A Safe & Happy Dog At Christmas

Dec 21 / Sally Gutteridge

This year is a little different for us and it might even be quieter for our beloved dogs, but there are still some things we need to keep in mind for their physical, emotional and psychological safety. Let’s take a look at how to best care for and protect our dogs over the Christmas period.

Many dogs across the country will probably be getting their own roast dinner this year. Meat and vegetables will be fine, watch out for any hidden nasties in there though. Stuffing and gravy with onions for example should be avoided as onions are really bad for dogs. Watch out for anything overly salty on your dog’s dinner as that can put pressure on the dog’s body.

Avoid pudding for your dog too, raisins are really nasty and can cause poisoning very quickly, so no mince pies, no Christmas pudding for your dog. Similarly, chocolate is terrible for dogs and can be fatal, and certainly no alcohol. This might sound a bit boring but believe me, avoiding all these things on your dog’s behalf make you a kind and excellent guardian.

It’s so easy to expect our dogs to cope with everything we throw at them, including way too much noise and physical contact than they are comfortable with. Whilst we likely won’t be having big Christmas parties this year, we may still have one sherry too many and be tempted to hug our dogs, telling them how wonderful they are (because of course they are) but remember that dogs are unique individuals and we shouldn’t force hugs on them, just as we shouldn’t on each other as it can be very uncomfortable for them (just as it can be for us). So, give them the space they need and ask their permission before you hug.

Take the crack our of your crackers this year. And don’t be tempted to spice up your Christmas with fireworks, because even if your dog can cope many can’t, and that’s not fair. Sound sensitivity in dogs is an issue bigger than many people know and it’s linked with anxiety. Being sensitive to sound has also been linked with pain in dogs by some studies and science tells us that if a dog is sound sensitive they should also be checked for joint pain. Sharp bangs can make a dog – and let’s face it many people – uncomfortable and even stressed. So, try to avoid them if at all possible.

Treating your dog this Christmas can involve activity and enrichment, which most dogs love. Even if you don’t have cash to buy them lots of stuff to play with, you can make toys and enrichment activities from anything at all. Old cardboard tubes can be utilised as rip open toys for a treat. Towels can be wrapped in many ways around a few tasty treats and scattering food around the home and garden will help them to relax as they find it and afterwards.

Ask yourself too if you really need to dress up the dog. How do they look in their Christmas outfit? Happy like the dog in the picture above or worried and uncomfortable? Whether your dog gets festive attire or not should be really up to the dog, some like it, some don’t mind, and some would rather be anywhere else in the World. Your job is to assess what your dog likes and respect their wishes, if you really want to dress up your dog do make sure your dog is having fun too.

This might sound a little killjoy but in all honesty try to look at it this way. We humans are great at sabotaging ourselves, we eat the wrong things, do things we know are bad for us and persist in doing them especially when we have an excuse – like it’s Christmas! Our dogs are part of our lives, and part of our family now, so let’s not sabotage them too. They rely on us to keep them happy, healthy and relaxed. Let’s not let them down.

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Get Some Exercise
In 2014, A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. This is great news for dog owners and something that you can definitely take advantage of as a daily walker.

Limit Distractions
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Stay Hydrated
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Read Out Loud
n 2015, Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal completed research that suggested you are 50% more likely to remember information that has been read aloud than reading to yourself. You can either find a quiet place to read aloud to yourself or read directly to a friend or family member.

Teach as You Go
A step beyond reading aloud is to describe the lesson to somebody else. Try and make the subject understood and invite questions. If you don’t have the answer to the question, you have a new area of understanding to explore and study which will help to further your knowledge in a given subject.

Make Notes and Diagrams
Keep a pen and paper close to hand and be ready to note down specific areas of interest. Even if you are not artistic, a quick diagram that only you understand is a great aid to the memory and allows you to process the information in a different way.

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Going back over previous course topics and modules, with the benefit of newly acquired knowledge, can help us to understand the connection between subjects. If we only focus on one subject in isolation, the connection may never be made.

Create Flash Cards
Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge. Write a subject on one side of the card and then explain the subject on the opposite side. You can either draw the cards randomly and test your own knowledge or ask a friend to help.

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External research is a great way to improve your knowledge on any subject. Often, a course subject will be focused on the specific area that is relevant to the type of course. A course that covers the topic of scentwork may describe the scenting ability of a dog in great detail, whereas a course that covers dog training in general may only include a foundation knowledge of the same subject. For this reason, external research can provide an invaluable way of expanding on specific course subjects.

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...During a stressful experience, the canine immune system will begin to shut off nonessential functions in order to maximise the chances of survival. “The body sees no point in digesting food when danger is upon it. Neither does it place emphasis on fighting disease, for it is putting all that effort into fighting the threat on life itself, so the immune system shuts down.”...

(https://canineprinciples.com/fear-dog-physical-illness/ accessed online Feb 2018)

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A common mistake made by dog owners is to misinterpret canine communication in a way that suits our own style of communication and body language. “Anthropomorphism, the attribution of Human characteristics to non-human creatures – to phenomena such as weather, and even inanimate objects like rivers and mountains – is an intrinsic part of human nature.”

(John Bradshaw, In Defence of Dogs P.148)

In both examples, the external research is highlighted as a quotation and clearly referenced.

The following section includes 3 different answers to the same question. All of these answers are correct, however they will each vary in the level of demonstrated understanding.

Question: Describe how you would apply an emergency improvised muzzle to a dog, for the purpose of performing first aid safely.

i. Create a large loop in a bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer describes the correct process of applying an emergency muzzle. The method is correct; however, no consideration has been given to safety. To improve on this, and answer the full question, we can include more detail...

ii. Slowly approach the dog, talking gently. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point, it is best to stand behind the dog. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer has improved and includes personal safety advice. We now have a correct answer that covers the whole question. To demonstrate our understanding of the subject, we can go one step further and cover the whole subject in greater detail.

iii. Any injured dog, no matter how gentle they are normally, can bite when painful or panicked. Unfortunately, an injured animal is highly likely to bite, even if you are trying to help them. You may also be in a situation where you need to help a strange dog during an emergency. It is a useful and important skill to be able to muzzle a dog in an emergency situation. Some people will carry a muzzle in their car for emergency situations. However, you can also use a shoelace or gauze bandage. Slowly approach the dog side on, talking gently to reassure them. Be mindful of the dog’s body language and communication efforts while he is experiencing pain. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point it is best to stand behind the dog to prevent direct eye contact. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it. NEVER apply a muzzle if the dog is struggling to breathe or vomiting.

This final version is an excellent demonstration of the whole subject. We have added information about the subject of emergency muzzles and included advice for keeping the dog free from additional pain or suffering.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from tutors who are always available to answer any questions and guide you through your learning experience. If you ever have any questions about course material or assessments, you can contact us here via email or through the study group.

Students are also encouraged to support each other, through access to a private study group where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Students are also encouraged to support each other, through access to a private study group where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Canine Principles offers both self-paced and time sensitive courses.

Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.

Ofqual Qualifications - All Ofqual courses inherit a 2 year registration period. The cost of registration is included with initial enrolment. When t

A Safe & Happy Dog At Christmas

Watch Their Diet

Don’t Overwhelm Them

Bang Less – If At All

Treat Them With Activity

Do They Like That Santa Coat?

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A Safe & Happy Dog At Christmas

Watch Their Diet

Don’t Overwhelm Them

Bang Less – If At All

Treat Them With Activity

Do They Like That Santa Coat?

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Why Pursuing a Career with Dogs is the Smartest Choice for Dog Lovers in 2023

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