Doggone Etiquette —

Another Holiday!

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

This is the last holiday you’ll have to cope with for the whole summer. There may be lots of vacation-type stuff going on at your house — like barbeques, picnics, and pool parties — which can be fun for you dogs. But this weekend is really the “end” of the strange noisy ones you can’t possibly understand. If it gets to you, take your favorite toy and go hide under a bed. Lucky you if no strange man-made thunder and lightning take place in your neighborhood.

A  Word to the Dog’s Owner:           

By now I’m sure you know the rules about thunder, lightning and fireworks. No coddling. No saying “It’s okay, Rufus” and attempting to comfort him. He has to learn — and learn from you — that you are not afraid and there’s nothing for him to fear. Be sure the dog is safely indoors, because frightened dogs escape, run away from home and become lost. Otherwise, just carry on normally; distract the dog with a game he likes, or hand out a chew toy for “occupational therapy.”     

This is definitely a popular weekend for outdoor gatherings of friends and family, so be sure to include only the dogs you know to be easy-going and sociable. It is not the time to work on overcoming any kind of behavioral problem. Shyness, for example, is not uncommon in dogs, but is often brought about (or increased) unintentionally by owners who don’t realize what they’ve done, such as pushing the dog toward people or other dogs, or the reverse — pulling back. Before the party begins, let the shy dog settle down wherever it feels safe and secure away from the hub-bub. And for all the outgoing, tail-wagging other canines — let the party begin! In addition to those people goodies on the grill and beverages in the cooler, be sure to keep plenty of cool fresh water easily accessible to all the dogs (indoors and out).        

At this time of year lots of you will be hiring pet sitters for a day, a weekend, or even longer. Getting the dog ready for your absence is only part of it. The pet sitter should meet with the dog and owners for a friendly introduction once or twice before taking over in the absence of the dog’s owner. That’s one part, but the other thing you as the owner must do is even more important, and that is to put together a clearly written list of just about everything you can think of regarding your dog. It can be a family project, best done over a period of time.

Make it a definitive list, not just a note as to where to put the dog’s food dish, or what time he goes to bed. Write down when and where he likes to take daytime naps, and if he sits calmly before you put on his leash — or dashes around the house until you catch him. Add to the basic instructions regarding the dog’s medication, how you get around the dog’s refusal to take it. Does Rufus come when called, or does he suffer from “selective” hearing.    

List all the things Rufus likes, and those he dislikes. Include the words you use for praise, for correction and for prevention. These are all the little things that you might also discuss with the pet sitter on one of those preliminary visits, but s/he cannot be expected to remember everything about every doggy client! By compiling the list over a period of time, all the nitty-gritty details will be covered. You and Rufus, and the pet sitter, will be prepared for that well-earned vacation whenever it comes along. In the meantime, have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.