Pupdate: about...holidays.

About... holidays

By Humanomics Editor, Fox

Humans like to spend some time each year pretending they live somewhere else. They call this a ‘holiday’.

Holidays upset the balance of pack life considerably. You will find your humans are emboldened to take charge and make changes without consultation. Some of my readers have asked how to manage this.

While it is frustrating, my advice is to let the pack take a break (within reason).

During the first few days of a ‘holiday’, your pack will most likely spend time doing the most ordinary things differently. 

They will eat different foods, have different sleeping arrangements and apply different ‘rules’ to home. 

While this usually means fewer rules for humans (going to bed late, drinking and eating more), it often means stricter rules for dogs. Our kind may find, for example, that they cannot enter certain rooms of the house, are not allowed to sleep on the bed, or are not taken off lead as much.

Though this is frustrating, I advise you to pick your battles. During a ‘holiday’, your crew are likely to be overexcited, slightly manic, over tired, cross and frustrated. Rarely will you find them in the right mood for training.

Your humans may even say that they wish to move to their holiday location. This strange madness passes as soon as they get home.

On arrival home, you may find that your pack does not bicker or fight as much as usual for the first few days. This doesn't last long. After that, balance is restored and you can resume your leadership as before.

Should your pack go on a ‘holiday’ without you, I am afraid that is a very different story. You must demonstrate your unhappiness as soon as they arrive back, in whatever way you think will be most effective. (I personally favour the protest poo.)

Stay Alpha,

Fox

To stress is human; to relax, canine - Alexander Pup