How to Prepare Your House for Christmas with Dogs

Christmas is a big deal in most households but with most holidays, it comes with lots of planning. Between decorating the tree, wrapping presents and doing all the food shopping, it’s easy to get caught up in the festive chaos. But while we’re busy transforming our homes, it’s important to remember there’s someone else taking it all in too: your dog.

For them, Christmas is a sensory overload filled with new smells, shiny decorations, noisy guests coming and going and sometimes even a few tempting leftovers within reach of curious noses. They might not understand why there’s suddenly a tree inside the living room or why their favourite nap spot is now covered in wrapping paper, but they do pick up on the excitement – and sometimes the stress.

That’s why a little preparation in advance of the big day is essential if you’re planning on celebrating Christmas with dogs. It’s not just about keeping them out of reach of tinsel and Terry’s Chocolate Oranges. It’s also about making sure they feel calm, comfortable and included in the festive fun.

As you’ll soon realise, preparing your house for a Christmas with dogs isn’t about taking the sparkle away but about perfectly balancing festive and fur-friendly habits. It’s about making a few small tweaks in your home and routine makes everyone, including your pets, comfortable and happy.

Like us, our dogs love shiny things. And shiny things that also jingle and appear out of the blue are even more tempting. So it makes sense that our dogs will be curious about our Christmas trees and all the sparkling baubles hanging from it. That’s why, when it comes to Christmas with dogs, one of the simplest ways to avoid any festive chaos is to keep your decorations out of paw’s reach.

Hang your most delicate ornaments higher up on the tree and stick to shatterproof ones near the bottom in case a wagging tail or playful nose gets too close. If you tend to hang chocolate Christmas decorations on the tree too, it might be worth skipping that from now on. The last thing you want is one to fall off and your dog to get hold of a stomach-upsetting treat. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs after all. It’s also worth securing your tree properly, especially if you’ve got a dog who loves to explore.

To keep your dog distracted from all the fun, it’s a good idea to offer them something festive of their own, like some Christmas soft toys or Christmas enrichment toys for dogs. They’ll be too busy enjoying their new favourite toy to bother paying much attention to the giant tree that’s appeared in the living room.

We know it looks nice to fill the bottom of the tree with all your presents, but when you’re celebrating Christmas with dogs, it’s best to keep those filled with food – dog-safe or not – out of reach from their super strong noses. It only takes one delicious smell to make its way out of the wrapping paper to tempt your dog into ripping it open for themselves.

Any goodies containing chocolate, raisins, nuts and xylitol can pose serious risks if your pup decides to help themselves so please keep all edible gifts well out of reach, ideally on high shelves or behind closed doors.

Christmas dinner is one of the best parts of the season, but not everything on the table is safe for your dog. During Christmas with dogs, it’s important to know which foods are safe and which aren’t. Plain turkey (without skin or bones), carrots, and peas are fine in small amounts, but rich gravies, onions, stuffing and desserts should be avoided.

It can be tempting to slip your dog a little something special, so stick to dog-friendly festive foods instead. If you’re unsure what’s safe, take a look at our Dog-Friendly Christmas Foods blog for a full list of dos and don’ts.

To keep them happy while you’re chowing down on your own dinner in a colourful paper hat, you might consider treating them to some Christmas dog treats & chews that they can enjoy with you or fill one of their favourite enrichment toys with tasty goodies to keep them busy while you eat.

The holiday season is exciting for us humans, but for dogs, especially pups that tend to be shy and anxious, it can be incredibly overwhelming. There’s often lots of extra noise around the house, whether it’s you singing Mariah Carey at the top of your lungs or guests coming over to socialise.

A great way to make Christmas with dogs calmer is to create a peaceful space where your pup can go to and relax when things get busy. Choose a quiet area away from where you usually socialise and add their bed, a few cosy blankets and maybe a soft Christmas dog toy or two. This safe spot gives your dog somewhere to decompress and feel secure when they need a break. If your pup is particularly anxious, you could also use dog-safe calming sprays or treats to help them unwind.

We know it must be hard for our pups to resist the smells that come with Christmas. We love a mince pie like the next person; but sadly, they’re definitely not safe for our dogs – no matter how tempting they may be. And while the best thing to do is move all food out of your dog’s reach, we know there are occasions when a fallen candy cane or a child’s chocolate-covered fingers are out of your control.

That’s why teaching “leave it” is one of the most useful things you can do to make Christmas with dogs a little easier. It helps prevent accidents, keeps your pup safe and makes your festive setup far less stressful.

Start practising ahead of the holidays by using positive reinforcement like praise and treats and before long, they’ll understand that resisting temptation earns them praise and maybe a few Christmas dog treats.

It wouldn’t be Christmas with dogs without a few gifts under the tree for them too. Dogs might not understand the season, but they certainly understand the joy of new toys, treats and attention.

Choose a few festive goodies your dog will love, like Christmas enrichment toys, soft plush toys or a selection of Christmas dog treats & chews. These not only make your pup feel included but also help keep them occupied while the family unwraps their own presents. 

Christmas really is one of the most magical times of the year and sharing it with your dog makes it even better. Sure, there are a few extra things to think about when celebrating Christmas with dogs, but honestly, that’s part of what makes it so special. Taking a little extra care to make your home dog-friendly means everyone, two- and four-legged alike, can enjoy the festivities stress-free.

When you see your dog curled up by the fire, playing with their new toy or joining in the family fun, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without them. They might not understand what all the fuss is about, but they definitely feel the love and energy that comes with it.

So this year, make sure your pup is part of the celebration too. Treat them to their very own Christmas gifts for dogs, from cosy new beds and festive chew toys to Christmas enrichment toys for dogs, tasty Christmas dog treats & chews, and even a new lead or harness to step into the new year in style.

When it comes down to it, Christmas is so much more than just about decorations or dinner. It’s about the ones who make every day brighter and our dogs certainly do just that!

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