How to Prepare Your Aggressive Dog for Thanksgiving
Written By Lauren Tsao, MS, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, enjoy a delicious meal, and give thanks for all that we have. For many of us, our dogs are part of our family and we want for them to be included in the holiday festivities. However, the increased activity level and the number of people in the home during Thanksgiving can be overwhelming for even the calmest of dogs. If your dog is aggressive or reactive, it is important to take some extra precautions to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday. With some careful planning and management, you can make Thanksgiving a success for both you and your furry friend. Here are four tips to help your Thanksgiving run smoothly this year.
Start with Management
Your safety, as well as the safety of your guests and your dog, should always be the top priority. If you are concerned that your dog may become aggressive or reactive around guests, it is important to take precautions beforehand. Dogs who are not well-socialized or who have a history of aggression should always be kept on a leash around strangers. If your dog has never met your family members before, Thanksgiving is likely not the best time for first introductions due to how overwhelming the number of people and length of time they could be visiting. It is best to perform introductions when you have a quiet day with nothing planned and you can allow your dog to take the time they need to adjust to the new person.
Another way to prepare your home for Thanksgiving is to have a thorough management plan for your dog, as well as a safe location, like a crate or room behind a pet gate, where your dog can go if they come too stressed or overwhelmed. If you don't already have them, now is the time to invest in pet gates, crates/kennels, and basket muzzles. You may also want to consider using a basket muzzle if you think there is any chance your dog may bite. This will help keep your dog safe and reduce bite risk while also giving you peace of mind.
I recommend the use of vinyl bite-proof basket muzzles here at Faithfully Yours Dog Training because not all muzzles are bite-proof, despite common belief otherwise. Nylon muzzles or groomer’s muzzles should never be used for prolonged periods of time because they restrict your dog’s ability to pant, which can lead to the dog passing out or overheating. A well-fitted basket muzzle provides the ability to pant while keeping others safe and allowing you space to give treats through the muzzle. Another plus of muzzles on Thanksgiving is they can prevent the dog from quickly grabbing any dropped food they shouldn’t eat.
As for creating a safe space for your dog, you also need to consider if it will keep your family and friends safe from your dog. I prefer that a dog with an aggression history has at least two points of management between them and the people/other dogs they might aggress towards. For example, if you are crating your dog, having the crate out of sight of the guest in another room with the door closed would be better and safer than having the crate in the middle of all the Thanksgiving hustle and bustle. When using pet gates in this way, we install our pet gates so the door in the doorway the pet gate is installed on can still be closed properly. I also prefer metal pet gates that screw directly into the door frame - not ones that sit in the doorway unattached or use tension to stay up. This is extremely important to consider for dogs who are larger and might jump up on the gate and knock it down. I also prefer pet gates with the auto-close feature, so the gate closes behind you on its own.
If your dog isn’t kennel or crate trained yet, now is the time to get started. Don’t think you will easily train this Thanksgiving day. This is a skill that takes time and Thanksgiving is a long event with many exciting smells, sounds, and more that your dog might not be overjoyed about being separated from. I recommend using positive reinforcement-based methods to train your dog to enjoy their kennel. Additionally, filling their kennel with toys and treats they can safely have while unsupervised can help prevent boredom inside the kennel. There are also plenty of high-tech devices for dogs now that could be helpful to you on Thanksgiving day, like the Treat N Train, Pet Tutor, or Pup Pod devices. Each one can trigger to give treats while you aren’t in the other room using a remote or your phone. Some even reward the dog for being quiet and not barking while you aren’t in the room. The Pup Pod is especially cool because it has games available that your dog can play and earn treats for completing while you aren’t even in the room. However, it is important to make sure your dog is comfortable with these devices and familiar with them before you leave them alone with them.
Other good ideas include refilling your dog’s behavioral and pain medication prescriptions ahead of time (or discussing adding these medications with your vet if you believed they are needed in your situation), making sure your dog’s microchip and ID tag information is updated, and that your dog’s basic needs are met easily on Thanksgiving day. That means having the water bowl filled ahead of time, making sure they are still fed at their usual times, and that you have a plan for safe and quiet potty breaks, even when the guests are present. And don’t forget many behavioral or pain medications need to be given in advance of any stressful events!
2. Inform Your Family and Friends About Your Dog's Behavior
It is important that your family members and friends are aware of your dog's behavior around strangers before they come over for Thanksgiving dinner. If your dog is more reserved around new people, let them know so they can give your dog space and not force interactions. I recommend also putting up signs on any doors that dogs might be behind so, people are aware that they shouldn’t open the door or bother the dog inside. (Here is a free one we made you that you can download and print out!) You can also opt to clearly mark your bathroom door or any room the guests might need to use while they visiting, so they don’t mistakenly enter the room with the dog inside.
