Deck your halls with Fido in mind

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Summary

'Tis the season in which people the world over willingly and of sound mind invite chaos into their lives. We dangle from ladders while stapling lights to our rooftops. We drag trees from the outside inside. We flit from party to party and engage in full-on battle at the stores. And through it all, there is the dog.

While a dog doesn't know Santa from the Pope, he's no fool. He sniffs change in the air, excitement on the horizon, and he may or may not like it. That all depends on you.

Here are a few things you can do to keep your dog safe and feeling secure during the holly, jolly madness of the holidays.

Keep the food out of reach. This goes double for candy and chocolate, both of which can be extremely toxic — even fatal — for dogs. While turkey and gravy leftovers are unlikely to kill your dog, they aren't good for him, either. Dogs have sensitive digestive systems, and sugary or fatty treats are likely to invoke a wave of upset — on his stomach and your state of mind.

Designate the tree, the lights and the decorations off-limits. You can make this easier to enforce by hanging things like lights, holly and mistletoe high overhead. (Holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are also toxic to dogs.) A small fence around the Christmas tree will keep the pooch out of its water and away from fragile, tasty-looking ornaments.

Utilize the crate. For dogs that are crate-trained, this is the simplest solution to the problem of keeping the chaos of Christmas away from your dog. To properly crate-trained dogs, the crate represents a safe place of his own. Its floor is lined with a fleece bed or a soft blanket. A few of his favorite toys await inside. It's quiet, comfortable and familiar — qualities dogs love and need, and that are likely to be compromised come Christmastime.

Remember the power of the leash. When used properly, the leash is perhaps the most powerful link between dog and owner. It gives the owner a degree of control he or she might not otherwise have, especially in crowded or overwhelming circumstances, i.e., a holiday party. And it keeps the dog safe. Whenever you have a high-traffic situation at home — many people coming and going — keep your dog on a leash to help ensure he doesn't slip out and get hit by a car or lost. The last thing you want is to have to make a dramatic exit from your own party to take an emergency trip to the vet.

Accidents happen because people are busy being busy. This holiday season, don't be too busy to give your dog a merry Christmas.

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.