Something I've been seeing advertised on social media recently is the "Santa Paws" experience. But is Santa Paws all he's cracked up to be and does your dog really want to meet him?
I've seen these meet and greet style events advertised anywhere from £5 - £15 for your dog to go and meet someone dressed up in a Santa costume. Sometimes they include treats or "doggy stockings" too, but the main purpose is for the owners to get a cute Christmassy photo of their dog.
There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but we must consider our dogs feelings and wellbeing above our own desires. A lot of "cute" photos make me cringe as I can see from the dogs body language how uncomfortable they actually are.
In Santa Paws' case, we're essentially plonking our dogs down on top of or next to a total stranger who is almost cartoon-like, with their hat and big beard (something a lot of dogs struggle with anyway). Santa Paws will often stroke or cuddle your dog too, which they might tolerate but not actually enjoy.
Some dogs would relish the opportunity to have a cuddle from Santa and enjoy the attention that comes with it, but a lot of dogs would prefer to be left at home.
I encourage you to assess whether your dog would genuinely enjoy this experience or would they simply be tolerating an uncomfortable situation you have forced them to be in?
If you do decide to visit Santa Paws this Christmas period, here are some simple signs that your dog is uncomfortable to look out for:
excessive panting
widened whites of their eyes ("whale eye")
refusing treats
backing away
rigid through their body and tail
staring intently at you (pleading with their eyes to be rescued).
Enjoy the festivities and most importantly advocate for your dog if they need it!
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