Traveling with dogs can be stressful. Throw in holiday home stays at one of the most chaotic times of the year and B次元官网网址� especially when hosts have pets of their own.

Large gatherings, unfamiliar smells and sounds, mixing older or sedate dogs with energetic pups, and introducing small children or cats to a dog with no prior exposure are among the issues that can spoil the experience or, worst case, cause physical harm.

But tensions can be dialed way down with a little preparation, said certified dog behaviorist Gabrielle Johnson of Richmond, Virginia. Knowing when to pull the plug and head for a pet-friendly hotel or boarder is also key.

B次元官网网址淐ertainly holidays can be a tricky time because everyoneB次元官网网址檚 out of their routine, out of their schedule. WeB次元官网网址檙e in tight spaces. Stress is high,B次元官网网址� Johnson said.

Johnson warns that dogs that are typically fine at home . Learning to is important.

B次元官网网址淭hings like yawning, licking their lips, turning away, looking away, freezing, getting tense,B次元官网网址� they said. B次元官网网址淲e want to see soft, wiggly, loose, relaxed. If we see some of those (other) signs, it may be an indicator that itB次元官网网址檚 time to get our dog out of that situation.B次元官网网址�

Taking a crate along is a great idea for already crate-trained dogs but donB次元官网网址檛 try to force it for the first time, trainers said. Packing a bed and familiar blankets, toys, dishes, and food and treats are musts.

First-time introductions between dogs should be done on neutral ground, outdoors. The humans should plan ahead in case pets need to be separated, including considering baby gates, particularly when dogs are eating. Owners who suspect anxiety might be a problem could consider medication.

Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer for Rover.com, suggests practicing with dogs who have not traveled much. If a dog is going from a quiet rural area to a noisier urban environment, take a few shorter trips to simulate the holiday surroundings, she said.

She also advises packing mental enrichment toys to help a dog decompress and navigate a new environment without getting rowdy. Licking and chewing also help a dog self-soothe, Ellis said.

James Paasche of Central Point, Oregon, will spend six days in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, 6-year-old daughter and 11-year-old dog, Walter, for Christmas.

PaascheB次元官网网址檚 brother has three dogs of his own, including two older ones. Walter, anxious his entire life, has met only his younger canine cousin. He takes medication but once nipped at a child on a previous stay at another home. The children of PaascheB次元官网网址檚 brother are older, but heB次元官网网址檚 concerned about the two new dogs.

B次元官网网址淵ou know how it is with older dogs, they get a little more set in their ways and are less amenable to new things that puppies and younger dogs just donB次元官网网址檛 care about,B次元官网网址� Paasche said. The hosts have a garage for Walter if things go awry.

Dr. Jamie Richardson, head of veterinary medicine for Small Door Vet in New York, said keeping a dogB次元官网网址檚 diet consistent should be top of mind.

B次元官网网址淭heir GI tracts can get upset very easily with change,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 assume your food will be available locally.B次元官网网址�

Richardson said dogs should be introduced to young children slowly and very carefully. If toddlers donB次元官网网址檛 understand the concept of leaving a dog alone, they should be separated.

Home stays arenB次元官网网址檛 all gloom and doom, though.

Phoebe Yung of Brooklyn adopted a pandemic pup, a rat terrier named Moose. She and her husband travel with Moose often, including long trips to Europe. The holidays have them driving to Montreal to stay with relatives B次元官网网址� including two young children B次元官网网址� for six days.

B次元官网网址淲hen she sees her pet carrier she jumps right in,B次元官网网址� Yung said of Moose. B次元官网网址淲e really try to follow the rules of any house weB次元官网网址檙e in. We bring along a mat, and when sheB次元官网网址檚 sniffing around a new place and seems to find a spot sheB次元官网网址檚 comfortable with we put it down and thatB次元官网网址檚 her spot.B次元官网网址�

Young children scare Moose, but she runs away and shakes in a corner rather than getting aggressive, Yung said. She added that she would step in if Moose gets too stressed.

Emily Keegans, Seattle HumaneB次元官网网址檚 chief of animal behavior, said dog owners should ask themselves if the situation is going to be a happy one for their animals, and communicate with hosts.

B次元官网网址淚f I have friends or family come to stay at my house, my first question is B次元官网网址楬ow does your dog get along with cats?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said. If the answer isnB次元官网网址檛 promising, sheB次元官网网址檒l put her cat in another room and talk through logistics.

Lily Hargis lives in Richmond with Milo, the Labrador-Australian shepherd mix she rescued last year. She spent her last three Christmases visiting her great-grandmother B次元官网网址� who has no pets B次元官网网址� in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l never forget the stress of that first holiday with Milo in her home, how worried I was about his behavior being perfect and reflecting on me,B次元官网网址� Hargis said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 especially tough when thereB次元官网网址檚 a generational gap.B次元官网网址�

Happily, her great-grandmother warmed up to Milo right away: B次元官网网址淲ithin five minutes she had him up on the couch and in her lap getting cuddles.B次元官网网址�

This year, Christmas will be closer to home, but she has other worries involving Bourbon, her stepsisterB次元官网网址檚 ancient pit bull who B次元官网网址渨onB次元官网网址檛 tolerate any shenanigans.B次元官网网址�

To prepare, Hargis and her mother spent several sessions with Johnson, working on getting Milo and Bourbon to a place B次元官网网址渨here they could comfortably relax in the space together.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t just felt necessary,B次元官网网址� Hargis explained. B次元官网网址淭here are so many aspects of the holidays that require our dogs to do things they really donB次元官网网址檛 practice much.B次元官网网址�

As soon as they arrive, Hargis will prepare frozen Kongs and other enrichment items to help Milo decompress in a quiet room.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, I sometimes get jealous of how well his holidays are curated to avoid stress and maximize fun,B次元官网网址� Hargis said. B次元官网网址淚t makes me want to see how I can do the same for myself.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擫eanne Italie, The Associated Press