A little prep goes a long way
There's a lot you have to think about when hosting a Thanksgiving meal at your home, from what's on the menu, to who's coming, to what the place settings are going to look like. If you're a pet owner, you must also think about how your pet will react to all the new people lounging and eating food in its territory. Just because your dog or cat is friendly with new people doesn't mean it'll be on its best behavior on Thanksgiving. Click through for some helpful tips on how to keep your pets on their best behavior during Thanksgiving.
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Are there kids?
If you're hosting a Thanksgiving, there's a good chance you will have some kids in your house. For pets who aren't usually around kids, this is a new and educational experience. Find out from the kids' parents how much they know about pets and if they've ever been around them before. Sometimes small kids don't understand the proper way to touch a pet and can cause serious harm. Prepare to quarantine your pets away from the kids during dinner.
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Introduce pets and guests
You wouldn't fail to introduce a new person to your family and friends on Thanksgiving, so you shouldn't leave your pets out of that process. Even if your guests have met your pet in the past, make an introduction so you can see how your pet responds to new people. You should do these introductions even if your pet is usually friendly towards everyone. You never know how your pet will react with a house full of people and delicious food everywhere.
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Know that not all guests are pet people
Not everyone welcomes a dog or cat's presence, especially around food. Understand and accept your guests' feelings and act accordingly to make them feel comfortable at your house. That may mean leaving the dog outside for most of the day, or keeping your kitty in a quiet room somewhere away from the party. Don't take this personally or view it as an insult—some people just don't like pets. Not everyone understands why you think it's perfectly fine to let your dog beg for a handout.
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Pet-proof food serving area
Ever see that scene in "A Christmas Story" when the neighbor's hound dogs sneak in the house and eat almost all of the Thanksgiving turkey? That could happen to you if you're not careful about keeping food out of the reach of your pets. Keep food high enough so your pet can't reach it. If you have a counter-hopping cat, make sure you cover all your food items, especially if you're not going to be around to shoo it away. And remember, tall dogs can easy reach the tops of counters. Taking measures to prevent your pets from having access to your Thanksgiving meal will both save your holiday and save your pet from an upset stomach or something worse.
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Keep allergies in mind
To some people, having pets around means hours of sneezing and sniffling—hardly something anyone wants to do during Thanksgiving. There's not much you can do to prevent allergic reactions, but you can make an effort to lessen the issue. Keep your pets away from the party by segregating them into a quiet room. Vacuum, dust and wipe down your home to get rid of as many allergens as possible.
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Mind the door
Having a house full of family and friends means that front door is going to get a lot of action. This could cause an issue if you have a stealthy cat that likes to sneak out or a dog with a tendency to bolt. You could try your luck and ask your guests to remember to close the door, but why burden them with that issue? Keep your escape-artist pet in a room where it can't get out or restrict its movement with a baby gate so that it can't get to the front door at all. This will prevent an incident where you're spending your Thanksgiving night worrying or out in the streets looking for your pet.
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Alone time
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at your house, with all the new people, the kids and the tempting smells of cooking food can be stressful and confusing for a pet. Give your furry friend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the party in a quiet room in the house or outside in the yard for part of the day. This is especially true if you have little ones visiting and your pet isn't used to being around kids.
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Embrace the Kong
If you don't want your dog pestering you underfoot while you're cooking, try keeping it occupied with high-value treats/toys. Stuff a Kong with turkey or something else your dog loves and let him spend hours trying to get all that goodness out of it.
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Give your pets a Thanksgiving treat
If your pet has been especially good—given all the craziness of this holiday—it would be a nice gesture to serve them a pet-size Thanksgiving meal. This means a small piece of turkey, some sweet potatoes (before buttering) and anything else pet-safe. Just don't give your pet a full plate, as the richness of the food could cause stomach upset and result in a messy Thanksgiving indeed.
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Watch out for tails
Tail-proof any areas that guests may set down their drinks, like the coffee table, side tables, etc. Depending on the size of your dog, this could mean keeping it out of rooms where people are going to be socializing—some dogs' tails are so prone to knocking something over that it's just easier to segregate them.
Image via Back in the Pack dog portraits via Getty Images
