all."

Tell them if you are bringing a christmas tree into the house and if need be, explain to them that it is for decoration.  Let them know you are making sure it has water so they don't feel the need to water it themselves.  :-)   Explain to them that the things hanging on the tree are not for them to play with or eat.  Then make sure they know where the things are that they CAN play with and eat. 

Include them in the celebration in whatever way you can.  Whether that is feeding them at the same time the rest of you all are sitting down to eat so they feel they are having a special meal too, or giving them something to unwrap when the rest of you are unwrapping your gifts, let them know they are part of what is going on too. 

I believe the holidays can be happier for all of us - 2-legged and 4-legged alike, if we can set everyone's expectations for how things are going to be different for a few days.  Your animals will thank you - in their own special way!