Traveling with dogs can be stressful. Throw in holiday home stays at one of the most chaotic times of the year and 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淐ertainly holidays can be a tricky time because everyone91裸聊视频檚 out of their routine, out of their schedule. We91裸聊视频檙e in tight spaces. Stress is high,91裸聊视频� Johnson said.

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

91裸聊视频淭hings like yawning, licking their lips, turning away, looking away, freezing, getting tense,91裸聊视频� they said. 91裸聊视频淲e want to see soft, wiggly, loose, relaxed. If we see some of those (other) signs, it may be an indicator that it91裸聊视频檚 time to get our dog out of that situation.91裸聊视频�

Taking a crate along is a great idea for already crate-trained dogs but don91裸聊视频檛 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.

Paasche91裸聊视频檚 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 Paasche91裸聊视频檚 brother are older, but he91裸聊视频檚 concerned about the two new dogs.

91裸聊视频淵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 don91裸聊视频檛 care about,91裸聊视频� 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 dog91裸聊视频檚 diet consistent should be top of mind.

91裸聊视频淭heir GI tracts can get upset very easily with change,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 assume your food will be available locally.91裸聊视频�

Richardson said dogs should be introduced to young children slowly and very carefully. If toddlers don91裸聊视频檛 understand the concept of leaving a dog alone, they should be separated.

Home stays aren91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频� including two young children 91裸聊视频� for six days.

91裸聊视频淲hen she sees her pet carrier she jumps right in,91裸聊视频� Yung said of Moose. 91裸聊视频淲e really try to follow the rules of any house we91裸聊视频檙e in. We bring along a mat, and when she91裸聊视频檚 sniffing around a new place and seems to find a spot she91裸聊视频檚 comfortable with we put it down and that91裸聊视频檚 her spot.91裸聊视频�

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 Humane91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚f I have friends or family come to stay at my house, my first question is 91裸聊视频楬ow does your dog get along with cats?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said. If the answer isn91裸聊视频檛 promising, she91裸聊视频檒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 91裸聊视频� who has no pets 91裸聊视频� in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒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,91裸聊视频� Hargis said. 91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 especially tough when there91裸聊视频檚 a generational gap.91裸聊视频�

Happily, her great-grandmother warmed up to Milo right away: 91裸聊视频淲ithin five minutes she had him up on the couch and in her lap getting cuddles.91裸聊视频�

This year, Christmas will be closer to home, but she has other worries involving Bourbon, her stepsister91裸聊视频檚 ancient pit bull who 91裸聊视频渨on91裸聊视频檛 tolerate any shenanigans.91裸聊视频�

To prepare, Hargis and her mother spent several sessions with Johnson, working on getting Milo and Bourbon to a place 91裸聊视频渨here they could comfortably relax in the space together.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚t just felt necessary,91裸聊视频� Hargis explained. 91裸聊视频淭here are so many aspects of the holidays that require our dogs to do things they really don91裸聊视频檛 practice much.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淗onestly, I sometimes get jealous of how well his holidays are curated to avoid stress and maximize fun,91裸聊视频� Hargis said. 91裸聊视频淚t makes me want to see how I can do the same for myself.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频擫eanne Italie, The Associated Press