Christmas for pets

Is your dog or cat ready for your guests in the home? Here are tips to help your pet – and your guests – enjoy the Christmas season together.

Grooming Parlour: Give your dog a bath or send him for a groom before festivities begin. Remember to have his nails clipped, and clean collars. You want to put on their best face forward!

Clean the house: Thoroughly clean and vacuum the entire home, paying special attention to the guest room. The professional cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID recommend that you open a window, run a fan to circulate air, and place fresh flowers around your home. Also, keep the guest room door closed – and the pet out – once guests have arrived.

Warn guests: Before guests arrive, let them know that you have a pet and describe its size and personality. Ask them if they suffer from pet allergies and how you can help. (They have to bring allergy medication).

Obedience: Simple commands such as “stay,” “down” and “drop it” are critical commands any dog should know. It’s all about acting appropriately with guests.

Signage: If your dog or cat tends to make a break for it when the door opens, hang up a ‘Don’t Let the Dog/Cat Out’ on the door. Also, make sure your dog is wearing a collar with current ID.

Give pets an out: Sometimes pets become overwhelmed with large gatherings. Put their bed or crate, favourite toys, food and water in a quiet room so they have a place to go where they can relax.

Keep to the schedule: Try to keep to the regular routine – pets are like children and like predictability in terms of feeding and exercise schedules.

Make introductions: Some visitors might not have pets of their own. When they arrive, show them how your cat likes to be petted, what treats the dog likes and how to act around the animals.

Treat rules: Ensure you keep your dog’s treats on hand for guests to dole out. Ask them not to feed human food to your pet.

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