Doggone Etiquette —

Pre-Party Tips

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Did you weather the storm? No, not the wind, rain and snow! The one your people were into. It’s over, so who did you vote for – “Bark” Obama or John “McCanine”? Win or lose, let’s hope you didn’t make too much noise about it.  

When it comes to politics, you dogs have to let your V.I. People do all the barking.                       

Speaking of which (barking, that is), it will soon be holiday time. It’s the time of year when family members come to visit, friends stop by, and time for you to show off your best manners. Greeting all these people nicely is only the beginning. The really tough part for you dogs is the fact that every such visit, no matter how long it lasts, is accompanied by food. Yes, it’s people food – the nemesis of dog-dom!   

A Word to the Dog’s Owners:          

Let’s hope the political parties are now over and we can all begin to plan the biggies – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and even the odd birthday that gets thrown in for good measure. There’s not a lot of free time during holidays, so use what little of it you have wisely when it comes to brushing up your dog’s manners, not just his coat.                             

If Rufus is normally a “good dog” and does pretty much as he’s told, all he needs are reminders. You may want him to bark when a car comes up the driveway, or someone knocks on your door, but does he stop when you let him know that you are taking over? Brush up on that one, because the friends and family coming to visit won’t think such a raucous outburst is a particularly friendly greeting.                       

When you open the door to friend-or-foe, does Rufus sit nicely at your side – or does he go bonkers and jump all over the person in a joyous welcome? That kind of greeting might be considered a hostile attack by someone not familiar with the canine language. (People in party clothes don’t appreciate it either.) So, practice putting the dog on a SIT before your hand reaches for the door. Practice it, too, when you answer the phone. And every time you come to any door with Rufus at your side or slightly behind you, he sits, and you go through first.                       

Dogs of different breeds often react instinctively to an invasion of guests. For example, some Border Collies and other herding breeds are noted for doing what comes naturally: they move people about, even cornering a whole group, without the people realizing they’ve been herded! Toy breeds may feel free to try out the laps of any comfortably seated guests. They are also the small, sneaky, almost unseen clean-up crew of crumbs on the carpet. (As long as the dog doesn’t get stepped on, the canine vacuum part is probably okay.)                                 

Some of the guard dogs will see a party as an excellent opportunity to guard spaces we don’t appreciate having protected, such as the door to the kitchen or to the guest bathroom. If you are aware of these things ahead of time, and can’t figure out a way to divert the behavior, safely confine Rufus for the duration of the party. Be sure he has water, a couple of toys and a treat. This is not punishing the dog, merely preventing a social mishap. Even a well-behaved dog might need confinement until all the guests arrive, and can then join the party.                             

Food and dogs are notoriously inseparable, and who’s to say that Rufus doesn’t consider himself to be an Honorary Guest at your party! Don’t think for a minute that hors d’oeuvres on the coffee table will not be tempting because they don’t smell like dog food! Most dogs will taste-test just about anything, and if one lick or nibble passes the test, no doubt the platter will be cleaned off in the blink of an eye. If Rufus is not accustomed to having people-food put on low tables, you can try teaching him, but don’t rely on one or two perfect performances with you right there to make a correction. When the party’s in full swing, Rufus may still think it’s anyone’s game, and dig in!                     

Practice at odd times every day whenever the occasion arises to show Rufus who’s in charge. But if you can’t stop the barking, the jumping up on people, the stealing of food, and so forth, then put the dog in a safe place while your party is in full swing. Next week we’ll have a look at handling the dog when family or guests will be staying for an extended visit. 

Until next time - Be Good!

-  Bardi