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Holiday Manners at Your Holiday Manor
 Nothing could be ruder than a dog that jumps frenetically or hijacks the Yule log as holiday guests walk through the front door. So if that's your pup's official season's greeting, better get her trained now. For starters, make sure your own entrances are low key. Refrain from petting, cooing, or any other reinforcing behavior until your dog's got four feet on the floor.
Then, take it a step further with the help of friends or neighbors. When one knocks or rings the bell, go to the front door, ask for a sit, and reward. Next, open the door, (ask for a sit, if needed), and reward again (don't be a scrooge!). Finally, invite your visitor inside. As long as Spot is sitting calmly, keep the kibble (or small treats) coming. After a few practice sessions over several days, the sound of the doorbell will practically guarantee an attentive, steady sit and you can gradually fade out the food rewards altogether. However, do take the time to give an extra special reward for good behavior now and then to keep your dog's motivation and compliance in good standing.
And what about the Christmas tree? To your pup, it's a giant chew toy: the branches are sticks just waiting to be chomped and the ornaments, chase-able moving parts - all with a scent as tantalizing as the great outdoors. Like any polite holiday reveler, your dog should be free to enjoy it - appropriately. Chewing, pawing, and marking are definite no-nos, so now is a great time to brush up on "off" and to bring out the interactive dog toys early - don't wait for the holiday itself!
A more exciting option? Distract Spot with a rousing game of Find It. That is, hide treats or toys around the room (or around the house) and tell your pup, "Go find it!" If she's never played before, be sure to "hide" the treats in very obvious places, like the middle of the floor. As she catches onto the game, gradually make the hiding places more challenging.
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Hazards for the Holidays
It's the most wonderful time of the year, right? Unless you're rushing to the veterinary emergency room because Spot got into the chocolates meant for Santa. Potential hazards abound, so be sure to check out the below list of holiday Dos and Don'ts. One final piece of advice for the season: Stick to your regular routine - feeding, walking, playing - as much as you can. Dogs thrive on predictability, and your best friend will appreciate every ounce you can give him. · If you're planning to bedeck your house or tree with holiday lights, DO keep those electrical cords off the floor and out of reach. Curious pups may chew right through them, causing possible electrocution.
· And speaking of lights, dogs can get tangled in the strings, especially if they're "chasing" brightly-colored flashing bulbs, and become caught or burned. DO supervise your dog.
· Tinsel can be toxic - DON'T let your dog ingest it. Ornaments are another potential hazard, as hooks (or other tiny parts) wreak havoc if swallowed.
· Poinsettias might as well as be called poison-settias. DON'T let your pup nibble. Ditto, mistletoe.
· Lighting a menorah? DO keep it - and any burning candles - waaaaaaay out of Spot's sniffing, wagging, and pawing radius.
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Better Know A Blogger
Sue Pearson
 Professional Background:
I have always loved teaching, and I have always, always, always loved dogs.
As a teen-ager, I spent my summers as a life-guard at the local swimming pool, and also taught swimming lessons to young children and to adults and quickly realized how much I enjoyed teaching others. Several years later, I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education and Special Education from the University of Iowa and I was off and running. I've spent the past three decades as a classroom teacher, and an educational consultant for the University of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Education. In 1986, I acquired Jessie Beagle and signed up for a local obedience class and knew before the first class was over that I really wanted to teach training classes. I started helping with and teaching classes for our local obedience club and the community college, and competed for several years in obedience (yes, with a beagle!) In 1994, I opened SPOT & CO. Dog Training.
Little Known Facts:
Right up there with my passion for dogs is my passion for music. I play trumpet, piano and guitar and have long been a closet accordionist. I also like tinkering with the lyrics to music. In the springtime you can often find me trekking through the Iowa timber in search of the elusive morel mushroom. When I have time (!) I like to ride my bike, read, write and quilt -- and secretly, I believe that I was a beagle in another life. I am food driven, have a keen sense of smell, and I like to sing.
Training Tip:
Find a trainer who teaches puppy classes using positive reinforcement, and take your puppy to puppy class. Provide as many opportunities to socialize your puppy with new people (men, women, and children), places, and friendly dogs as you possibly can. The first few months of a puppy's life are an incredibly important time to develop social skills and confidence, and what you do during that time period will shape the type of dog your puppy will become.
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