< A version of this article was first published in the November 2016 issue of Downeast Dog News>
< Updated 2024-12-05 >
< The link for this page – https://forcefreepets.com/preparing-your-pets-for-the-holidays >
November and December can be joyous yet also a chaotic and hectic time of the year. We can look forward to several major holidays, each of which can mean more activities at school for the kids and an increased probability of guests in our home. To prepare for those activities, we must spend more time away from home attending school concerts, company parties, and family gatherings. Some people thrive on a flurry of activity, and some long for a calmer time of year. Our pets, especially dogs and cats typically, are more likely to be fans of predictability and routine. Here are a few tips to make the coming frenzy less stressful for you and your pets.
Set Aside Special Time for Your Pets
As you get busy with the holidays, please do not forget your pet. Make sure to allocate time for them, as they miss you when you are not home as much as usual. Spending time with them also 
helps you relax from the holiday madness. Taking a walk,
tossing a ball for your dog, or playing with your cat with a wand toy are all excellent year-round activities, but they can be even more critical when the frenetic pace of the holidays leaves you with less quality time for your pet.
Your Pet Gets to Decide if They Choose to Interact
Ensure that everyone who lives with your pet understands the visual cues a pet 
uses to indicate whether they wish to interact with someone. Be aware that many people are unaware of the signals pets use or, sadly, believe a person should be able to do anything they want to do to a pet at any time. Please ensure everyone visiting your home understands that your pet ALWAYS gets to choose who they interact with and who they wish to stay away from.
For both dogs and cats, moving towards you usually means they want to engage. Remaining stationary, turning their head away to break eye contact, or moving away are clear signals that emphatically state, “Please stay away.” When someone ignores these signals, the pet may vocalize, lunge, or bite to keep someone away. No one wants to deal with a bite over the holidays, so do not hesitate to remind people, “My pet ALWAYS gets to choose who they interact with and who they wish to stay away from. Please respect my wishes.” It’s entirely up to you if you want to add “or leave my home” to the end of that sentence.
If you have a pet who is often tentative about visitors, it is often best to set them up in a room in your home with a bed, some water, a favorite toy, and a sign on the door that says “Private-Do NOT Enter.”
If you are confident that your pet will not enjoy the increased activity due to the event, or if you are more relaxed knowing your pet is in a safe, pleasant environment, consider boarding your pet the day and night of the event.
Pets As Gifts
Pets do not make good holiday gifts, especially if the person receiving them is unaware of them. If you want to give someone a pet-related gift, get them a leash or toy for the pet to come. Books can also be a great option, as can a gift card from your favorite pet store or service provider.
Pets in Costumes and Clothes
No matter how much fun we think it is to dress up our pets in costumes and clothes, most pets hate it. Please look at the visual cues noted above, and if they say, “Stay away,” please stop. Pets are NOT a fashion accessory.
Holiday Hazards
Many people love to decorate for the holidays, which vastly changes our pets’ environment and even adds some hazards that were not present previously. Specific holiday hazards to be thinking about are:
Holiday Plants, such as Holly, Mistletoe, and Poinsettias, are poisonous to pets. Make sure they are away from your pet.
Christmas Trees—Whether live or artificial, a holiday tree can be tempting and hazardous to your pet’s environment.
- Either type of tree should be secured so your pet cannot knock it over.
- If you have a live tree, you must ensure it has water. If you add chemicals to the water to help the tree stay “fresh,” ensure they are not toxic to your pets.
- More than one cartoonist has created an amusing visual of a dog finding the trunk of the Christmas tree a spot worth marking.
- Keep lights and fragile ornaments off the lower branches of your holiday tree where your pet can reach them.
- Ensure all electrical cords for holiday lights and decorations are located so your pet will not become entangled or attempt to chew on them.
- Avoid using edible ornaments on your tree.
- Tinsel can be very attractive to dogs and cats and can also be fatal if ingested.
Holiday Gifts—Be cautious about where you leave holiday gifts, especially those with food inside. A misplaced box of chocolates can kill a dog, and some gifts may have small parts that can be choking hazards for dogs or cats.
Holiday Snacks and Food—If your home is like mine, you have more food around during the holidays. If you’re entertaining, that food may be left where your pets can get into it. Chocolate, raisins, grapes, and anything containing Xylitol are toxic to pets.
No matter which holiday you celebrate, remember your pets and make it a wonderful experience for the entire family.
Other Resources
Articles on Don’s Blog
( https://forcefreepets.com/blog/ )
- Fire Safety for Pets – https://forcefreepets.com/fire-safety-for-pets//
- Winter Weather Tips for Pets – https://forcefreepets.com/winter-weather-tips-for-pets/
- Shared Blog Post – Cold Weather Guidance for Your Dog – https://forcefreepets.com/shared-blog-post-cold-weather-guidance-for-your-dog/
- Mental Health – Does Your Dog Enjoy Public Events, or Would They Rather Stay Home? – https://forcefreepets.com/mental-health-does-your-dog-enjoy-public-events-or-would-they-rather-stay-home/
- Mental Health – Respecting Personal Space & How to Interact with a Dog – https://forcefreepets.com/mental-health-respecting-personal-space-how-to-interact-with-a-dog/
Articles from Pets and Their People
- Tips for Ensuring Safe and Happy Holidays for People and Dogs – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/barks/barks-magazine-blog/tips-for-ensuring-safe-and-happy-holidays-for-people-and-dogs/
- Happy Holidays…for Dogs too! – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/barks/barks-magazine-blog/happy-holidays-for-dogs-too/
- 10 Reasons Why the Holidays Might Not Be So Full of Festive Cheer for Your Pet – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/barks/barks-magazine-blog/10-reasons-why-xmas-might-not-be-so-full-of-festive-cheer-for-your-pet/
- Stress-Free Holidays with Your Dog – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/barks/barks-magazine-blog/stress-free-holidays-with-your-dog/
- The Art and Science of Consent Testing – https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/barks/barks-magazine-blog/the-art-and-science-of-consent-testing/
