Monday, November 20, 2006

Give Thanks for Good Manners



This Thursday, among the list of reasons to be thankful, we've decided to throw in "bowzer being a good boy." With so much activity taking place in the home, between the guests and the turkey and the festivities, your four-legged friends might find cause to cause a scene. Prepare you pup a few days in advance for Thursdays feast to ensure an uninterrupted meal. Sarah Hodgeson, a NY dog trainer, offers up a few relevant etiquette tips from her new book:

* "Establish proper etiquette by creating a special place by your (front) door where your dog can wait ... when company arrives."
* "If you allow your dog to loiter nearby while you are eating, you will almost certainly experience interruptions. ... Politely ask guests to help civilize your dog by ignoring him until the meal has ended."
* Teach your dog "to lie on a floor mat while you dine. To prevent hunger tension, feed your dog his own meal before you sit down to enjoy yours. Then send him to his special mat, instructing him to "Settle."'
* "Table manners for dogs can be reduced to one basic maxim: Eat and drink only from your bowl."
* "If you want to share leftovers (with your dog), then do so in a manner unlikely to disturb your human guests. Wait until you have finished your meal, and then place a sensible portion in his bowl."

Find more tips, and check out the new book here.

Photo found on flickr

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