Washington Home & Garden Blogs

It’s the Holiday Season!! For a lucky few of us, it’s a joyful, peaceful, eggnog-stoked time of year. The tree is straight in its stand on the first try, the lights all work, the cookies don’t burn, Aunt Martha’s fruitcake is actually edible.

For the rest of us? Not so much. We’re stressed, exhausted and broke. Our parenting skills are right down the tubes and the cat is peeing on the fake snow under the tree.

No wonder I advise my clients to wait until after the sleigh bells stop ringing to bring home the new puppy the kids have been begging for. With 35 years experience as a dog obedience trainer, I can say this with some authority: There is no situation that can’t be made more chaotic by adding a baby puppy!

Having said that, I’m sure there are some of you for whom this advice comes a little too late. Either the puppy is already in your home wreaking havoc, or he’s at Aunt Martha’s house eating fruitcake until she delivers him to your kids on Christmas Eve. Either way, there’s still time to take control of this situation.

The first and most important thing you can do to minimize the chaos is confine the puppy. Use your imagination and realize that a puppy with the run of the house is just like a toddler with the run of the house. Disaster for the puppy and disaster for your house is pretty much guaranteed. Invisible Fence indoor gates or baby gates are a must, as is a crate for those times when you are otherwise occupied and can’t keep your eagle eye on Buddy.

Before you cringe at the idea of poor Buddy in a cage, remember that dogs are, by instinct, den animals. They feel safe and secure in a small, enclosed environment – in fact, you may have already noticed that Buddy’s favorite places to nap are under the kitchen table or in the knee-hole of your desk.

If properly introduced to a crate, Buddy will be grateful for the safe haven away from the insanity that is the holiday season (or maybe just an ordinary day at your house!) Be sure to tell the kids that it’s “hands off!” when Buddy’s in his crate. Even puppies deserve the chance to get away from it all.

With the holidays quickly approaching, decorations and lights are being put up around us all the time. Homes are looking more and more festive with each passing day. The lights, candles, trees, ornaments and goodies that come along with this season make it one of the most exciting and beautiful times of year.

A glittering Christmas tree covered in glass ornaments and garland lights up a house like nothing else. Throw in the neatly wrapped presents, the candles adorning the tables and all the delicious foods that you can imagine and you have painted the perfect holiday picture.

Now take that picture and add to it your best friend knocking over the tree, stealing the goose off the table and unwrapping all of the presents…with his teeth. Suddenly your perfect holiday turns into a perfect nightmare. However, things do not have to go that route. There are a million things that could go wrong during the holidays; Invisible Fence® can eliminate those that might stem from your curious pet getting too involved in the festivities and holiday cheer.

With indoor avoidance options as well as outdoor containment systems available, Invisible Fence® can help keep both dogs and cats on their best behavior during the holidays. By setting up an indoor system for your pet behind the Christmas tree or under the dinner table, we can help you to enjoy your celebrations all the while keeping your pet out of trouble.

If he still has too much energy inside the house we can install a dog door in virtually any door in your house so that your pet can let himself in and out to burn some of it off, while allowing you to feel completely confident that your outdoor Invisible Fence® containment system will keep him safe and secure in your yard. Additionally, with the days getting colder and colder an Invisible Fence® system allows your pet to get his exercise, while you are able to stay warm next to the fire.

Our blog is designed to help people understand the different uses for an Invisible Fence® system at varying times throughout the year. Different seasons bring to light different needs for many pet owners.

Through our blog, we will offer solutions, suggestions and advice that you may find helpful as you and your pet encounter new and sometimes challenging situations. Many people are unaware of all the new products that we offer and all of the different solutions we have for providing your pet a safe, happy, and healthy life.

By removing the stress that can be caused by an out of control pet, we are also able to lighten the burden that many pet owners feel. Our pets want more than anything to make us happy; even if they sometimes show it in a funny way.

We can help your pet understand what it is that makes you happy and provide him the pointers that he needs to live a happy life.