ok, tis the holiday season, ho ho ho is upon us and I bet you are racing around for bargains from store to store and other madness. do you and your pooch get the blues around the holidays? maybe it’s all that food and fun you are supposed to have but maybe you’re not having… maybe you are alone, broke, and/or just plain blue …
no worries…we’ve got some tips for you.
Spend quality time with your canine
According to research at the State University of New York at Buffalo, being around a pet provides more stress relief than being around a two-legged companion. As if we needed a study to determine that. Good for them, good for you.
My #1 tip for addressing the holiday (or any time traveling) doggie blues is simple. the dogs you to want focus on them, so spend some quality time with your dog, do something just with your dog.
Most of my guests come with their dogs almost exclusively because we are incredibly pet welcoming, and most of them are doing a getaway which definitely includes (or is because of) pet dog recreation.
Yet some folks travel with their dogs physically with them, but totally ignore them once they’re here. That causes the doggie traveling blues, no matter whether they’re traveling for the holidays or a family reunion, special event (wedding, birthday, graduation), a special relaxing destination (like Crater Lake), etc.
How to fix that? Easy. Providing some FOCUS on the dog, and quality time (just taking them out to potty doesn’t cut it) will eliminate the doggie blues and also unwanted behaviors like barking, whining, scratching, chewing, clinginess, etc.
Give your dog some loving ME time and attention, belly rubs, massage, play time…
Spend some time each day really focused on your dog. Dogs can tell if you’re going for a walk but not really there (texting, chatting on your phone, thinking about how to fix the holiday dinner, worried about what to do when you get back to work, etc.). That focus, and intention of really being present with your dog will go a loooong way to keeping your pooch happy since that’s how dogs live their lives. they really appreciate and respond when we do the same for and with them.
So DO something with and for your dog, with intention and focus…do some training, and make it a game. That lets your dog exercise their mind as well as their bodies, and it’s fun play for both of you. Teach them a trick or behavior that makes you laugh. Be there for them 110% during that time. See how this little bit of focus time really enhances your bond with your dog, and makes you BOTH feel a heck of a lot better…a great way to have a little bit of sanity with all the holiday traveling craziness.
Enjoy! — Liz
Liz Parrish, Proprietor
Crystalwood Lodge LLC
A pet-welcoming destination in the Southern Oregon Cascades, just outside Crater Lake National Park. Relax with the perfect getaway at the edge of the Klamath Basin, in the heart of a recreation wonderland and a world apart from your daily stress!
Why is this called “the Best 30 Miles in Oregon?” Find out here!
Calming Collars
Deb Mendez makes the most delicious, yummiest smelling collars for dogs on the planet. And they look gorgeous, too. Clearly, they are handmade (customized) with lots of love and care. These collars can be used whenever your dog is experiencing extra stress (during travel), anxiety (separation), hears loud noises (thunderstorms and/or fireworks), and/or weird weather. We got a Purple Key West collar for Cici and I love that it is all natural.
The regular Calm Me Down blend is a combination that includes lavender, chamomile and balsam. If someone requests an extra strength version, valerian, lemongrass, mugwort and orange peel may be added. The Good to Go collar is includes lavender, chamomile, peppermint, ginger and other herbs. No essential oils or other fillers, just the actual dried herbs in a cotton fabric sleeve. The collars work through aromatherapy. The collars generally last anywhere from 3 to 9 months, depending upon amount of time of usage (every day, 24/7, a few hours a week and so on).
They also make anti-motion sickness collars Good To Go . These will help stop your pet from getting motion sickness when traveling in a car or other moving vehicle.
For summer, there is also the Too Cool collars that help your pet stay cool.
Readers of my blog get an exclusive discount… Just type CICI for a 10% discount on any purchase. You’ll see the discount in the shopping cart before heading to checkout. Cheers !
Dog Pheromones
The Comfort Zone with DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) disperses an odorless vapor that mimics the calming hormone that is secreted by nursing dogs. Pheromones emitted by animals through their skin and glands are natural chemicals that help them to communicate with others of the same species. Basically, it helps dogs calm down. When animals receive pheromone signals, there is an involuntary behavioral effect on the animals. When the dog or puppy senses the pheromone through the nasal passage, he feels secure and comfortable, reducing his urge to act out through chewing, excessive barking, house soiling or other fear-related behaviors.
It comes in a spray bottle that you can mist away your dog’s stress and also comes in the plug-in diffuser version. You can spray the inside of your dog’s crate 15 minutes ahead of placing your dog inside. These stress reducing pheromones make dogs feel safe and secure and help you control excessive whining hiding, panting, chewing, and other behaviors. The diffuser lasts up to 30 days and refills can be purchased. Relaxation in a bottle.
They make this product for both dogs and cats. You can purchase through Petco, Amazon or online at their website, find a location near you, http://petcomfortzone.com/home.html.
Other ideas:
Comfort your pooch with a massage and/or a class of doggie yoga … OM
Play some soothing doggie music…our friend Lisa Spector at Through a Dog’s Ear has a big promotion going on, with free daily downloads and an annual word game where people compete to win free music for their favorite shelters and rescues. She is also offering discounts on some dog calming music…Driving Edition and Music to Calm your Canine Companion Vol. 3 until Dec 31, 2011.
More info:
Give them some Bach’s Rescue Remedy to calm their K9 nerves
Sing them a Silly Song…
New 12 Dogs Of Christmas Lyrics by me
On the ______ day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
1 Cici eating (cause she’s a food ho)
2 Pibbles licking
3 Patrick’s wagging
and a V-dog in a pear tree
4 Victories for Cherry (Garcia)
5 Kongs for Ginger
6 Forever Homes (for Squeaker, Ellen, Ray and Oscar)
7 Handsome Dan’s swimming
8 Jhumpa Jones’ singing
9 Pibbles zooming
10 Hector’s Leaping (carefully)
11 Pibble puppies playing
12 Dalmatian pit bulls dancing
Stumble It!
Have dog blog will travel 