What should I do?
 

We are having about 15 family members over for Thanksgiving dinner. Last year we were able to have Ian spend a few hours at Camp Bow Wow on that day, so he could have fun in a safe environment. Camp Bow Wow has always had a 3 night minimum during holidays, but that was waived last year for us because space was available. This year, apparently they are full, so the 3 night rule is in affect. Question (s)- What do you do with your fur baby when you have a lot of guests? Ian would want to be part of the activities, so keeping him in another room is not an option, even if we checked on him. That would be too upsetting for him. We will pay for three nights, if they have a cancellation.

It sounds like you want to get them into the camp, so hope that works.

For us when we are having a bunch of company (like tonight) ... I either keep my girls on a leash or put them in a crate/room for awhile until everything settles down. Then I carefully let them out to greet people. If things look dangerous for them (food dropping, children running around, etc.) , they go back upstairs in their room. There is nothing worse than company chaos to cause our well behaved dogs to do something uncharacteristic. I would rather keep my girls safe, even if they are a little unhappy about this.

:thumbup::thumbup:

When we have had a lot of company, I have used the xpen and my bedroom. Teddy was okay with being in my bedroom during Thanksgiving dinner because he has a window perch in the room. Is there something like a window view that would make Ian happy in a closed off room?

I keep mine in another room with the door locked, I can't enjoy if i am worrying about one getting stepped on

When we have a lot of guests over, jasmin will be in her crate. Her crate is in the kitchen so she gets to see the people but in her safe space.

Maggie is 10 pounds so less risk of being stepped on. She's learned to stay out of the way. Are there going to be many small children? They would be my only concern as far as possible injuries. I always warn guests not to drop chocolate and keep an eye on the floor.

We have had some events with a lot of people and I have noticed that Maggie will just go find a quiet place if she needs to. A couple times we couldn't find her, only to realize she had gone into her crate! She only sleeps there at night, but the door is always open during the day and if she is freaked out (like when the new heater was getting installed--lots of banging and drilling) she will go in there. I guess she feels safe.

My boys are in their play pen which is set up in living room

If it was all family, we let them run around bc we are all dog lovers and all have small dogs, so we all know the drill (watch your feet! lol). Otherwise, if it was more of a party - then we keep them in our bedroom with either the door closed, or with a little fence in front of the door.

What if he had a bone in the other room while things were going on? Would that help him accept being in another room? Does he get anxiety with a bunch of people over? If yes, there's nothing wrong w/ asking your vet for something for anxiety over the holiday...just a thought.

I would say an xpen somewhere where he can see you.

Mine don't do well alone and just get stressed.

I'd just bring his crate right into the room where the family is, give him some toys/chews/treats in it and allow him to be part of the celebration in the room, safe from big feet, kids and the accidents little dogs can have underfoot in a group of people and take him out for frequent lap visits with a few people at a time and then back in the crate. At least he'll be in the midst of the fun.

for a party of that size Lola would stay here. For a really big party I have been lucky to be able to take her to a neighbor's house two doors away that was attending the party.

What about putting a baby gate up in a room so he can see out and see everyone, but he's in a safe spot and he still has the run of a room.

I rarely have any company in my house, but I've taken my dogs to my moms for picnics and family gatherings. I keep them on leashes but it's a lot of work to watch them and it's hard to socialize. I am sure it would be even harder if i were hosting.

Can you set up a play pen in a room where he can see every one but still be safe? Callie is always out when we have company but I always have my eye on her and she doesn't go out the door or anything. She normally just lays at my feet.

When we have gathering at my house, I just let Magnus/Zoey loose. Magnus is big enough where I don't have to worry about but with Zoey, I do tend to carry her around if it seems too crowded. I can't put them in another room or gated room where they can see b/c they'll bark their heads off...

Have you tried this site: Dog Boarding Just Got Awesome! | DogVacay

Maybe you can find a good pet sitter that can look after your baby for few hours?

I put ZoE in my bedroom when I have a lot of guests over.

It's just not worth the risk of her getting hurt from many people walking around, or risking her getting loose from people coming in & out of the door. She's the most valuable thing to me in my house, so I protect her as such.

She sleeps in my bed everyday while I'm at work (even though she has the run of the house), so she's used to being there. I give her a couple of special treats, like peanut butter smeared in a kong or a frozen treat in summer.

Thank you for all of the great suggestions! :-) I'm leaning towards keeping Ian at home. He has a nice area in our bedroom with his chair near a large window so that he can look out. That is where he stays while we're at work. I looked at the link about home sitters, but most of them made me nervous because some of the owners have large dogs, unfenced yards, or more than one dog of their own. I don't want Ian around a large dog, even if the owner alleges that he is friendly, yards (fenced or not) are a concern because of fire ants and hawks, and multiple owner dogs are a concern because I don't want them to gang up on Ian. Yes, I admit that I am a protective mom, and I know you understand.
Ian does have anxiety issues when there are other people in his home; he thinks everyone is there to see him, and does not like to be isolated. I'm still working on a solution for that...not sure about giving meds for that, idk. Yes, this will be a little difficult since I am hosting, but I want Ian to have a nice Thanksgiving as well. :-)

Did you ever say whether he is teeny tiny (under 7 pounds)? If he is not teeny tiny then I think you may be anticipating problems that might never happen (if he is tiny maybe you are afraid he will get hurt?). Is he that high strung that he will freak out? I would think that if he can handle doggie camp that he can handle guests. You say he has anxiety when people come over, yet you say that he thinks they are there to see him....that doesn't quite make sense to me. Does he like the people to come see him or not?

Maggie loves people. She thinks everyone is there to see her too. She doesn't mind the people, but I think she gets a little overwhelmed so she goes to a quiet, or safe, place. Cordless drills and fireworks frighten her so she goes to the same spot. Preferably with me, but if I'm not there she goes in her crate. I knew she was sick one day when I came home and she was in her crate because there was nothing scary that day.

Anyway, I have a bad habit of "what if"...what if she is afraid, what if she eats something, what if....I did it with my sons job this summer...what if he doesn't pass the test...what will he tell the next job, what will he put on his resume, where will he apply..all that and he passed the test... (only to be laid off 4 months later) I was getting ahead of myself.

Your Ian will probably be fine, you may be "what if-ing" when you don't really need to. Start now to find him a "safe" spot and get him used to it. It will be fine--unless you guys are a bunch of crazy maniacs.......

No, we're very low-keyed. We only have a lot of people (more than 4 for us) in our home once a year, so Ian isn't used to having so many people in his house. He is very friendly with people and pets and likes to be part of the mix. He does have a large area, with a view, as I stated, but he does get overwhelmed if he is separated from us, when we are home. No, I'm not "what if-in," I know my dog. Ian weighs 9.3lbs. :)

I have an xpen for Galen because he is a bug of a guy. He stays in the kitchen in his pen when we have a big parties. He loves people and wants to be social with everyone. He even escaped the last time and wanted to play with everyone.

If it is just family we let our girls run around. If we are having a bigger crowd over, that are not used to them, then we put the girls in the den away from the party.

Be sure to let everyone know that you don't want your dog to have people food. Chances are, kids are going to want to pick him up too. Make sure you set the ground rules. Last time I had my dogs at a big party, I carried him 90 percent of the time. Fortunately, I wasn't hosting the party.

That's what we will do, get an xpen.:):thumbup: