Consistency on Holiday – Why Dogs Still Need Structure

July always feels busy.

For us this year, it means holidays, dogs going into kennels, and returning home to what will hopefully be a large garden party, assuming British weather remembers it is supposed to be summer.

For the humans, it all feels exciting.

For the dogs, I suspect it probably looks like organised chaos.

The signs begin long before anybody actually goes anywhere.

Conversations change. Plans appear. Things get moved around the house. Humans become distracted while repeatedly insisting everything is completely under control.

Charlie tends to watch these things happen with a sort of quiet acceptance.

Elsie prefers a more active role in proceedings.

By active role, I mean placing herself directly in the middle of whatever is happening and appearing convinced she has been promoted to holiday supervisor.

Nothing escapes her attention.

Not movement.

Not food being moved around.

Not people suddenly becoming busy.

Not activity.

And definitely not anything that remotely resembles food.

Humans often relax structure before we have even left home. Walks happen later. Meal times move slightly. People become busier. Energy changes. Excitement increases.

Charlie was observing. Elsie was conducting a full investigation. The bin had moved. Why? Clearly something important was happening.

Charlie and Elsie standing behind a gate in the utility room watching activity around the house while noticing changes in their environment.

Charlie was observing. Elsie was conducting a full investigation. The bin had moved. Why?

Clearly something important was happening.

And then we wonder why dogs suddenly feel different too.

The holiday itself is often not the difficult part.

The build-up is where things quietly begin shifting.

Dogs do not understand holidays.

They understand patterns.

Dog Listening has taught us that consistency does not mean creating rigid routines.

It means carrying responsibility in the same way, even when life around us changes.

This year the dogs are staying in kennels while we are away, and they will not be joining the garden party when we return.

Not because we do not want them there.

Because excitement, visitors, music, movement and changing routines all carry responsibility.

Sometimes loving dogs means understanding what they are being asked to manage.

Humans often measure a good holiday by experiences.

Dogs measure things differently.

They measure whether somebody else is still carrying responsibility.

Whether the world still feels safe.

Whether somebody is quietly saying: "You do not need to worry about this. I have got it."

Although Elsie still believes she should be consulted on all holiday arrangements.

I suspect she has already submitted feedback.

Russ