A dog-friendly Christmas guide
It’s almost Christmas, a time for celebrating with your loved ones, especially your beloved pooch. Christmas is exciting, but it can be overwhelming for your dog. Here’s our guide to help you celebrate with your dog and enjoy the festive season.
Creating Christmas calm
A consistent routine is vital for dogs, as it helps to keep them calm and feel safe. Christmas can mean more visitors, travelling to see friends and family or a change in the usual routine, which can all be stressful for your dog. Keeping them in their normal routine for walks, feeding, sleep, and play helps them stay calm, as they know what’s coming next, even if they’re in a new place or with different people.
If you’re having visitors, introduce them gradually and give your pooch a quiet place to go if they feel overwhelmed. This could be their cosy bed or crate if that’s where they usually spend time. Make sure your visitors know that the dog needs some alone time if it retreats, and always supervise any interactions with children. If you’re travelling, take familiar items to create a home-from-home environment.
Keeping your dog safe at Christmas
Christmas can bring new hazards into your home. Breakable and edible decorations could appeal to your dog and end up with a Christmas trip to the vets, which we’re sure you’d rather avoid. If you have a real tree, the needles can also be harmful if swallowed. Placing your tree away from the dog and using secure fixings can help. Other Christmas plants, such as poinsettia, ivy and mistletoe, are all toxic to dogs, so keep them out of reach or choose artificial alternatives.
Sharing Christmas dinner can be a great way to include your doggo in the celebrations. Make sure you stick to dog-safe foods such as plain turkey, potatoes, and vegetables, and avoid chocolate, dried fruit, stuffing, onions, gravy, and anything with alcohol.
Include your pooch in the celebrations
If you’re all opening presents around the tree on Christmas morning, why not include your dog in the celebrations by letting them unwrap some too? Always supervise them in case they try to turn the wrapping paper into a tasty snack. Alternatively, create a dog-friendly Christmas stocking for them to rummage through.
A Christmas morning walk and time snuggled up on the sofa watching a festive film can create happy memories for all the family. It helps your dog feel included and keeps them healthy.
Give them a dog-friendly gift
What can you buy your best friend for Christmas? Food is always welcome, and the scent of their favourite snack can turn rummaging through their stocking into a fun game. Gifts can help with training and provide enrichment. Try agility equipment for an active doggo, or puzzle feeders and snuffle mats that reward them with treats. A new bed, blanket or a calming scent diffuser can all comfort your dog, especially if they’re feeling nervous or anxious.
You could also include your dog in the gifts you buy for the rest of the family. Buy vouchers for an experience your pooch will enjoy, such as a day out, or for a family photo session that will give you something beautiful to hang on your wall in the years to come.
We at PetStay hope you and your family have a safe and happy Christmas! If you’re visiting family and friends over Christmas and New Year, our dog carers can look after every aspect of your dog’s care so that you can enjoy a day out without worry. Check here to see why we’re your best choice for quality dog boarding!