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[UPDATED OCTOBER 2020]
It is soon to be the most wonderful time of the year, yes I am talking about Christmas! The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes more friends and family gatherings, gift exchanges, holiday dinners, and perhaps more travelling.
Holidays can be a bit chaotic for most people, but if you are a dog owner, you also need to worry about how the added stress and chaos affects your dog. Dogs and the holidays can be stressful for sure if you aren’t prepared!
Don’t worry though because I have put together some great tips to make this holiday season calmer and less stressful for you and your dog.
The tips below will help you keep your dog safe and stress-free.
Table of Contents
Keep Your Dog Away From Dangerous Holiday Items
1. Christmas Tree
You may have a dog that loves to chew on sticks, and the sight of you bringing in a huge chew stick that is your Christmas Tree will have your dog wagging his tail with excitement.
You need to take precautions, to ensure your dog will not start gnawing away at your tree.
Do Without A Tree
Some dog owners choose to do without a tree because their dog cannot be trusted around it. Puppies especially like to think of a Christmas tree as their own personal chew toy.
The last thing you want is your beautifully decorated tree being tugged at and end up tipping over.
If you own a male dog, he might mark his territory by peeing on the tree. Something to be aware of.
Limit Your Dog’s Access To The Tree
A good idea is to place your tree in a corner, to limit your dog’s access to it. Some dog owners set up their tree and put a baby gate around it to keep their dog away. This works for most dogs, but some dogs could just jump over the gate.
Only Decorate Part Of The Tree
You might have to only decorate the top half of the tree, and keep the lower half bare so that your dog can’t get to the ornaments.
Another option is to place aluminum foil on the lower branches as a noise deterrent to keep your dog away.
Securely Anchor Your Tree
Whether you plan on having a real tree or an artificial tree in your home for Christmas, be sure to keep it securely anchored so that it doesn’t tip over and fall, possibly injuring your dog.
Don’t Let Your Dog Drink The Tree Water
With a real tree, you want to keep a close eye on the water and make sure your dog does not treat it like a drinking bowl.
Tree water may contain fertilizers and cause stomach upset, and the water is a breeding ground for bacteria when it is left stagnant. Be sure to keep the water covered so that your dog doesn’t get tempted to drink from it.
Clean Up Any Needles
Be careful of the needles from artificial and real trees, and keep them cleaned up and off the floor. If your dog accidentally ingests them it can cause punctures to the intestines.
2. Ornaments and Lights
Ornaments can be hazardous to dogs, and you need to keep a close eye on your dog around the tree.
Get Rid Of Broken Ornaments
Broken ornaments can cause injuries, and if your dog ingests any ornaments it can cause intestinal blockage or even toxicity.
Avoid Hanging Lights On Lower Branches
Electric lights become dangerous if your dog chews on the wire, your dog could get burned, or get a shock.
It is best to keep lights away from the lower branches of your tree, to avoid any dangers and to keep your dog from getting tangled in the wires.
Hang Precious Ornaments High
Be sure to hang any precious ornaments, or breakable items high enough so that your dog can’t get to them.
The same goes for any food ornaments, like homemade salt dough ornaments, chocolate ornaments, strings of popcorn and cranberries. Keep them out of reach, or do not put any food-based ornaments on the tree at all.
Your dog will be intrigued by all the shiny objects and may decide to pull them off the tree and chew them.
I remember my first Christmas with my Golden Retriever Ellie, she was a puppy and treated our Christmas Tree as her personal chew toy. She would circle the tree and pull off any ornament that she liked, and I would have to chase her to get it back.
It was a game to her, luckily they were soft plush ornaments and no damage was done to her, however, I did lose a few of my ornaments due to damage.
3. Poinsettias, Holly and Mistletoe
All of these plants are toxic to dogs and should be kept out of reach. Poinsettias are mildly toxic, and Holly and Mistletoe are far more dangerous to your dog.
If ingested these plants can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and more. If you suspect your dog has ingested any amount of these plants you should call your vet immediately.
You can read more about the dangers of common winter plants for the holidays on petMD.
4. Candles
The twinkling lights of burning candles can cause curiosity in your dog, and it is another source of danger.
Your dog can get burned, and one wag of your dog’s tail can easily knock over a burning candle and cause a fire. Be sure to keep burning candles out of reach and away from your dog.
A good idea is to use battery-operated candles.
5. Home Fragrances
During the holidays most people want to fill their home with fragrances of the season, but the different scents and chemicals in the air can cause your dog to become sick.
A dog’s sense of smell is far greater than ours, and your dog will be sensitive to any fragrance in the home.
Scented candles and air fresheners, are filled with synthetic fragrances and emit toxins into the air, which are dangerous for your dog and yourself to breathe in.
Potpourri should be avoided, as it is toxic to your dog if ingested. Your dog could also be allergic to scents, so it is best to avoid any chemical fragrances.
A natural way to make your home smell amazing during the holidays is to fill a saucepan with water, bring it to a boil and add cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange rinds and apple peels, and let it simmer. Your home will smell like Christmas and the scent is all-natural and will not harm your dog.
6. Gift Wrap, Ribbons, Tinsel and Bows
If you plan on buying your dog a Christmas gift this year (most dog owners do!), be sure to keep your dog from chewing and ingesting any wrapping paper, ribbons and bows.
Also, don’t wrap your dog’s neck in ribbon or tinsel to make your dog look festive, it is a choking hazard.
Do you need a great gift for your dog this year? Check out the Top 15 Christmas Gifts For A Dog.
Keep Your Dog Away From Dangerous And Toxic Foods
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is usually found in abundance during the holidays in many households, and it should be kept away from your dog.
Chocolate is toxic to your dog, and the levels of toxicity vary depending on the type of chocolate, how much was consumed, and the size of your dog. All chocolate should be off-limits to your dog.
2. Sugar-Free Baked Goods
The ingredient that is found in most sugar-free baked goods is a sweetener called Xylitol, and it is extremely dangerous to your dog.
Xylitol is used in many sugar-free products including sugar-free gum. Be sure to keep any purses of visiting guests off the floor and out of reach of your dog.
3. Fruitcake
Most people either love fruitcake or hate it, and it can usually be found in most households during the Christmas season.
If you are one of the people that hate fruitcake and think you are doing yourself a favour by offering it to the dog, think again. Fruitcake is very dangerous to your dog.
The ingredients of raisins, currants, and yeast dough, that are in fruitcake are a bad combination for your dog.
4. Say No To Leftovers
As tempting as it may be to offer your dog some tasty leftovers, it is not a good idea. Fatty and spicy foods are not good for your dog, and bones are dangerous.
Turkey bones can easily splinter, and become a choking hazard and puncture your dog’s digestive tract. The high-fat content, seasoning, and salt of leftovers can cause stomach upset and can lead to pancreatitis.
5. Alcohol
The holiday festivities usually include alcoholic beverages like eggnog, punch, wine, and cocktails. No matter what alcoholic beverages are consumed, they should be kept away from your dog.
Even a small amount of alcohol can cause vomiting, weakness and seizures in dogs. Don’t let any of your friends or family offer your dog alcohol, to get some laughs, it is extremely dangerous.
6. Medications
You know enough to keep your medication out of reach from your dog, but your visiting guests may not think or be aware of putting their medication away so your dog can’t find it.
Make sure that your guests keep any medication securely locked up and tucked away from your dog.
Plan Ahead For Travelling
