AT CHRISTMAS YOUR DOG DOESN'T HAVE TO:

❌ AT CHRISTMAS YOUR DOG DOESN’T HAVE TO ❌:

🧑‍🎄 Visit Santa at the garden centre

🎄 Be around your visitors

🎅🏽 Go to other peoples houses

🎄 Go to see the Christmas lights switch on, Christmas carols, Christmas Markets.

 🍺 Go to the busy cafe, restaurant, pub in the Christmas and New Year Period

It’s not their fault if they are anxious or get worried about people, dogs or busy places or if they just don’t like doing these things.  It’s not a fault if they don’t like doing these things, many dogs don’t enjoy ‘human activities’ like this (some do, I also see many who really don’t and unfortunately their guardians are not good at reading body language so it is totally missed.)

This is such a thoughtful reminder! Many dogs are sensitive to new experiences or crowds, and it’s important to respect their boundaries, especially during a busy time like Christmas. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of family traditions, creating a calm and safe environment for your dog can help them enjoy the holiday too. Activities that allow for calm and enrichment, like a quiet walk or a new puzzle toy, can be just as fulfilling for them as the more chaotic events we love. Thanks for sharing this perspective!

✅ Options you can try:

🚪 Let them be in their safe space, a quiet room they like being in with a dog gate on the doorway when you have a house full of people who may scare them. In their crate if they are crate trained.  Always make sure they have access to their safe place when they need it.  Don’t allow any humans to go there, especially children.

🐕 Have a nice walk with them on Christmas morning and some extra enrichment at home while you go and visit family for a few hours if they’d find it stressful to come with you. You may like to do some search games with them or nose work.

🐶 A meet up with a dog or human friend at a place they like rather than a trip to the cafe or pub.  If these are near the shopping centre they will be more populated than normal.

🦴 A trip to the pet store for dog enrichment or a 1 on 1 in an activity they love (scent work, mantrailing etc) rather than an outing to see the Christmas lights switched on.

🍖 Some dog safe Christmas biscuits you’ve made them rather than dressing up in a dog Santa outfit.

🧘🏼‍♀️ Try a calming solution a few days before Christmas to help them with the festivities and also the fireworks for New Years. Adaptil or Zyklene are good options.

Loads of these Christmas ‘traditions’ that we enjoy are not enjoyed by our dogs, especially if they are anxious or more sensitive. Even the most robust dog may tolerate these activities rather than love them.

Please be mindful of your dogs wants and needs and don’t put them into situations they find stressful just because we want them to be part of Christmas. It’s your Christmas, not your dogs, they really won’t mind not being included in everything you do ❤️