Christmas is a magical time filled with decorations, delicious food, and festive gatherings. However, with all the excitement, it’s important to remember that holiday activities can be overwhelming and even hazardous for your dog. By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure that your dog enjoys the festive season just as much as you do!
1. Christmas Decorations and Dog Safety
Christmas Trees: Keep your Christmas tree secured to prevent tipping. Be mindful of breakable ornaments and decorations at your dog’s eye level. Consider hanging fragile ornaments higher up to avoid accidents.
Tinsel and Ribbons: Tinsel and ribbons can be tempting for dogs to chew on but can cause serious digestive issues if swallowed. Use alternatives like fabric ribbons or avoid them altogether.
Electrical Cords: Christmas lights add a cozy glow, but exposed electrical cords can be a hazard. Keep them out of reach or use cord covers to prevent your dog from chewing on them.
2. Holiday Foods to Avoid
Fatty Foods: Rich foods like gravy, stuffing, and fatty meats can upset your dog’s stomach and even cause pancreatitis. Provide safe, dog-friendly treats instead so they feel included.
Christmas Ham: While Christmas ham is a festive favourite for many, it can pose serious risks to your furry friends. The high salt content in ham can lead to sodium ion poisoning, which may cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, and excessive thirst. Additionally, the fatty portions of the ham can lead to pancreatitis in dogs, resulting in severe abdominal pain and other health issues. Bones from ham can splinter and cause choking or blockages in the digestive tract. To keep your dog safe during the holidays, it’s best to avoid sharing Christmas ham and stick to dog-friendly treats instead.
Chocolate and Sweets: While holiday treats are a staple for us, remember that chocolate, artificial sweeteners like xylitol, and other sweet snacks can be toxic to dogs. Keep goodies out of reach and remind guests not to feed your dog.
3. Creating a Calm Environment
Quiet Space: With all the holiday hustle and bustle, create a designated quiet space where your dog can retreat if they feel overwhelmed by noise or guests. Equip this area with their bed, favourite toys, and a water bowl.
Routine Matters: Try to maintain your dog’s usual feeding and walking schedule to keep them feeling secure amidst the holiday chaos.
Dog-Friendly Festivities: Include your dog in celebrations with activities that won’t stress them out, like a gentle walk in the neighbourhood to admire Christmas lights or a special dog-safe holiday treat.
4. Managing Guests and Excitement
Greeting Guests Calmly: If you have a lot of visitors, practice calm greetings ahead of time to prevent your dog from becoming overly excited. Train your dog to go to their “place” or sit when the doorbell rings.
Inform Your Guests: Let your visitors know the house rules for interacting with your dog. This could include not feeding table scraps, avoiding overstimulation, and respecting your dog’s quiet space.
Watch for Signs of Stress: Keep an eye on your dog for signs of stress or discomfort, like excessive panting, pacing, or hiding. If they seem anxious, take them to their quiet space or offer a favourite chew toy to help them relax.
The Christmas season is all about creating joyful memories with your loved ones, including your furry family members. By following these tips, you can keep your dog safe, happy, and stress-free throughout the holidays.
At Doggie Diplomas, we offer training programs to prepare your dog for any situation, including the busy holiday season. Contact us to learn how we can help you and your dog enjoy a peaceful and pawsitive Christmas!