Not every gathering is going to be dog-friendly, but sometimes you’ll be able to bring your pup to a party – or host one yourself. Dogs are social animals, and can really enjoy having so many people to get attention from – add a bunch of dog lovers into the mix, and it’s a match made in heaven!
But partying with your pup isn’t all fun and games. It can be stressful, too. At home, you might be really good at not leaving potentially dangerous things out for your pup to get to, but other people at a party or gathering might not even think about keeping chocolate and alcohol, for example, out of reach – wouldn’t your pup prefer one of the best long lasting dog chews instead?
And that’s why certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has shared some advice for when you’re hosting friends or throwing a party as a dog parent – and it’s worth taking on board for when you’re attending somebody else’s party, too. Let’s take a look.
Goodman begins by explaining that keeping your dog safe and out of trouble when you have people over is all down to good management. “The management I utilized with Aspen throughout the night were baby gates, keeping her on leash when I let her join the party, and for potty breaks,” she says, referring to her own dog.
To prevent Aspen from getting bored, and to allow her to decompress, Goodman also gave her a good chew and a quieter spot to relax in away from the main party action. “Aspen is a social butterfly who loves making new friends, so I wasn’t worried about how she would do,” she explains, “It’s more so about easy access to food and drinks, much of which being dangerous for dogs to ingest. I also don’t expect or rely on guests to be diligent about not leaving things where dogs can get to them.”
Rather, Goodman tries to make it easy for everyone to have a good time at the party. She says in the caption that some trained skills can come in useful for parties and gatherings, too (here are 32 quick and easy tricks to teach your dog), but that it’s easier to lean more on management.
And remember, your dog doesn’t have to be involved in the party. Not all dogs are total social butterflies, or your pup might like to alternate between meeting people and having time by themselves. As fun as a party or gathering can be for dogs, it might also get a bit much at times. If your pup would prefer to have some quiet time in another room with a toy or a chew, that’s great!
If you have a younger dog and you’d like some advice on socializing them, setting them up well for gatherings and parties in the future, you might find the advice in this article useful: I'm a dog behaviorist and these are my 6 tips for socializing a puppy.
