Hello Everybody!
It’s been a while since my last post! I have been gone finishing up school. But what better time to start posting again than the holiday season! To start things off again I wanted to talk about animals and holiday parties! The holiday season is upon us and many people are having family and friends over to celebrate! Have you ever wondered how your pets feel about this? To answer this question, many animals actually can be quite stressed by these parties, not unlike us humans I might say. To help you and your pets out, I am going to list three signs that your dog is uncomfortable with the environment and explain some ways to help your pet relax. Hopefully this relaxation will spread along with the holiday cheer!
Holiday parties
When family and friends come over for the holidays, things can get hectic! Hopefully, it is a good hectic! But remember that the world looks different to your fury family members and large quantities of people in their home can be rather stressful as there is a lot of noise, children, touching, and shuffling feet. So how can you help your pets feel the holiday joy instead of the holiday blues!? Here are three behaviors to look out for, what they mean, and how can you help!
The three behaviors are:
1. Unexplained and seemingly random itching and shaking off (as if wet).
3. Excessive blinking and winking when people reach toward the animal.
Normal or not normal, that is the question!
All the above behaviors are normal everyday behaviors. Your dog may shake off when coming in from a walk when it is rainy. Your cat or dog may search for a cubby hole or dark place to take a nap. Also, pets often blink, just like we do all the time. However, each of these behaviors can also be a sign of stress if suddenly performed more often than normal or with no visible explanation. Telling the difference depends on your pet. Does your pet normally hang out under the table even when it not begging? Does your cat or dog normally often rub on things or itch behind its ear due to itchy skin? Does your pet have a known eye problem that would cause blinking? These are great questions to ask and are important for gauging your pet’s stress levels.
What does it mean?
First, itching and shaking when stressed are called displacement behaviors. Displacement behaviors are behaviors performed when there is stress on the mind and nowhere to let the "stress energy", if you will, out in order to relax. In the human world an example would be bouncing a knee when nervous or rubbing an eyebrow while concentrating. Second, searching for small, dark places to hide is a search for safety and security, much like when a child hides behind its mother's leg when meeting a new person. Third, blinking and winking can also be displacement behaviors. In the human world this would be called a cringe. The animal dislikes what is happening but doesn't know where to go or how to get away from the stress of the situation, so that stress leaks out in a cringe or wink.
How to help:
So, what can be done about these behaviors? Well, first ask yourself why your pets are performing those behaviors. Are they stressed by the noise? Do they simply not want to be touched? Do they want to hang out, but dislike being hugged by the children? Once you have figured out why, find a way to relieve their stress while also rewarding them.
You can start by providing them with a safe, quiet place to retreat to if they are over-whelmed and leaving them a nice yummy bone or toy to chew on or play with while they relax in their quiet place. Make sure this space is child-free, as children are often a large source of an animal's stress during family gatherings. Another very helpful way to help your pet relax is by telling your guests how to interact with them in a stress-free manner. One way to do this is by providing instructions on the front door. For example, you might type up a sign that says "Dog (or cat) loves people, but asks that you would refrain from giving him hugs. Thank you!" or " Please ignore the dog and allow him to warm up to you before petting him. Thank you!" If your pet is simply to stressed during parties, place him in his own room with something to do (a chew for dogs, a scented toy for cats, or a cuttlebone and mirror for birds) and bedding (maybe even a den-like structure such as a crate with a blanket on top). Then be sure to leave a sign out for people that says something like "Dog (or other animal) is nervous; please leave him in his room. Thank you!"
Following these tips will help your pet feel safe, while also helping them to have an enjoyable holiday season! And hopefully take some of the party stress off your shoulders as well!
Have a wonderful holiday season! Stay safe and enjoy your gatherings!