Thanksgiving is almost here! We’re sharing some safety tips and of course, food ideas for your puppy to ensure you have a happy and worry-free Thanksgiving!
@herbie.doodle
Ah, Thanksgiving! It’s a day many of us look forward to for weeks with mouth-watering anticipation. One of those holidays when you can really kick back and enjoy spending time with family. And our puppies are no exception to the excitement that Thanksgiving has to offer! Think about it from a little puppy’s perspective: new people, lots of movement and sounds, and...the smells! But as exciting as it is, it can also be a time that can cause distress for your puppy. New situations always present risk factors but with our helpful puppy training and Thanksgiving safety tips, the only thing you need to worry about this Thanksgiving is enjoying a feast and feeling grateful!
Can My Puppy Eat Thanksgiving Dinner?
So it’s your puppy’s first Thanksgiving with the family! With the holidays, it’s easy to want to spoil your puppy - they’re your furbaby after all! Knowing what’s safe for your puppy to eat and what isn’t, is the crucial factor between celebrating an enjoyable day with family or ending up with a sick puppy.
But if you’re like us, chances are you don’t know all the different foods from Thanksgiving dinner that your puppy can enjoy right off hand. Here’s a handy graph you can save and reference in the future!
“Don’t let guests feed human food to your puppy because it can make them very sick!”
Making Sure Your Puppy is Safe
With so much prep work that goes into Thanksgiving dinner, it’s super easy to forget that your puppy’s needs aren’t on hold just for the holiday. They need care, attention, and above all security!
Ask for Help!
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, chances are you will be running around with a million things on your list to get done. Avoid finding yourself in a situation where you can’t tend to your attention-seeking puppy and instead enlist the help of a trusted family member or friend to watch over your puppy while you are prepping dinner!
Keep Your Puppy’s Crate Readily Available
The crate is your puppy’s safety zone. With so many people coming and going, loud talking, loud music, new smells, all that stimulation can get overwhelming for a little puppy. Make sure their crate is somewhere they can get to easily and in a quiet, stress-free area of your home.
Be Aware of Your Puppy’s Safety
If you are hosting and plan to be receiving a lot of guests, chances are some of them may forget to close the door at some given point.
Kindly remind family there's a new puppy present and to shut the door, watch where they step, and be mindful of where they leave their food and drinks. Using a playpen or crate while guests are over will help give you added peace of mind that your puppy is happy and safe over the holiday.
“It’s tempting to have your pup hang out and join in on the fun, but the best way to keep them from eating something they shouldn’t or getting into trouble is to use the crate! It’ll keep your pup relaxed even with the chaos of family events!”
Mindfulness also goes for food preparation and dinner time. While prepping food, you’re probably doing two or even three things at once in the kitchen. That spells the perfect time for your puppy to get into something that they shouldn’t. Be careful not to leave anything like knives, forks, corks, food, alcohol, etc., anywhere within your puppy’s reach. An unattended and curious puppy is a recipe for disaster in the kitchen.
Puppy Training Doesn’t Stop Over Thanksgiving
Puppy training shouldn't take a break for Thanksgiving! Instead, use it as a great opportunity to reinforce your pup's good manners by enlisting your guests to help. For example, have your guests greet your puppy when they're (both!) in a calmer state, and remind them to only pet your pup when all four paws are on the floor. Giving attention and affection while your puppy is jumping all over them will only encourage more of that behavior, and make training more difficult, even if it's just for one day!
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No Table Scraps!
Another important situation to watch out for is family and friends giving into the begging “puppy eyes” for table scraps! Of course, we want our puppy to celebrate along with us, but it’s important to remember that their tummies are sensitive. Richly seasoned foods can cause them to get upset, but more so, they could accidentally ingest food that is not safe for them and can be harmful to their health. The last thing you want is to make an emergency vet visit on Thanksgiving! Make sure to save the infographic with safe and not safe Thanksgiving Day foods for your puppy!
“If you’re concerned about your puppy eating table scraps during dinner, use this time to practice crate work. Crating during mealtime is a wonderful and safe choice.”
@wufers @blue_the_sherpador
From our family of pups to our yours, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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