The Christmas countdown has begun....
The mingles, the jingles, the twinkles and the mouthwatering cooking smells all help to create a party atmosphere for the family, but your dog may feel entirely differently about the festive Christmas fun. Where does your dog fit into your Christmas?Don’t set your dog up to fail by not supporting them during what can be a challenging time of year.Factor them into your plans just as you do for your family members.
Christmas at home is a time of changed routine, gatherings, (carols singers, maybe?), deliveries of all sorts, comings and goings of visitors and general excitement and mayhem. There is potential for high levels of stress and confusion for the dog.
Everyone will benefit if you take a few measures to minimise or reduce stress levels, to ensure that you all have a lovely time and there are no emergency visits to the vet.
Dog Bed Versus Christmas Tree:
First, ensure your dog has a place to escape to away from overexcited children – and adults, for that matter. Do not move their bed to make space for the Christmas tree. You run the risk of them taking refuge behind the tree, where they might knock it over or chew the light cable, with obvious results. If you really have to move their bed, do it several weeks in advance so they have time to get use to the new position which should be in a quiet space that they can access easily.
Give them a break from the chaos:
During peak times of noisy family activity, (competitive games, arguments over the rules, loud music?) pop your dog into their crate and close the door to separate them from small people high on excess sugar and/or unruly adults. If your dog is not used to a crate, do not suddenly introduce one a couple of days before Christmas. That will cause huge additional stress for you both to manage. Other sources of stress include unfamiliar items and noises such as balloons, party poppers and noisy toys, as well as a house full of new people.
Keep to their routine:
Activities like walking and meal times should be kept as close to normal as possible for the dog. A stressed dog might behave out of character, growling or even nipping which they never normally do. Don’t blame the dog. They are coping with lots of unusual activity. If they are used to being on their own for a time during the day, the noise and the people can be really unsettling. It is kinder to put them into a quiet room in their own bed where they can relax. They are not missing out, they are having some down-time. Perhaps keep them occupied with a treat-filled puzzle toy. If you are visiting friends or family for a few days, it may be better to leave your dog in kennels or with a home carer, if they are used to that, rather than take them with you. Book this well in advance.
Stress: What are the signs?
What signs should you be on the lookout for? These include yawning, panting, frequent licking of lips, wide staring eyes, ears pulled back, excessive grooming, chewing of paws, avoidance of eye contact, to name a few. Dressing the dog up is not a kind thing to do, even if they do look cute. Monitor dog and child interactions, especially if the dog does not normally have contact with children, and vice versa. Stress can also cause physical upset – vomiting or diarrhea. Try to avoid over-treating your dog ‘because it’s Christmas’ as this can have the same result.
Treats and leftovers:
Inappropriate food such as too many rich leftovers can also be a problem. There are companies making fantastic hand-made dog treats with Christmas-themed options, so look online or in pet shops for these choice goodies. Chocolate is not a dog-appropriate treat as it contains theobromine which is poisonous to dogs. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Anything containing grapes (raisins, sultanas, currents) such as Christmas pudding, mince pies, black bun, simnel and Christmas cake should not be fed to dogs. Avoid the chance of the dog raiding the bin for the delicious turkey carcass or other lovely leftovers by wrapping food waste tightly and putting it into an inaccessible bin outside.
That tail will WAG!
Try to avoid putting unreasonable demands on your dog – edibles should not be left in their reach – so remember to put chocolate decorations out of reach on the tree. If the waggy tail is at table height, don’t put candles or delicate ornaments where they can be swept away by the excited wagging. Don’t decorate your house in such a way that your dog cannot behave as normal. You can’t blame the dog if it all goes horribly wrong!
A dog is not just for Christmas
It goes without saying that you should never get a dog – puppy or rescue – at Christmas. If you want to make a new dog part of your Christmas, do the groundwork and then produce a photo of the new arrival to the family as the ‘present’, or allow everyone to get involved in choosing who is to join the family after Christmas.
Imagine bringing a new dog into your home at a time when there are so many other things to think about. Do you really want to be house-training a puppy alongside the other demands that Christmas places on your time and attention?
Happy Christmas from us all! Your dog is part of the family so naturally you want to involve them in the biggest family get-together of the year. A bit of forethought and preparation will make sure that it really is fun for everyone.
