As we approach Christmas and the whole Festive Period there are lots of things we can consider to help everything run more smoothly when we have dogs or puppies. We have a free check list download with suggestions to include and here are more details on those suggestions.
Not all will be relevant to every household with dogs in but many are useful and some you may not have expected to be on the list!
🐶 Allocate a safe place for Xmas foods:
Many of the foods we have over Christmas can be toxic to dogs. although we plan to not allow our dogs to have them, sometimes with busy days etc it can be easy to accidentally place something within reach. We have a separate blog on what foods etc can be dangerous to dogs and puppies – contact us for this!
Have somewhere out of reach, in a cupboard, bread bin or other tub with lid etc to ensure no extra vet visits are needed!!
🐶 Ensure decorations are out of reach:
Place Christmas ornaments, festive candles, tinsel, lights, tree decorations, chocolate advent calendars etc higher up on furniture, or behind baby gates / doors in rooms your dog doesn’t have access to when you’re not home to minimise the risk of your dog ingesting something they shouldn’t. Often decorations can look like toys and our food will be very attractive to dogs!
🐶 Grooming:
It will be too late to book a good groomer now before Christmas as they will be booked up months in advance but if you have some brushing, nail clipping, bathing etc to get done plan these in as we know they can take time and it’s harder to do when you have visitors round!
🐶 Dog Food:
With shops and online retailers closing or having altered opening times over Christmas it helps to know you have your dog’s meals stored at home, especially if your dog is on a specific diet. Stock up on their usual food and treats or if you have a fussy eater like I have with Merlin try to have a few different things stored that you can try!
🐶 Provide a quiet place for naps:
All dogs need sleep and rest throughout the day. Puppies need even more! Have a cosy crate, puppy pen or quiet room that visitors know is for your dog to rest and to not disturb them when in there. Having a quiet place helps dogs to rest and get the sleep they need to function properly and for dogs that might find Christmas overwhelming having their own space gives them a space to calm again.
🐶 Keep gifts out of reach when unsupervised:
Christmas gifts wrapped under the tree can look super festive but leaving them within your dog’s reach can be risky, especially if you’ve taught your dog to open birthday gifts earlier in the year! Try to stack them on a table next to your tree, have behind a puppy pen or in another room completely to where your dog stays when you go out to prevent accidents or injury.
If you have presents from other people you won’t know what’s inside so although you may be sure the gifts you are giving out may be dog safe the items coming into the home from other people may not be safe!
It’s also worth considering restricting access to the letterbox from your dog as cards coming through the door can contain money, glitter, confetti etc.
🐶 Minimise festive scents around dogs:
Scent is huge in a dog’s world and they have hugely stronger scent abilities than we do. New candles, room sprays, air fresheners etc can be a nice additional to make the home festive but can also be very over powering for dogs and in some cases contribute to health issues such as dehydration, seizures and more.
If you do have new scent in the home for Christmas you might place it in a room away from your dog’s bed or where they usually sleep so they can be away from the scent if they choose.
🐶 Stock up on dog meds if needed:
If your dog has medication from the vet’s ensure you have enough for over Christmas and New Year as vet practises are open for different times over Christmas plus deliveries of meds to the vet practises will be less than normal.
The same applies for supplements as sometimes even something that isn’t from the vets can be useful to help a dog stay comfortable so ensure you have everything needed until January.
🐶 Prepare your Dog First Aid Kit Inc Leucillin spray:
If you don’t have a dog or pet first aid kit I’d strongly recommend looking into this! They can be purchased online ready made or there are lots of resources online for you to put together your own kit. If you have one then check you have everything expected in there in case something has been used or past it’s expiry date.
At the very least I recommend having some Leucillin spray to help with any and all cuts, sore ears, bad paws etc. Check out Leucillin
🐶 If travelling locate nearest vets:
If you are travelling with your dog over Christmas for a day trip or to stay away for a few days, wherever you’re headed find out what vets are nearby just in case. It’s much easier to find a local vet and get their number saved when it’s not an emergency, trust me!
There is a ‘find a vet’ website run by the RCVS which is located here
🐶 Have emergency vet number in phone:
Typically your own vets practise will be closed over Christmas unless they happen to provide the area’s emergency vets too, so check where your emergency vets is located and put their number in your phone, just in case. It can also be helpful to check what your own vet’s opening hours will be around the Christmas period so you don’t waste time getting to a closed practise and then need to get to the out of hours vet.
There is a website service that helps you find local emergency vets run by Vets Now. Your local emergency vets might not be run byVets Now so it’s worth checking this and finding the contact number.
You can visit the website here
For your free Check Lost download click here
If you found this checklist helpful you might also enjoy our Free Ebook on Safety for Dogs at Christmas which includes information on safety at Christmas with dogs and children too. Joe Nutkins, the author, is a Kids Around Dogs Approved Professional and her ebook has been used with other KAD trainers too.
Wishing you all a very merry and safe Christmas from all of us at Dog Training for Essex & Suffolk!
