Local Trainer Offers Advice for Dogs on How to Keep Season Merry Published in The Missourian Wednesday, December 20, 2000 Christmastime can be an especially stressful time for dogs, as much as it is for their human owners. So local dog training and behavior consultant Vicky Lee, of Pawsitive Home School Dog Training in Washington, offered the following advice to area dogs to help keep the season merry: Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed out than usual. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on your. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers. They may bring a large tree into the house, set it up and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know. Don't water the tree, and don't drink water in the container that holds the tree. Mind your tail when you are near the tree. If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have you name on them, don't rip them open. And don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny looking hole in the wall to the tree. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part. Not all strangers appreciate kisses. Don't eat off the buffet table. Beg for goodies subtly. Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa. Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach. Likewise, you humans may take you visiting. Here your manners also will be very important. Observe all the rules listed above for trees that may be in other people's homes. Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house. Tolerate children. And turn on your charm big time. Finally, a big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night - don't bite him! To The Top © 2004 Pawsitive Home School Dog Training This site created by Innovative Connections