[NAGDU] How Do You Plan for Christmas

[The Pawpower Pack]

I remember when I was married, my ex husband just brought a new dog home in mid-December.  We brought in the Solstice shrub— our version of the Xmas tree— and his dog lifted his leg on it!  
My retired guide and still semi-active in-home service dog Mill'E has the job of bringing the gifts to the people.  You just have to point it out to her.  She loves it if you allow her to help open it!  And best of all, her favorite thing is to help clean up at the end and put garbage in the bag.  
I travel to my family's house for xmas these days and Soleil is either on leash next to me, or I put her in the traveling kennel with a really yummy bone.  
Xmas with my family is chaos, with the kids, other dogs, and a lot of stimulation my dog does not need.  She enjoys her bone and I can relax a little more not having to worry about her getting stepped on/jumped over/food dropped on her head.  
She is with me at all other times though.  

 Rox and the kitchen Bitches: 
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 10, 2015, at 10:26 PM, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> And no one has mentioned the distructive power of the doggy tails!
> 
> I'm pretty sure my dog's tail has destroyed more ornaments than his
> mouth.  :)  My solution to the gift-opening excitement problem is to
> allow my dog to sit next to me either on the floor, or I break the
> rules and allow him on the couch.  He will stay next to me if I make
> it exciting enough for him at first.  Once I reward him and start
> opening presents, he watches me for a while and then gets board with
> the whole thing.  Lol
> 
> If you have a dog who just loves to be near you, getting them to stay
> down next to you while you open presents won't be too hard, especially
> if you reward them for doing it until they don't want to do anything
> else.
> 
> 
> When we do our larger family gatherings, I keep my dog on leash.
> There is too much noise around for me to hear what he's getting into,
> and I hate trying to call him every minute.  My solution for my own
> short comings is to put him on leash so he has to stay by me, but he
> can still be petted by the little kids and whoever else wants to say
> high.
> 
> One note about dog tails: do not put candles where the tail can hit them.  :)
> 
>> On 12/10/15, Raven Tolliver via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Oh God, if I had all that happening, I think every dog would be
>> kenneled during gift-opening time. The Golden Guy just lays there next
>> to me and watches everyone open there gifts without excitement.
>> 
>> Gift-opening time is at least a training opportunity for the puppy. A
>> chew toy is a good idea. I would keep the puppy on a short leash and
>> reward for sit-stays and down-stays during that time, at least until
>> clean up of gift wrapping and such. She can't get into too much wrong
>> if you show her what's right upfront.
>> 
>> Ask other raisers how they handle their pups and decorative,
>> gift-giving holidays. Surely, the experienced folks have effective
>> approaches for these situations.
>> --
>> Raven
>> Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
>> www.1am-editing.com
>> 
>> You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
>> have or what you do.
>> 
>> Naturally-reared guide dogs
>> https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs
>> 
>>> On 12/10/15, Danielle Sykora via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I'm glad someone brought this up. With three dogs in the house, this
>>> is sure to be an interesting Christmas. I'm thinking we won't put the
>>> presents under the tree until Christmas morning or maybe the night
>>> before. I'm hoping that putting the food related ornaments higher on
>>> the tree is enough but... My guide is a horrible scavenger, super
>>> sniffy and curious, and possesses an intelligence that borders on
>>> frightening. Then there's the puppy, who has never experienced
>>> Christmas trees, decorations, snow, or presents. We'll most likely
>>> give all the dogs something to chew while we open presents. Last year,
>>> Thai kept eating the wrapping paper scraps left on the floor and the
>>> older dog sniffed out her present, discretely picked it up, walked
>>> away, and tried to open it. Silly girl. Now to figure out how to bake
>>> cookies without any being stolen...
>>> 
>>> Danielle, Thai, and Bonnie (GDF puppy in training)
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Julie A. McGinnity
> President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
> Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
> "For we walk by faith, not by sight"
> 2 Cor. 7
> 
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