Holiday Dog Tips from Nylabone!

Holidays with your Dog

The Holiday Season is a magical time—especially when you’ve got a furry friend around to remind you how precious life truly is!

P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S!

Shopping for your dog is just as much fun as shopping for a child. There are toys, outfits, and practical gifts to buy. There are dog stockings to fill. Children may grow up and lose the magic of the season, but dogs are always willing to believe that a nice man in a red suit wants to give them piles of toys! Enjoy!

While you’re making a list of who’s been naughty or nice this holiday season, don’t forget your precious pooch! What dog doesn’t love a yummy treat, or a new chew or toy? From Dog Treats/Edible Chews, to Dog Toys/Chews (for Powerful or Moderate chewers) Nylabone has a gift to make your dog the envy of every dog on the block! We even have all-new cat products that make purr-fect holiday gifts for your feline friends!

Photo with Santa-Paws

Many of the larger pet supply stores offer a photo op with your dog and Santa and, most often, the proceeds go to a good cause. And, you’ll end up with the perfect Holiday card to send your friends next year.

Christmas Safety for Dogs

Be sure that your dog doesn’t get too much rich “people” food. This applies to any day, but no holiday has as much rich food as Christmas does.

Make sure your dog can’t dash out a door when company comes. You are likely to have more company in December than during the rest of the year combined.

Substances like chocolate, alcohol, and caffeine are dangerous year-round, but are more likely to be in the house at Christmastime.

Candles are always a worry. Some Christmas decorations include lighted candles next to dry fir arrangements—just don’t do it!

If you have an adventurous dog, remember these Christmas Tree safety tips:

No glass ornaments, at least on the lower branches. When dogs are batting at ornaments, you don’t want ones that can fall and break.

No tinsel. It is indigestible, and if it gets caught in your dog’s intestinal tract, you’re on your way to the emergency clinic for some serious surgery.

No food on the tree. That means no strings of popcorn (if your dog eats the popcorn, the string can end up tangled in his tummy—which means a trip to the emergency clinic!) It also means no candy canes, since you never know what will strike a dog’s fancy. And it definitely means no cute little fake-dog-treat ornaments. Some dogs who turn up their noses at dog treats will climb a tree to get a lacquered, painted dog treat. We don’t know why, but it’s true!

No preservatives in the tree water. If you have a fresh tree, keep it well watered, but don’t add those packets of preservatives to the water.

No presents under the tree. Ribbons, paper, and boxes can become a shredded mess the minute you turn your head.

If possible, try to separate the tree from the dog. Put the tree in a room that you declare off limits to the dog unless you’re there to supervise. Or, if you have a small tree, put it on a tall table so that your dog can’t reach it.

Will your dog ever outgrow this behavior? Maybe. A lot of boisterous puppies and young dogs become very mellow adults. However, some dogs—like some people—just never grow up, and “better safe than sorry” definitely applies here. Keep a careful eye on your dog and his environment. Make sure that he can’t get in trouble. Love him, protect him, guard him, and make sure he stays safe through the holidays.

Hanukkah Safety for Dogs

The “Festival of Lights” can be a fun time to include your dog in holiday festivities, but keep these safety rules in mind.

The most important Hanukkah ritual is lighting the menorah. If you have a curious dog, you’ll want to supervise him while the candles are lit, to avoid accidents.

It is traditional to eat foods fried in oil during Hanukkah. Some common foods are potato latkes and “sufganiot” (jelly doughnuts). For your dog’s health, avoid giving him any of the rich holiday food you celebrate with.

New Year’s Eve Safety for Dogs

When you think of New Year’s Eve, you probably think of fun parties, noise, and libations. However, your dog’s idea of a perfect New Year’s Eve is probably snuggling with you on the couch and watching the ball fall on Times Square on the television. No matter how you decide to celebrate, it is a great time to make some resolutions for the year ahead with your dog.

New Year’s Resolution #1: Get your pooch’s weight where it belongs. In a recent study, thinner dogs lived an average of more than 2 years longer that slightly chubby ones. You want your dog with you for as many years as possible, so talk to his vet about a sensible weight loss plan.

New Year’s Resolution #2: Get vigorous exercise at least five times a week. That’s pretty easy to do with a dog, since it might mean just chasing his favorite toy around the house for 20 minutes at a time. Walking, for most dogs, is the ideal exercise.

New Year’s Resolution #3: Get an annual physical check-up for your dog. Just do it—just one appointment a year with your vet can save your best friend’s life.

New Year’s Resolution #4: Give your dog some social time with other dogs. While a fraction of dogs don’t enjoy the company of other dogs, most love to play and just hang out with other dogs. Find a play group (or start one) of other nicely behaved dogs. Your dog will love you for it.

New Year’s Resolution #5: Take as good care of yourself as you take care of your dog. Your furry friend needs for you to be healthy and long-lived, just like you want him to be. So, go get your own annual check-ups! Check with your own doctor about a diet and exercise plan. Step one might be a long, lovely walk with your favorite dog on New Year’s morning. And that may start a whole new season in your life with your dog.

Stress Less

Do you spell “holiday” S-T-R-E-S-S? The odds are you’re spending half of December frantically shopping, wrapping presents, baking cookies, and maybe even still decorating the house. For lots of people, the holiday season is also a time when the job requires overtime hours.

As the stress piles up, imagine what you seem like to your dog. The gentle, patient person who your animal loves has suddenly morphed into a frazzled, edgy, worried jangle of nerves. Your dog will pick up on your stress, and he may be likely to bark more, turn a deaf ear to commands, and chew.

Take a Break

Deep in your heart, you know you can accomplish more if you relax. Just 15 or 20 minutes of happy time with your pet will make all of you feel better. A simple walk can help both you and your dog deal with holiday stress. During that walk, the two of you can renew your bond. You’ll be on friendship time, not holiday time. When you come back into the house, your dog won’t care if your house isn’t picture perfect, and the break will remind you that sharing time with the creatures you love is part of what makes a house a home. If you don’t have 20 minutes at the moment, take 1 minute. Give your dog a (healthy) treat. Scratch him behind the ears. Take a mini-break, and it will do wonders for your stress levels.

Excerpted from The Little Dogs Beauty Book© 2006 T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Used by Permission.

Website:http://www.petbookexpress.com

This entry was posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 8:08 pm and is filed under Nylabone Extras. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to Holiday Dog Tips from Nylabone!

maryann t December 19, 2011 @ 10:57 pm

hi..geat tips for all to enjoy the holiday !!!! i only buy nylabone for my dogs to chew….i dont want them in the emergency room !
mary December 20, 2011 @ 9:13 pm

thank you for the great tips for my G.Shepard what great family members they make.
judy December 21, 2011 @ 11:13 pm

My 18lb yorkie mix is a tough chewer. she loves her nylabones but goes through them fast. There does not seem to be anything tough enough that she can get in her mouth.

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