Episode Title: Quick Fix: Handling House Guests Who Don’t Love Your Pets

Host: Amy Castro

Guest: None (Solo Episode)

Summary:

A holiday Quick Fix episode on managing house guests who aren't big pet lovers while keeping pets calm and protected.

Veterinary Disclaimer:

Always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet’s care or routine.

Transcript Note:

Lightly edited for clarity.

Transcript:

Amy Castro (00:00.11)
Let's be honest, pets are rarely the problem.

Amy Castro (00:07.907)
You've reached the Pet Parent Hotline, your lifeline to practical solutions for your toughest pet parenting challenges. I'm your host Amy Castro, and I'm here to help you cut through the noise and turn expert advice into step-by-step strategies so you can stop chasing your tail and start enjoying life with pets again.

Amy Castro (00:32.344)
Welcome to a special holiday quick fix bonus episode. Today we're gonna talk about something that can turn your peaceful home into a giant stress ball in about three seconds flat. And that is having house guests. Whether they're friends or family, it doesn't matter. It adds another level of stress to your life. And when it comes to the holidays, we don't always get to choose who our guests are gonna be. Although, actually we could, but that's a whole nother episode.

or maybe a conversation for your therapist. So let's go with the assumption that you've got some house guests coming who are not exactly in love with your pets. Maybe they tolerate them, maybe they just avoid them, maybe they try to boss them around like you've done a poor job parenting your pets. But whatever level that they're on, this episode is gonna help you survive the visit without losing your mind and without your pets getting confused and stressed out because the holidays are already stressful for everybody.

And just so you know, this episode is not just about managing your pets. This is about managing people too, because let's be honest, pets are rarely the problem. I'd also like to stress too, speaking of stress, that many of these tips are things you need to keep in mind when you are being a house guest in somebody else's home with your pets, whether it's at the holidays or other times. And we've got another episode on that just for you. So make sure you check that out. We'll have the link in the show notes. But let's get back to being the host.

Tip number one is gonna be something that'll save you in a lot of situations in life. But that is to set expectations before anybody even comes close to knocking on your front door. The time before the guests show up, when you're in the planning phase for their visit, is your golden hour, so to speak. If they know what to expect ahead of time, it keeps you from having to play referee for the entire holiday visit. Keep it simple. If you know you've got a relative that has a certain either dislike of your pets,

or maybe has some expectation that your pets are not gonna be around during the holidays, just give them a simple heads up and just say, hey, just a heads up, the pets will be around while you're here. I can give them breaks if needed, but I do not lock them away. A short, clear, calm message sets the tone. You can also add some simple tips or things that you need them to do. You could do that now or you can do that when they show up. Nothing complicated, you're not trying to turn them into pet trainers, but

Amy Castro (02:53.59)
Think about things like easy instructions, especially for behaviors that might bother your guests. know, something like, if my dog comes up and jumps on you, turn your body away from them. Don't push, don't yell, don't say anything. Or if you open a door, close it behind you so the cat doesn't slide in. I know we run into that problem at our house because with rescues, you never know who's gonna decide that your guest's suitcase smells like a great place to pee. So we always ask guests to keep the doors shut.

People love specific instructions because it keeps them from guessing what they're supposed to do. And it also keeps your pets from getting mixed messages, especially when you're in the process of training. Tip number two is that you should definitely designate a calm zone that is specifically for your pets, not for the guests, whether that's their crate, a spare bedroom, or whether it's being in your room. I'm not talking about locking them away so that your guests can have the run of the house and live their best lives and your pets have a terrible holiday.

But what I am talking about is giving your pets a place where they can retreat on their terms. And, you know, also you're giving a little reprieve for your guests to get a break from the pets. So again, a specific room, their crate, or putting a baby gate on a hallway to a certain part of the house. Put some enrichment in there, make it a great place for your pets. Chew toy, a puzzle, a new catnip, or their favorite bed.

And use that space before your guests arrive if it's something that's new that you don't already have set up so that they already feel comfortable going there. This is going to keep things calm and predictable for your pets. And honestly, it's going to take a lot of pressure off your guests too to have that break. And finally, tip number three, when it comes down to it, what I said at the very beginning is very important. This is your pet's home, not your guests' home. So protect your pets from being treated like the problem.

And I think this is something that people struggle with the most. A lot of pet parents start to feel guilty when a non-pet person is visiting or when a pet person is visiting and maybe their pets are better behaved than yours. So what? You shouldn't have to be tiptoeing around your home like you need to have permission from these other people for your pets to exist. Absolutely not. Remember, your pets live there, your guests are temporary, even if it is your mother-in-law.

Amy Castro (05:09.28)
So if someone suggests that you keep your pets hidden for the whole visit or that you should have boarded them, this is where the boundaries come in. And this is where you might simply have to offer them a reminder of the conversation that you had before they got there. And yes, it's okay if you want to offer some reasonable compromises. They might have a better idea than you came up with for managing that balance between pet happiness and people happiness. But when it comes down to it, you want to keep your pets welfare

foremost in your mind. So short, quiet breaks for the pets, sure, that's fine. A baby gate put up between spaces, sure, that's fine. Time out time, maybe while you're visiting in the evening, having those cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, great. But that's kind of where it ends. You shouldn't feel obligated to rearrange your entire life and your entire pet's life just because somebody doesn't want to look at your dog or is worried about getting pet hair on their clothes.

If that was the case, they probably should have just gone to your deadbeat cousin's house for the holidays because he doesn't have any pets. And remember those simple scripts I gave you in tip number one. If a guest knows exactly how to respond and what to expect, they are far less likely to get overwhelmed, snap, or try to correct your pets in a way that you don't want. And remember, your job here is to protect your pets' emotional safety just as much as it is to provide comfort for your visitors.

So remember, house guests who are not big pet lovers do not have to ruin your holiday, and your pets don't have to ruin theirs. A little prep, a calm zone for your animals, and a few expectations that you set up front before they arrive can keep everyone comfortable without turning your home upside down. This is your Pet Parent Hotline quick fix for the month. May your holiday visit stay peaceful and your pets stay off the naughty list. Thanks for listening to the Pet Parent Hotline.

If you enjoyed the show, don't keep it to yourself. Text a friend right now with a link and tell them I've got a show that you need to hear. And ask them to let you know what they think. And remember, your pet's best life starts with you living yours. So be sure to take good care of yourself this week and your pets.