Holidays With Your Dog: A Safety Guide for the Season

How do you keep a dog safe over the holidays?

The holidays bring your dog everything they love: more people, more food, more things to sniff. They also bring a few things that can turn a good night into a vet visit. A little planning keeps the season what it should be, which is your dog asleep by the fire while the house is full.

Keep the chocolate out of reach

Chocolate is the holiday hazard that shows up in the data. A study of UK vet records found dogs were about four times more likely to be seen for eating chocolate around Christmas than at other times of year (Noble et al., 2017). It's everywhere in December: wrapped under the tree, in advent calendars, on the coffee table. Put it up high or behind a door.

The same goes for sweets made with xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions, cooked bones, and rich, fatty leftovers. Let guests know the rule, since the gentlest aunt is the one slipping ham under the table. If your dog eats something they shouldn't, call your vet or an animal poison line right away. Don't wait to see what happens.

Mind the plants

Holly, mistletoe, and lilies can make dogs sick and belong up high or out of the house. Poinsettias are milder but can still upset a stomach. Pick up fallen leaves and berries, and keep the tree water covered. Dogs will drink it.

Hang the fragile things high

Tinsel, ribbon, and glass ornaments are irresistible, and all three are a problem when swallowed. Put the fragile and shiny decorations on the top half of the tree. Set the tree in a corner with a sturdy base so a curious nose can't tip it. If your dog can't leave the tree alone, a pet gate around it solves the problem for the whole month.

Hide the cords

Light strings and extension cords run along the floor right where a dog chews. Tape them down, run them behind furniture, or cover them. Unplug them when you're out. A chewed cord can burn a mouth or worse.

Give them a room of their own

A full house is a lot for most dogs. Set up a quiet room away from the front door with their bed, water, and a favorite toy. Let them go there whenever they want, and tell guests the room is off limits. A dog who can leave the party is a dog who enjoys the party.

Plan for New Year's noise

Fireworks and poppers are hard on dog ears and nerves. Keep your dog inside that night, close the curtains, and put on a radio or a fan for steady background sound. Their quiet room works here too. Walk them well before dark so they aren't out when the noise starts, and check their collar and tag in case a bang sends them running.

Think ahead about travel

Driving or flying with your dog over the holidays? Check that where you're staying takes dogs before you book. Pack their food for the whole trip plus a little extra, their bed, and a copy of their vaccine records. In the car, a harness clipped to a seat belt or a secured crate keeps them safe. On the plane, airlines have their own rules, so read them early.

Get them outside every day

The best thing you can do for your dog over the holidays is the simplest: keep the daily walk. Cold air and a quiet street do wonders for a dog who has spent all day dodging toddlers. A jacket for thin-coated dogs and booties for salted sidewalks extend the season. Here's how to keep the walk going all winter. And if a new pack is under the tree, an empty-pack walk is the perfect first outing.

AlphaPak is a food, not a medicine, and nothing here replaces your vet's advice. Not sure which recipe fits your dog? Find your recipe takes about a minute, and we are happy to help.