how to survive a BBQ with your food loving dog. Or cat.
Welcome to this edition of my blog!
And it's all about barbecues and how to survive them with a food loving dog. Or fur-god.
But I don't do barbecues Katie!
No problem but you may know someone that does...send them here it might be useful to them!
OK what's the tip then Katie?
Keep them inside while you cook and eat.
This is what Minnie thinks of all this
KISS
Sounds too simple right? But sometimes, the beauty is in the simplicity. Managing the environment by keeping your pet indoors means there is no chance of them getting burned on the hot coals, nor scalded by hot food that may gain access to, they won't become sick eating under-cooked anything or substances that could be toxic to them, won't get trodden on nor ears or tails pulled by the younglings and they won't be begging everyone attending your barbecue.
Exercise them (the pets not the humans) beforehand, give them plenty of things they can interact safely with and leave them inside, or inside an enclosure such as an xpen in the garden with you if they can't be by themselves.
Teach them what you expect of them
If the dog must be a part of the festivities, teach them a rock solid ‘settle’ beforehand, adding in distractions (stuff that happens around them) until they can settle as long as needed to be safe. Check my blog on settle training for advice.
I once was owned by cat who would steal food off of your plate as you ate...not really appropriate behaviour but I did find it amusing admittedly. And similar with one of my dogs, she once stole a doughnut from someone's hand because I didn't manage her well enough in that scenario and the person was not amused! And the person was a fellow dog behaviourist (Clair Hickson). Oh the shame. I did love that dogs’ sass though!
So go, eat, drink and be merry but manage them dogs and cats and all should be fine. Once food is over and the barbecue has been safely stowed away, the dogs can hop in the pool with you and the cat can do her own thing.
And next time invite me, I love a braai!
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