How can I train my dog to behave during the holidays?

Hey folks! This is Frank from Sit Happens Dog Training.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"How can I train my dog to behave during the holidays?"

Answer

the dog and what the actual reactivity looks like. But in those situations, that's if you know your dog is very reactive, whether socially or territorially, you need to get some additional help. A professional dog trainer because again, what we train, going back to the last question, was place. Hey, when somebody knocks on your door, you're going to tell your dog. Again, we can't train out of the dog the reactivity.

 Not all dogs are going to be just very subtle or subdued uh with their demeanor. So, what we train is, okay, yeah, you're going to bark, you're going to react because you know somebody's knocking on the door, but you're going to listen to me to come over here and go to your place and let me invite my guest in let them sit down and I'll I'll let you come off off place to say hello when we're ready. So, that's the best thing. 

Now, if you don't have training, this is the other thing, and you know you're going to have a lot of guests over, put your dog away. And hopefully you crate train your dog, put him in the crate, you know, and then let him out later once all the guests have arrived. 

Yes, he's still going to be excited. Yes, he may not listen that well because he's so excited with the new people because he hasn't had the proper training. But that's the best way I would suggest if your dog has no training at all, put the dog away in a room or in their crate and then let them out later on.

Summary

For training a dog to control itself during the holidays, Frank Silva reiterated the use of the "place" command for reactive dogs, enabling the owner to manage their response when guests arrive (00:08:02). They explained that while reactivity cannot be trained out entirely, the dog can be trained to go to their place and wait until the guests are settled before being allowed to interact. Frank Silva suggested that if a dog lacks any training and the owner expects many guests, the best immediate solution is to put the dog away in a crate or separate room until the guests have arrived and then let them out later (00:09:39). Frank Silva concluded by repeating their holiday message and extending an offer to help local dog owners with any training challenges .