Page 9 - Buddy Life

t’s wonderful to have long-time friends 7. Keep an eye on children or anyone else
who enjoy getting together with you, who might tease or taunt your animal. If
but it’s not good that they don’t take someone does something to upset your
control of their children when they dog or cat, you are not out of line to say
visit your home. There is nothing something like, “It hurts Lucy when you pull
wrong with you or your husband her tail,” or “Misty doesn’t like to be chased.”
saying something to the parents and If your pets aren’t used to children, put the
Ichildren when they misbehave. If they animals in another room or in the fenced-in
don’t follow the rules in your home, you can backyard when the guests with kids arrive.
mention next time that you’re inviting only Gradually introduce them and watch carefully
adults. Consider yourself warned, though, to make sure there is no aggression from the
that they might not want to return if you leave animal or the children. Kids typically have
their children out of the invitation. When you more rapid and jerky movements than adults,
are the host of any type of get-together, plan so it might frighten your animals. Show the
in advance for what to do with your pets. children how to act around your dog or cat,
Younger animals and those who enjoy being and you might discover that they can get
around a lot of people are fun to have at along quite well.
parties and will probably enjoy a little chaos. Before you allow your pet to join the party,
In fact, they often become the life of the party, make sure he’s well trained and won’t jump
as long as they are well trained. Older pets on your guests. Even dog lovers get annoyed
and animals that aren’t used to the faster by an over-eager pooch that knocks them
motions of children might become nervous. over as soon as they enter a room. It’s more
You need to decide whether or not they can difficult to train a cat not to jump on people,
deal with the extra people in the house, and if but most kitties scope out the situation
not, come up with a plan to prevent stressing before doing that. Older cats are more likely
them out. You also need to let your guests to find a place to hide until the “intruders”
know that your pets will be there. Someone leave. Ask your guests not to encourage your
may have allergies to pet dander or a fear of animal’s bad behaviour by laughing at him
animals. Or they may need to prepare their or prodding him to repeat it. Animals are like
children for how to behave around your pets. children and will repeat something that gets
Here is a list of tips on what to do if your pets the attention they enjoy. If your dog growls
will be part of the party: or your cat hisses, remove them from the
1. Make sure all of your guests are aware that situation. You don’t want to risk someone
you have pets. getting bitten or scratched when the animal
2. Train your animal to obey a few essential feels uncomfortable or threatened. If you
commands such as “down,” “sit,” “stay,” and have older or more skittish animals, find a
“no” before you expose them to visitors. safe, familiar space to isolate them during
3. If your animal tends to run outdoors, have the event. This might seem like you’re leaving
someone check the doors often to make sure them out, but it’s better than traumatizing
they remain closed. them by exposing them to children and
4. Check on your pet periodically and look for well-meaning friends who don’t know better
signs of distress. than to chase, poke, and prod. Provide a
5. Make sure you have plenty of food and comfortable area for your isolated pet and
water available for your pet. check on him periodically. Take him out
6. If you have a dog, make arrangements without making a big deal of it with your
to take him out every couple of hours to guests. You don’t want to make people feel
relieve himself. Many animals have overactive bad about your nervous animal. Some people
bladders and tend to piddle when they get might not understand that he’s better off in
excited. Provide easy access to the litter pan your comfortable, familiar bedroom than in a
for your cat. roomful of strangers.

Jan - March, 2018 BUDDY LIFE 9