Many of us are fortunate enough to enjoy some well-deserved time off over Christmas which is great news for your pup because that means more time with their favourite humans! This guide is designed to help you make the most out of this time with lots of festive ideas and trips out with your dog whilst also looking out for any holiday hazards.
- Holiday Hazards – what to look out for this Christmas period
- Festive Fun – get out and about with your dog!
- Calm Christmas – keeping your pup relaxed during the Christmas bustle
- Canine Christmas Enrichment – ideas to keep those waggy tails busy
Holiday Hazards
Unfortunately, vets experience a seasonal spike in pet emergencies at Christmas time with the most common issues including toxic ingestion, dietary upset and foreign bodies. Many of these can be easily avoided so to make sure your pups are only visited by Santa-paws this year and not the dreaded vets avoid these holiday hazards.
- Mince Pies and Christmas puddings – These contain raisins and sultanas which are extremely toxic to dogs.
- Blue cheese – The mould on blue cheese can make your dog very unwell.
- Christmas chocolate and sweets – Both of these contain harmful ingredients and high sugar content that is dangerous for your dog’s digestion. Hang any edible Christmas decorations well out of reach and avoid leaving edible gifts under the tree.
- Gravy and stuffing – delicious for us but these often contain garlic and onion which is unsafe for dogs.
- Cooked turkey bones – Cooked bones become brittle and splinter easily which can cause choking or internal blockages, which may then require surgery. Dogs can enjoy some unseasoned roast turkey but make sure to remove any bones!
- Nutmeg – this festive spice is a common Christmas flavour that can be tempting to dogs but is also toxic.
- Tinsel – tinsel can look like fun for dogs to play with but can be very dangerous if ingested. If you notice anything glistening from places, it shouldn’t… it is very important not to pull it out as this can cause severe internal injuries. Instead call your vet immediately.
- Poinsettias, holly and mistletoe – these beautiful Christmas plants can cause dietary upset and skin irritation if ingested by your dog.
It is always best to contact your vet right away if they have consumed anything unsafe as the symptoms could be delayed by which time the toxins may have already been absorbed.
🐾TOP TIP: Familiarise yourself with your vets out of hours contact services in advance of the Christmas period.
Festive Fun
Christmas can be a very busy time of year with lots of family visits and festive days out planned, but it’s also important to make sure you plan some fun for your furry family members to enjoy the festivities too!
Winter walks are always an enjoyable way to spend time with the family and embrace the great outdoors whilst burning off some of those irresistible pigs in blankets! We all have our own regular walking spots but why not use this time to explore somewhere new! Dogs can become very complacent with their usual walks and can find them less stimulating over time. If you want a lovely tired, happy pup to bring home so you can sit back and relax with a glass of mulled wine then try exploring somewhere different with lots of exciting new sights and smells! We have plenty of ideas of places to get Out and About this Christmas that your dog will love and don’t forget to tag us @devonlovesdogs on Facebook or Instagram to give others some winter walkies inspiration!
Christmas markets can also be a great outing for the family, and many of these are now extremely dog friendly! Offering lots of doggy festive treats and accessories to spoil them with and fill their stockings. Bear in mind that these events aren’t suitable for every dog, so if they are nervous of crowds you may want to consider visiting at quieter times and avoid weekends.
🐾 Top Tip: For an extra special doggy day out, did you know that Powderham Castle in Exminster are completely dog friendly! Book tickets for their Christmas at the Castle experience to explore the castle and grounds with your pup and take in their incredible light displays and Christmas décor! It’s a truly unforgettable experience for the whole family and a wonderful way to allow your furry friends to join the festivities!
Calm Christmas
With the many comings and goings we all know that Christmas can be a stressful time of year and the same goes for your canine companions.
A lot happens at home in a relatively short space of time, especially on the big day, filling our homes with people, presents, food, music, decorations, noise, laughter and sometimes even Christmas quarrels! This sudden change and sensory overload can all be quite overwhelming for a dog who is used to a quiet home environment, which is why you should plan in advance ways to keep them comfortable and calm. Think about creating a safe space for your dog that you can accustom them to, whether this be a cosy crate or a quiet space in another room away from all the chaos. If you’re popping champagne or pulling crackers which will likely spook most animals, it is a good idea to remove your dog from that situation first and offer them a tasty chew to encourage a positive experience instead. If you have a highly anxious dog who does not cope well with visitors and commotion then it may be worth discussing possible calming remedies and/or medication with your vet in advance.
Canine Christmas Enrichment
Another way to minimise stress and ensure your pup is feeling jolly is to provide plenty of enrichment to keep them mentally and physically stimulated and can make use of some Christmas leftovers! This can be particularly helpful if you need to keep them occupied at home while wrapping presents or baking some Christmas goods!
- Boxes! – something we all find ourselves inundated with over Christmas so why not put them to good use. You can hide tasty treats inside and fill with rolled up scraps of wrapping paper. Then simply sit back and watch the fun unfold whilst your dog riffles through the paper sniffing out the tasty treats inside.
- Lick mats – these are a great way to stimulate your dog and can keep them busy! Use something soft such as certain dog meats or dog safe peanut butter (without xylitol) and sprinkle over a few treats. To keep them occupied for longer you can even freeze these before giving them to your pup.
- Doggy Christmas decorations – why not create a meaningful keepsake with your dog! Use some dog safe paint and a blank disc to make a paw print Christmas tree decoration. Be sure to spoil your dog with lots of treats whilst doing this to make it fun for them as well
- Advent Calendars – not only are there lots of doggy advent calendars on the market, but you can also make use of your own when it’s empty to create a brain training puzzle for your pet! Simply hide some treats behind the closed doors and watch your dog figure out how to get inside.
- Wrap up their presents! – Let your dog enjoy the fun of unwrapping their own gifts! You can wrap them loosely and hide treats in the layers to encourage them to tear inside and see what Santa-paws has brought them!
Once you set your mind to it there are plenty of fun ideas and games you can play with your dog over Christmas, and we would love to see what you can come up with by tagging us on our socials! As with any toys and enrichment be sure to always supervise your dogs to keep them safe.
Hopefully this has given you lots of fun and festive ideas to ensure a calm, joyful and safe Christmas with your dogs. From all at Devon Loves Dogs, Julie, Trish, Maisie 🐾, Gary 🐾 and Pierre 🐾 we would like to wish you and your furry friends a very Merry Woof-mas and a Yappy New Year!
