Most dogs that are sociable and comfortable with people love the excitement of Christmas. There are visitors to be greeted, new toys, people to play with and the extra noise and activity in the house will keep your dog high in spirits. If the house is especially busy, then your dog may appreciate an extra walk or two, to burn off their energy and keep them a little calmer at home.  

If your dog is young or old, a little nervous or not keen on change, then Christmas may be a very stressful time for them. Most dogs find their routine changed over the Christmas period, and many spend less time with their owners. Behaviour changes are often noticed, with dogs seeming unhappy and hiding away, becoming destructive or just being naughty.  

If you are at home with guests arriving, make sure that your dog has somewhere away from the festivities if they need it. A bed in a quiet room, with a favourite blanket and toy, a biscuit and some water will give them a safe area to go to should they feel overwhelmed. You can go and check on them and give a bit of reassurance but respect their need to stay out of the way and leave them to join in when and if they want to. Make sure that other guests also know to leave the dog alone, especially any children.  

Taking time out to get your dog out for a walk will also help to settle them down a bit and it is a good excuse to get the family out for an after-dinner stroll. Going outside with different people can be exciting for most dogs, but being enclosed in a house with strange people, a different routine and less exercise can trigger strong behavioural reactions in some. The number of dog bite injuries increases sharply over the Christmas period, so make sure that your dog has their needs met and a safe space where they get away from the noise and activity. 

During the Christmas period, everything seems expensive. But dogs have no concept or need for money and are happy with many things that will not break the bank. Your dog's routine often changes in the run up to Christmas, so keep them calmer at home by trying new walking routes. This will tire your dog both physically and mentally – lots of new sights and smells to keep your dog’s brain active.  

Meeting and playing with new dogs is great for your dog. Walking with friends and their dogs or going to dog meetups in your community really gets your dog’s social brain working well. The after dinner walk on Boxing Day is always better with friends, family and dogs. 

On Christmas Day itself, the ideal gift for a dog is a wrapped box that can be destroyed to get the chew inside it. Keep to the dog’s normal food and treats to avoid a post-Christmas diarrhoea and maybe a trip to the vet.  

Setting aside some time for you to spend with your dog over Christmas is important. Grooming time is useful for relaxing you and your dog and ensures that there is less likelihood of finding dog hairs in the Christmas dinner. You could make it special by adding a grooming product or two to help your dog smell sweeter before the guests arrive. Massaging your dog, especially if they are a bit older, will help relax the dog and loosen their muscles. 

Brain-games are good for one-to-one time. Hiding treats or pieces of kibble around the house and letting your dog find them is a good reward-based game. Teaching tricks for treats also keeps your dog interested.  

Remembering to schedule in time for your dog in the busy Christmas period will benefit both you and your dog, keeping you both more relaxed and less stressed. 

Christmas trees are beautiful when decorated and your puppy will want to investigate it, so puppies should never be left unattended with a Christmas tree. Puppies will try to be in or up the tree, so real care with decorations and electric cables must be taken to prevent entanglement or chewing. Baubles should be placed high on the tree out of pups reach, and glass or easily broken ornaments avoided. 

Chocolate or other food ornaments or gifts should not be left on or under the tree as your pup will be able to smell the chocolate and search for it.  

 Real trees can be toxic if the needles are eaten, and pine needles can cause problems if stuck in the feet, mouth or intestines. Non-drop real trees or artificial trees are best. A barrier can be placed around the tree, or use a smaller tree raised up onto a table out of harm's way.