Oktoberfest and Alcohol Danger

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By Hilarie Erb, AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer

Of the fall holidays, Halloween may get the most attention but, for many people, Oktoberfest tops the list of favorite things to celebrate this month.

Oktoberfest is a two-week festival that originated more than 200 years ago in Munich, Germany, to celebrate the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria. There, it is a huge tourist attraction and more than two million gallons of beer are consumed during the festival each year!

In the United States, many people also celebrate it, by placing an emphasis on beer and German food – a perfect reason for many to host their own parties to celebrate the festival. And chances are, a few dogs might even snag a few slurps of beer!

With the change in seasons, and an upcoming holiday stretch where alcoholic beverages of all types are often part of celebrating, your dog could get into an alcoholic beverage, then what? One lick probably won’t hurt, but it can be dangerous in large amounts – just as it is with humans! Check out the American Kennel Club’s article What To Do If Your Dog Drinks Alcohol to learn more.

The amount and strength of alcohol consumed in relation to the size of the dog are the main factors and therefore extra care must be taken to keep these out of your pet’s reach. If you have a houseful of guests over for a party, the safest thing to do is to give your dog a special chew treat that can be enjoyed in a crate or room away from the festivities. Plus, with drinks and foods of all kinds, bags and purses to get into, and guests leaving doors open, there are countless ways for a dog to get into trouble during a party, especially when the humans are having a great time socializing. And while there are people who think it’s funny to see a dog intoxicated and will give it to yours on purpose, this can be dangerous and should not be tolerated!

Remember, anytime your dog is around lots of people drinking, remove any chance that they will get into trouble. The holiday will be much more fun knowing your best friend is safe!

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.