The holidays affect pets, hugely! The holidays can fill homes and humans with stress, anxiety, busyness, joy, happiness or excitement. Sometimes a mix of all of these! Like humans some pets will thrive on the energy and get excited too. These pets may be over active, over stimulated, and over tired by the end. These emotions can cause pets to react out of character. Have extra patience with them. Do not discipline them for their emotions, they are just excited like the humans are! And they will express it by being overly active, jumpy, loud, or wild! Allow them to celebrate and be happy! Animals express their joy without containment.
Containing joy is not something animals know how to do, and truthfully why would we want them to? They are here for such a short time, let them live it up fully an be happy and excited! For these pets, it may be easier (on you) to put them in a crate or a room so you don’t have to baby-sit their energy. But that is not easier for them. If they enjoy the holidays they WANT to be included. And though it is more work for you, they deserve to be included, and deserve to have you watch over them so they succeed. Isolating them will hurt their heart.
But also, keep an eye on these pets. As they become over stimulated they can react quickly and unintentionally from fatigue. When they need a break, put them in a spot where they can take a break.
Some will get anxious and afraid and stressed. To some, it will feel like chaos. Especially when homes get busy with a bunch of people. For pets that are more reserved, not so social, anxious, fearful or nervous, guests in the home can feel like an invasion of their safe space.
For pets that are overly sensitive (this does not mean they are fearful or anxious), this can be overwhelming. These pets absorb the energy and “issues” of every human in the home. We know animals absorb our energy. And even more so, after everyone leaves, their energy lingers. These pets that are extra sensitive will feel this for days, maybe even weeks (if someone was really heavy on emotion). This is all very hard on our pets.
Even the ones that enjoy the excitement of the holidays. It is your responsibility to put your pets first. To watch them to they are set up for success. To have them take a break if needed. Keep guests away from them if needed. Give them a safe and quiet space if needed. Have patience with them. Whether they get excited and happy, or stressed and overwhelmed, they need guidance and support so they can succeed. Our responsibility, not just during the holidays but always is to set our pets up to succeed. It is possible, for every animal in every situation.
