Christmas with a Puppy

Our tips and advice on preparing for a safe, calm and merry Christmas with a puppy.

Festive food and drink

There’s a number of foods that are popular at Christmas time that can be toxic to puppies and dogs. These include:

Be sure to keep these foods out of your pups reach and contact your vet if they do eat any.

A few things to consider when decorating your home for the holidays to celebrate Christmas with a puppy:

Real Christmas tree- real trees can be hazardous to dogs as some fir trees can produce oils that are mildly toxic. Opt for a fake one or keep the tree somewhere your dog can’t access, such as behind an x-pen. Also, dropping tree needles can irritate your dogs paws and get caught up in fluffy coats.
Avoid putting gifts under the tree before the big day, especially if you’ve got something wrapped up for your dog! You could also have your tree behind a tree guard or hearth gate. Also useful if you’ve got a curious, bouncy pup who may accidently knock the tree over- they wouldn’t be the first!
Fairy lights, baubles and tinsel can all be dangerous to your pup if they chew them up and chocolate tree decorations can be toxic too.
Festive plants such as Poinsettia, mistletoe, holly and ivy are all toxic to dogs so keep these out of your pups reach.

If you are expecting visitors over the holidays, it’s worth thinking in advance about what you can do to help you all enjoy Christmas with a puppy.

If you’re expecting visitors, ensure your dog has had sufficient exercise beforehand. A quiet walk somewhere in nature where they can just sniff and relax is ideal (known as a decompression walk).
Prepare some toys and activities in advance for your dog that get them engaged in calming behaviours such as sniffing, chewing or licking. Snuffle mats/balls, long lasting chews such as Pizzles and stuffed kongs or Lickimats are all great options that promote calm. Read our blog post for more tips on teaching your dog to be calm.
Don’t force your pup to interact with guests, especially if they are new people. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your pup in another room or in their crate if they are happier there. This will also help over-tired pups from getting too bitey.

Don’t dress your puppy up if they don’t like it. Most dogs just find it stressful. If you can’t resist, just go for a festive bandana that can be tucked into their collar.
If your dog has a strict routine, try to stick to it over the festive period if you can. If not, make sure their needs are met ie they’re getting sufficient exercise, mental stimulation and enough undisturbed rest.

Don’t forget to keep up the toilet training! It’s harder to remember to stay consistent when you’re busy, so set timers and implement a toileting schedule with others at home to keep accidents to a minimum.
This time of year often leads to over-stimulated and over-tired puppies. Make sure you know the early signs your dog is getting stressed -have a read of our body language post here.

If Father Christmas has treated your puppy to pressies, have a word with the wrapping elves to ensure that pup’s presents aren’t wrapped up in the same paper that the rest of the family’s gifts are wrapped in. It’ll be difficult for your pup to understand he’s not allowed to shred them all!
Standard wrapping paper can be toxic to dogs anyway, so try wrapping your pups gifts in brown paper. Or you could do what we do and just give Duke his pressies as they are- he doesn’t seem to mind the lack of wrapping!
Whilst you’re peeling the brussel sprouts, take 5 minutes to prep some enrichment for your pup. I’ll be stuffing a Toppl toy with Duke’s raw food and popping it in the freezer for him to work through whilst we tuck into our Christmas dinner. I will also be preparing a snuffle mat for him to do whilst we open our presents. Check out the Canine Enrichment group on facebook for ideas for DIY enrichment.

If your puppy is on regular medication, make sure you’re stocked up before Christmas. Same goes for food, treats and chews if you order these online. Last order dates tend to be a week in advance.
Make sure you have the emergency vets number saved on your phone, just in case.
Plan for your pup’s care in advance if you’re going out. The Blue Cross suggests a maximum home alone time of four hours for adult dogs and less for puppies.
If you’re celebrating Christmas with a puppy away from home, keep your expectations low. Bring their bed or blanket and plenty of treats, chews and toys to keep them occupied and not eating Grandma’s skirting boards!

Lastly, we at Doherty Dog Services would like to wish you and your puppy a very Merry Christmas! Have a very happy holidays.

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