Preparing your dog for Christmas
Preparing Your Dog for Christmas: Keeping the Holidays Merry and Stress-Free
Christmas is a time for festive lights, family gatherings, delicious food… and for many dogs, a whole lot of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and activity. While some pups thrive on the excitement, others can become overwhelmed or overstimulated by the sudden changes in routine. With a little planning, you can make sure your dog stays calm, safe, and happy throughout the holiday season.
Here’s how to set your dog up for success this Christmas.
Create a Quiet Retreat Space
The hustle and bustle of Christmas can be a lot for any animal. Having a dedicated quiet space gives your dog somewhere to decompress if things become too overwhelming.
Great options include:
A comfy crate covered with a blanket to reduce visual stimulation
A cozy bed in a separate room
A gated-off section of your home
Make the space inviting by adding familiar bedding, their favorite toys, and maybe even some soft music or white noise. Encourage guests—especially kids—not to disturb your dog when they’ve chosen to retreat there.
Prevention is better than cure- how to ensure their day goes smoothly
Between new guests, open doors, and plates full of food, Christmas presents lots of tempting situations for dogs. A little structure can go a long way in avoiding problems like jumping, begging, or counter surfing. If you haven’t already, check out my jumping up blog for guidance on resolving this bad habit.
The “Place” Command
Teaching your dog to stay on a designated bed or mat when asked is extremely useful during holiday gatherings. When guests arrive or meals are being prepared, a solid place command keeps your dog calm and out of trouble.
Crate Training
If your dog is crate-trained, the crate becomes their safe haven. Using it strategically during busy moments ensures everyone stays relaxed—your dog included.
Using a Lead Indoors
For dogs who get overexcited or struggle with impulse control, keeping a lead attached indoors (while supervised) can give you gentle, instant control without escalating the situation.
Provide Long-Lasting Chews for Relaxation
Long-lasting chews are a great tool for helping your dog settle in their quiet space. Chewing is a natural stress reliever, and giving your dog something tasty to focus on can help them stay calm during the chaos of Christmas morning or a crowded dinner. You can get 10% off natural long-lasting chews at Woody’s Natural Treats using code PAWLITE10.
Plan Ahead
A little preparation goes a long way. Before the big day:
Practice your place command regularly
Introduce or refresh crate comfort
Set up your dog’s retreat area
Stock up on chews and enrichment toys
Brief your guests on house rules for interacting with your dog- again, my jumping up blog has more information on this.
With these small steps, you’ll help ensure Christmas is enjoyable for everyone—two-legged and four-legged alike.
Help them decompress
Did you know that cortisol, the stress hormone, takes 72 hours to leave your dogs system? My trigger stacking blog has lots of tips for helping to manage your dog’s stress and help them recover from the Christmas chaos.
Next week I’ll be talking about festive dangers- including decorations and festive foods that pose a risk to your dog.