At my training facility, I have the bathroom clearly marked with a sign, but also leave the door open with lights on to invite people in. My rooms with dogs inside have signs on them about the dogs and the doors always remain closed to prevent students from wandering into a space with dogs inside. It is also important to let guests know about any triggers that may cause your dog stress or excitement so that they can avoid those situations. For example, if kids running around makes your dog anxious, let them know so they can keep an eye on the kids and make sure they're not bothering your dog when he's trying to relax.
If your dog is comfortable enough around your friends and family to be out and about during Thanksgiving, I generally provide a mat, dog bed, or open crate for my dogs to rest on during big events. While the mat or bed is visible to the guests, I inform them that if my dog is in their crate or on their bed, they are tired and they aren’t interested in interacting anymore. My dogs have done this for so many years now that they will put themselves on their beds or in their crates when they want a break. Though this does take some time for the dog to understand and you will need to make absolutely sure the dog is never bothered when on their bed or in their crate.
I understand that judgment from family members and friends can be hurtful and that it can be hard to be upfront about what you and your dog are struggling with. However, it is best that all guests are informed upfront about these behaviors so, they can stay safe when visiting you and they know you are taking precautions to keep them safe in your home. I will be leading a free online support group Zoom call for owners of more challenging dogs right before Thanksgiving this year. Make sure you join us, as the topic will be on other people’s judgment of our dog’s behavior and how that can feel. Everyone is welcome - previous student or not!
3. Know When to Put Your Dog Away
There will likely be times during Thanksgiving when your dog becomes overwhelmed or stressed, even if they are generally friendly with everyone they meet. When this happens, it is important to know when to put them away in a safe place—preferably their crate or a room where they can't escape—so they can relax and de-stress. There is no shame in admitting that your dog isn't ready for the chaos of Thanksgiving dinner and taking steps to ensure their safety and well-being.
While it is a good idea to have multiple of these management items in place if your dog has bitten before or if animals or children will be present for Thanksgiving, due to the unpredictable nature of animals and children, I recommend that you be prepared for your dog to spend the entire day in their safe and secure location away from your guests or that owners even consider boarding them at their vet’s office if other dogs or children will be attending their Thanksgiving event or their dog has severely injured someone before. These are special situations that will require more caution.
You also need to consider your enjoyment and stress levels on the day. You will be cooking, entertaining guests, and cleaning. Thanksgiving alone is a stressful day for humans and throwing an aggressive dog into the mix can be overwhelming. If you feel like the situation could become overwhelming, it is best to have a boarding plan for Thanksgiving ahead of time and book your spots early so, you can make sure your dog can get in, as this holiday is a popular time for dog boarding facilities.
If you do have to keep your dog away from the Thanksgiving festivities, on the day of, put your dog in a safe location away from the hustle and bustle of guests arriving. Provide him with a Kong or other food puzzle toy filled with his favorite treats or even some unseasoned green beans or boiled skinless boneless chicken with the fat removed (a healthy alternative to traditional holiday foods) or use any of the ideas above in the management section of this blog post. This will help keep him occupied and distracted from all the commotion.
4. Take A Break When You Need To
Last but not least, don't forget to take breaks when you need them! Caring for a pet can be exhausting at times, especially during busy holidays like Thanksgiving. If you start feeling overwhelmed or frazzled, take a few minutes (or even an hour) to yourself to relax and regroup. It's ok to step away from the festivities for a little while or enjoy spending some time with your friends and family without worrying about what your dog is doing in their crate or at boarding. Preparing in advance will help decrease your stress level, but as with any event with multiple factors, it can always be scary to think “what if something goes wrong.” Just take a deep breath and remember that you have prepared to the best of your ability. You have thought about the possibilities and planned from them. You have done your part, so now it’s time to enjoy your holiday!
Thanksgiving doesn't have to be a stressful time for you or your dog. Remember that safety should always be the top priority when dealing with an aggressive or reactive dog. With some careful planning and preparation, you can make it a success for everyone involved. By following the tips above—adding management options to your home, informing your guests about your pet's behavior, and knowing when to put them away—you can make Thanksgiving a holiday to remember (without any drama).
If you need help from a certified professional dog trainer experienced with addressing dog aggression and reactivity or a certified dog behavior consultant to help you prepare your dog for Thanksgiving, contact me here for help in the Jackson, MS metro area or worldwide virtually.
