Christmas is exciting - but for our dogs, all the noise, visitors, and changes in routine can feel like too much. A little forward planning goes a long way in helping your dog stay calm and content over the festive season.
Here are 4 simple ways to make sure your pup enjoys Christmas as much as you do.
#1. Give your dog a safe haven
Maybe your dog is crate trained, in which case they’ll already have a safe place to escape to if the noise or excitement gets a bit too much.
If crate training isn’t right for your pooch, it’s still important to give them a safe haven during the festive season. This could be as simple as placing their bed in a quiet room of the house that they can access whenever they like.
The doorbell game is a great way to get your dog excited about going to their safe haven when things get too much (or you need them out of the way).
Give your dog something to keep them calm and entertained like a dog-safe chew or a snuffle mat (remember to keep your Tug-E-Nuff toys for supervised play only).
#2. Set boundaries with guests
Guests - especially children - don’t always know how to act around shy, nervous or excitable dogs. It’s perfectly OK to set boundaries in advance - perhaps asking guests not to immediately fuss over your dog, and instead to wait until they have settled in.
Remind children to use ‘gentle hands’ if and when they do pet your dog and always give your dog space if they need it.
Teach your dog to retreat to their safe haven when guests arrive - learn how with our 4 step guide to stop barking at the doorbell.
‘Find it’ is a great game to play to help your dog calm down - and it’s a game children can play too. Hide their favourite tuggy or The Clam stuffed with treats, and let your dog use their nose to sniff out their reward.
#3. Create a Festive Fun Box
If you know or suspect that your dog might find the festive season tricky, why not put together a Festive Fun Box?
Pack it with a selection of interactive, bond-boosting Tug-E-Nuff toys and a few yummy treats. Then, in quieter moments, choose a tuggy and spend just five or so minutes enthusiastically engaging in play.
This will help tire your dog out so they settle better, and it’s a great way to reconnect, too. Here’s a fun game you can play in minutes that’ll give your dog’s brain a workout!
#4. Don’t forget rewards!
At Tug-E-Nuff, we’re firm believers in only ever using positive reinforcement. That means rewarding the choices we want to see, rather than punishing or scolding in response to the ones we don’t.
Behaving nicely around guests (not jumping up, for example) or reacting calmly to new scenarios (like when a bottle of champagne gets popped) is definitely a good choice - so remember to offer a reward for it!
The reward can either be treat-based or tug-based (why not keep a pocket sized tuggy on you for this exact purpose!?).
Keep calm, it’s Christmas
Christmas should be about connection, not stress. With a safe haven, clear boundaries, a festive fun box, and plenty of rewards, you’ll set your dog up for a calmer, happier holiday. And when things quieten down? Why not enjoy some quality play together with our free Games Ebook - packed with bond-boosting ideas your dog will love.