One of the best parts of the holidays is spending time with family and friends. As you prepare your home for your holiday guests, now is the time to make sure your pets are up to the task of receiving visitors. Before you have a bunch of people over, you want to feel confident that your pets will know how to behave. When you teach your pet holiday manners, you create a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for everyone.
Knowing How to Greet Guests
One of the most important aspects of holiday manners for pets is greeting guests. Your pets should know how to calmly say hi to new visitors in your home. To get your pets comfortable with new people, you have to train them. No one wants their dog jumping up on their grandmother or their cat knocking over a toddler trying to say hi. Work with your pets on greeting new people (and pets) before the holidays. Once you feel confident that they will know how to behave, you will feel much better about having guests in your home.
Understanding Table Etiquette
You’re going to work hard preparing a holiday meal for you and your guests to enjoy. The last thing you want is for your dog to jump up and pull down the tablecloth or your cat to walk across the main dish. Teaching your pets proper table etiquette means you won’t have surprises for your holiday meal. It also means your pets will be less likely to eat something they shouldn’t when you aren’t looking. This way, you can avoid unnecessary pet emergencies like pancreatitis.
Knowing How to Stay Calm
Sometimes pets act out when they are scared, and a house full of new people can be scary for them. If you train your pet for a variety of scenarios, he or she will be much more likely to remain calm. Not everyone is accustomed to being around animals, and an anxious pet can make guests uncomfortable. If your pets know how to stay calm, however, it will create a better environment for all of your guests.
Pet Training for the Holidays
It’s never too late to start training your pets. The more commands your pets can understand, the more prepared they will be for any situation. Whether you decide to get one-on-one training for your pet or you opt for group classes, these sessions will help you all get ready for the holidays. Best of all, these holiday manners will stay with your pet long after the holidays are over.
Training for Waterford Pets
Whether you want to teach your pet holiday manners or have them brush up on basic commands, the talented trainers at Union Lake Pet Services are here to help. We use positive-based reinforcement training to create a safe and comfortable environment that encourages pets to learn. Call (248) 363-6262 to learn more or to schedule a training session for your pet.