(06w48) Dealing with the holidays when we have pets...

[Michael]

As the first TOTW, we thought a timely theme would be appropriate. So, we'd like to ask for discussion on the topic of Pets and the Holidays. Since we're in the midst of a few holidays...the main holiday time of the year, it should be a good time to discuss this. As most, if not all, of us have at least one pet in our homes, this is very important. Holidays mean travelling, having friends/family visit, lots of in and out of the house, boxes and trees and other decorations that aren't there during the rest of the year, and usually plenty of food and sweets, etc. As lots of these can cause health concerns for our pets, just looking out for their well being during this time is vitally important. But there are also issues of possibly needing to board our pets or have someone watch them, or accomodations when travelling with them, etc. There are tons of things to consider when we have pets at this time of year, and it'd be nice to hear what members have experienced, learned, etc. over the years. Any good advice to share? And horror stories to help us learn things to avoid? Any good lists you know of to share for this time of year? Anything related to having pets and dealing with the holidays is what this topic is here for this week. Add whatever you feel will be helpful for others....

[Michael]

Since we have nearly twin boards with the eskie board, I also started a like section there as well. Part of my thinking is to keep the weekly topics similar, so we might be able to share advice and information across the boards....sometimes we may post things here that are worth sharing with the eskie folks, and sometimes vice versa. Below is already an example of that.....someone on the EB posted the following links after doing a bit of research:

http://www.cyberpet.com/dogs/articles/lexi/holisafety.htm

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/living_with_dogs/111650

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1674&articleid=932

Hopefully that will give a little bit more to go on for the topic here as well. Feel free to add another thoughts, ideas, etc. on this topic as well.

[Helen]

Oh man.  Thanks for the articles Michael.

I'm cancelling Christmas. 

Helen

[zefi]

My solution: dont go anywhere. Rarely travel at all if I can help it!

Basically its just too hard when you have dogs and dont have a 'live-in/family/partner' to help!

[zpoodle]

My solution: dont go anywhere. Rarely travel at all if I can help it!

Basically its just too hard when you have dogs and dont have a 'live-in/family/partner' to help!

Amen to that Zefi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Mindy
Zorcon Poodles
Toys and Standards
Visit us at:
http://members.tripod.com/zpoodle/index.html

[auntie c]

we are the lucky ones... this is where our poodle community comes in really handy...

none of us ever has to even think about our poodle babies when planning holidays.
there is usually an argument or two, as to who is going to take whom evers poodle.

as you know we recently went to indonesia for 2 weeks. and the poodle community
just step on in and take our babies. they still get to see all the poodles each day, still do the usual cafe breakfast, still get to go to the beach every day. life is just as the norm for them.

at the moment stanley's (a 10mth apricot standard boy) mum and dad have gone to mexico
to visit their daughter for 3 weeks. stanleys life continues just as usual, this morning we went for a walk to the beach, he played with all his friends, went to breakfast, lay around under the trees at the park while i read the paper.  and so on.....

as zefi has said before, the "newcastle poodles are some of the the luckiest poodles in the world" or so we keep reminding them.

happy holidays

carlene, harry who, pearl the girl and prince stanley

[zefi]

A network like that is a real blessing.

Having a dog in show coat though really does complicate matters. I know I can get someone to come stay here (if I can find someone I mean) and look after Billy and/or Pagan, but Montana needs someone who knows poodles and coat care. So while I have a dog in show coat the deal is I either take her with me anywhere I go or I dont go for longer than 3 days.

[auntie c]

if tassie wasnt sooo cold, i would stay with them for you....

carlene, harry who, pearl the girl...

[zefi]

Tassie isnt always cold!!! We get pretty hot in summer, up in the valley here.... so anytime you want a Tasmanian holiday let me know!

[auntie c]

35-40 degrees lying by a pool is my idea of a holiday.....

let me know when you can organize that..

carlene, harry who and pearl the girl

[Michael]

Awww....now, you are way too spoiled, Carlene! Tassie isn't that bad.....it's actually quite nice!

And I agree with the rest of the comments about either staying home or needing someone to take care of the dogs. When I worked in boarding, Christmas was our biggest time of the year. Other holidays ranked up there too, but none were as big as Xmas. Lots of people boarded their dogs, but most of those people had 1 or 2 dogs at most. Having more, and a poodle in show coat...well, that gets into another realm altogether, definitely. But, I know we all make the best of our situations no matter what.

I remember the first Christmas I had Jamie....I went and bought her this large stuffed teddy bear....it was as big as her, but cute as can be (I couldn't resist!). She played with him a little, but was too much for her to drag around, so now and then she'd use him for a pillow, but she was never overly impressed. So, I learned that big toys were not a big deal to her.....she just wanted to be with me. So my time was the best gift I could give her. Now Amber......little miss-squeaky-toy-lover....I could get her a new toy every hour every day and she'd never have enough. Shelby rolls with the punches....she seems to enjoy life no matter what.