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Day 14: Holiday Guests & Pet Manners — Boundaries, Safety & Happy Greetings

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Day 14: Holiday Guests & Pet Manners — Boundaries, Safety & Happy Greetings

Having guests over during the holidays is joyful, but it’s an environment where boundaries matter for everyone’s safety and comfort. This post covers preparing your dog, teaching polite greetings, and tips for kids around pets.

🏡 Clear Boundaries

  • Designate where your dog can greet guests and where they should not go (e.g., kitchen during serving).
  • Use baby gates or closed doors to limit access when needed.

👋 Teaching Polite Greetings

  • Ask guests to ignore dogs until the dog sits calmly—reward calm approaches.
  • Practice “sit” and “place” in short sessions before gatherings.

👶 Kids & Dogs

  • Supervise interactions and teach children to approach slowly and pet under the chin rather than over the head.
  • Explain that dogs need breaks and should not be woken during naps.


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