I’m a dog behaviourist – the ultimate free tip keeps your reactive pooch calm when guests are over this Christmas
IF your dog’s mortal enemy is the door bell then you know all too well how loud Christmas can be.
The chaos of guests arriving into your home can be enough to send your reactive pooch into a barking frenzy but a simple step can help.
Leading dog behaviourist Colin Tennant has issued festive advice to dog owners this Christmas.
He revealed the handy hack you can use to instantly calm down your pooch when guests arrive.
And the best part, it won’t cost you a penny.
Speaking in partnership with Asda Pet Insurance, Colin advised dog owners to play classical music to keep their canine calm amidst all the festive excitement.
“Classical music has a lower BPM (beats per minute) than other styles of music, which helps to lower your dog’s heart rate, and can have a calming effect,” the expert explained.
For a cosy night in with your pup, he suggested opting for an iconic festive film with lots of classical music.
According to Colin, this step can held to end the day on a peaceful, bedtime-ready note.
This can be particularly useful after a manic day full of lots of visitors, doorbell ringing, and present wrapping.
“While dogs see and hear things differently from humans, much like us, they respond positively to stimuli that are familiar to them,” the canine professional continued.
“For example, films with high-pitched sounds, capture attention as they can remind them of their toys or the tone of their owner’s voice.
“They are also intrigued by movement and the sight of other animals from their walks outside.
“So put on a film that’s familiar to them and consider factors like room temperature, TV volume and lighting, and you’ll have the recipe for a movie night the whole family will enjoy this Christmas.”
And when you’re settling down to watch these festive flicks, the canine expert recommended surrounding your pooch with familiar faces.
“A dog will never feel overwhelmed by the number of people it knows in a room but if there are unknown people to your dog, this can prolong the settling down period,” he explained.
Colin also advised dog owners to keep their dog’s routine as much as possible over Christmas.
Top 10 festive films enjoyed by dogs
Asda Pet Insurance surveyed dog owners to find out the top festive flicks enjoyed by pooches. Of the 70% who reported watching Christmas movies with their dog, these were the favorites:
- Home Alone – 29%
- The Grinch (animated) – 28%
- Elf -23%
- The Polar Express – 22%
- Love Actually – 20%
- The Santa Clause
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Jingle All the Way
“When it comes to the perfect time to kick off your festive movie night, I always try and aim for early evening before my dog’s bodily sleep clock kicks in,” he said.
“It’s best to kick off movie night after your dog’s final walk and early enough that it doesn’t go on later than their usual bedtime.”
You should also try to avoid louder Christmas movies which may trigger your reactive pooch.
Research carried out by Asda Pet Insurance found that Die Hard was one of the worst received Christmas movies by dogs.
The action-packed thriller was only reported to be enjoyed by 10% of pet owners surveyed.