Hosting the Big Game as a Pet Parent

we all know the preparation that goes into hosting "the big game," also known as, The Puppy Bowl on the second Sunday of February.

you have to gather enough seats, maybe bring in those folding chairs from the garage.

you have to feed everyone, which either means finding catering or spending time in the kitchen.

and there's the cleaning both before and after!

don't get me wrong; i love to host occasionally. as a self-proclaimed "home body," the best part is that you don't have to go anywhere! and what better way to watch all those adorable pups on the TV than with fellow animal lovers!

now if you're a pet parent, planning to host might take a little extra preparation so that your guests and your dog can enjoy the event. jot down these tips so you have a check list when it comes to your dog's part of hosting!

TUNE UP THE COMMUNICATION, TO IMPRESS!

hosting is a great time to show off the work that you and your pet have put into communicating with each other!

two great commands to work on before the event:

LEAVE IT and PLACE

before I jump into these, tune out the voice in your head saying "not my dog."

remember that your dog is a reflection of you because they look to you for guidance.

you didn't come out of the womb knowing how to communicate and neither do dogs.

so get yourself a trainer, find classes, or start with YouTube.

*i recommend Tom Davis and Will Atherton share your recommendations in the comments!

everyone learns differently so you might have to try a few approaches and it can take a few weeks so give yourself and your dog plenty of grace.

NOTE: you should train in a calm, quiet space to start and slowly introduce more variables such as sound from the TV and other people.

after much training when they hear LEAVE IT, your dog knows not to touch something they are sniffing. while you're hosting, this might refer to foods and drinks.

this might also be used when your dog is sniffing kids’ toys or what your dog might perceive to be a toy. so if your uncle brings that autographed football to tell his story about meeting Nick Foles for the 100th time (and it becomes more far-fetched each time), your dog might see that ball as a toy. but when your pup sniffs that autograph, and hears LEAVE IT, your uncle's "glory days" can live on.

PLACE refers to a bed or a crate.

Use this command when guests are at the front door, coming or going. Your dog stays in their place rather than wandering out the door or jumping on guests.

Want to level up with your pup?!

Use the sound of the doorbell as a cue for your dog to go to their bed or crate.

A TIRED DOG IS A HAPPY DOG

give your dog plenty of exercise before guests arrive. this might be a jog around the block, playing with their friends at the park, brain teasers in the house, or all three!

when i was a dog walker in South Philly, i took a client to the dog park on the day of the Super Bowl when the Eagles were playing. i had never seen it so packed! those parents knew there would be little time for interruptions during the big game.

that said, remember that you don't have to do it all yourself!!

if you're hosting with a partner, share the work!!

call it asking for help, call it delegating, just do it!

if you're hosting solo, call up your pet care pro to be your dog's buddy during the day!

more on how your pet care pro can help, later.

if brain teasers are new to you or you're looking for some fresh ones, try these!

• hide a favorite toy of theirs: use the "place" command while you hide their toy in another part of the house, then have your dog "find it"! you can start out easy by placing the toy in the next room, in sight. each time, make it more challenging by placing the toy behind or under layers and adding more distance from your dog's "place."

• set up paper towel rolls through a hallway, creating a cost-efficient maze for your dog to navigate in order to get to you on the other side! can you create multiple paths or dead-ends?

• see how high you can set a stretch of painter's tape across a doorway for your dog to jump over! when you try it for the first time, how long does it take your dog to figure out what you are asking? at what height do they try to go under the tape?!

check out some encouraging pet parents in this YouTube video as their dog, Puddy, tries the "Painter's Tape Challenge"

I have more suggestions for brain teasers as well as cues and commands, but that's for another blog so (at the risk of sounding like a YouTube influencer) be sure to SUBSCRIBE by checking out the Blog Home Page

FOOD SAFETY

the human menu is not always a dog-friendly menu. when you host people to watch something on TV, there's likely to be a lot of food at the couch, on the coffee table and side tables, maybe even ending up on the floor.

make your guests aware of your dog's restrictions. you are your dog's loudest advocate!

rather than listing off the safe foods and toxics, i have added a graphics that i think sum it up best. this is from the ASPCA website.

you can find more great downloads like these in the Tools & Tips section. filter your search TYPE as "Hands-On">"Job Aid Downloads"

YOUR PUP'S EXTRA SPECIAL TREAT!

your dog deserves better than scraps!!

this upgrade will keep your dog entertained so they won't want to be sniffing around the TV room while your guests enjoy the game with snacks galore!

in the morning, put your dog’s dinner in a KONG or puzzle plate, add plain yogurt, or natural peanut butter, or maybe pumpkin puree on top (check with your vet if your dog has never had any of those foods before) and put it all in the freezer.

when everyone sits down to eat, tell your dog PLACE and give them their extra special dinner. licking down the frozen portion will keep them busy and tire them out!

IT'S OK TO BOARD YOUR DOG

if you know your dog won’t be comfortable with a house full of guests, board them with a pet care pro.  this is not something to feel guilty about when you are doing what's best for your pup! trust me, both you and your dog will enjoy the day even more. 

a trusted pro will make sure your dog gets to play and sniff and relax as they please, without worry! and you'll receive updates throughout the visit for peace of mind.

if I’m not your pet care pro, i can still help with my Pet Sitter’s Playbook which is 3-4 pages to write all your pet’s quirks and routines for whoever boards your loved one.

more about finding the right pet care pro in THIS BLOG POST.

so there you have it! all pet parents CAN HOST, you just have to figure out your style. and if you decide to board your pup, that doesn't mean you should skimp out on learning those communication skills!

yes, it's more work, but i know you and your loved one can do it!

Are you Team Ruff or Team Fluff? Tell me in the comments!

Enjoy the Puppy Bowl February 8 at 2pm on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max and discovery+

your pet care pro,

jes