Managing your pooches during parties

Although it’s a family affair, exercise caution when it comes to including your pets, writes Sacha van Niekerk

CHILDREN’S parties are the stuff weekends are made of for many parents . The social outings are met with a combination of dread and delight, compounded by the fact that they come without any formal codes of conduct. Do you stay for a drink or do you leave immediately? Do you give an expensive gift or a modest one? And so on.

There is no code and it’s often the child who gets to call the shots.

One thing many parents do feel strongly about though is dogs at parties. Some say if they see a dog running freely among the children, they will excuse their child and go home.

It’s a sensitive issue because most doting pet owners and parents, aware that their “furry children” get along just fine with the human variety, might be offended.

While you might consider your dog to be a beloved member of the family, it’s worth considering how safe it is to have your pet running loose.

Statistics from law firm DSC Attorneys show that South Africa has one of the highest incidences in the world of dog attacks on humans.

Kirstie Haslam, a partner in the firm, says dogs account for 76% to 94% of animal-bite injuries, with dog-bite fatalities being higher due to lack of post-exposure treatment and appropriate access to health care.

While circumstances vary, there are situations that call for caution.

Bronwyn Vickery, a puppy trainer at GoodPet and registered with the South African Board of Companion Animal Professionals, explains how dogs might react to their space being invaded during a party.

“It is probably not a good idea to have pets, especially dogs, loose at a children’s party. Parties are usually noisy and have lots of kids running around, which is stressful for animals, especially when their space or territory has been ‘invaded’.

Suddenly there’s a child sitting or playing where the dog usually lies… Dogs can get pretty stressed out and annoyed,” she warns.

In the excitement, adults might be distracted and can’t supervise dogs and children simultaneously.

“As a dog-parent I would be constantly stressing about people feeding party goodies to my fur-child or worrying about my fur-child biting a human child, especially when it’s not my pet’s fault,” she says.

Parties present a range of dangers for your pets as well as your guests.

“It’s dangerous if the dogs are big breeds because little people get knocked over quickly by boisterous pups.

“The same goes for small breeds like Chihuahuas and Yorkies. These loving breeds can be highly strung and can easily be crushed around hordes of people.

“I’d also be worried about gates being left open because before you know it, your fur-child might decide to escape the chaos and you’ll realise that Fido is missing long after the last guests have gone.”

Vickery provides a few tips to consider when planning your child’s party when there are pets at home:

Try having your party at a venue that caters for children’s parties rather than at home. Most venues that offer party packages are designed for children and play, and have taken safety into consideration.

If your party has to be at home, set up a safe space for your dogs.

"Put your dogs in a secluded area of your home like a back courtyard, patio or room (for smaller pooches) and make it comfortable for them with treats, water, bed and toys. Make sure the guests know this area is out of bounds."

Allow your dog some time to join the party, under supervision.

“If your dog insists on being part of the party (non-stop howling and so on) consider letting them out for a short while but only under constant supervision, no matter how well socialised they are.”

Get a dog-sitter. “Another alternative is to send your fur-child to a trusted babysitter, maybe a neighbour or family. However, only do this if they are familiar with visiting their sitter. Mine go to visit their ‘granny and grandpa’ and have a blast playing with their golden retriever sisters.

“If you are considering having a party at your home, please consider your fur-children’s needs, too. At the end of the day, you want it to be a memorable occasion for all,” says Vickery.