Helping your dog this Christmas - Complete with Tutorials

Christmas is a wonderfully festive time, filled with guests, food, presents and a whole lot of laughter. With so much going on, it's surprisingly easy to forget that our dogs might find the whole thing a little overwhelming. And let's be honest - on Christmas Day itself, it's unlikely you'll be running a training session between the roast potatoes and wrapping paper, hence why it is so important to give your dog the skills to manage the Christmas chaos before it begins.

So, here are a few simple ways you can practise now to set your dog up for success and enjoy the celebrations along with you - and maybe even a cheeky roastie.

Managing doorway greetings

It's likely your visitors will arrive in their best attire, with lots of glitter and their finest of Christmas jumpers. So, it is unlikely they will want to add a few muddy paw prints to finish off the look. There are a couple of ways you can avoid the embarrassment:

Management: Keep your dog in another room, behind a baby gate or leashed. This prevents the opportunity for them to jump at your guests.

Training: Instead of the constant 'No!', let's teach them what TO DO instead. You can practise, 4 on the floor, settle on mat or treat scatters to redirect your dog.

Helping with overexcitement

A solid 'Settle on mat' behaviour will be a godsend on Christmas Day! It gives your dog a predictable, calm spot to retreat to when things get loud or exciting. It is great for both the nervous pups as well as the overly exuberant ones!

Where to start:

1. Source your dog a comfy bed and blanket for them to rest. Make it cosy with lots of toys and fun stuff.

2. Reward your dog whenever you find them resting here.

3. In structured training sessions, teach a settle behaviour.

4. Provide your dog with long-lasting chews, lick mats and enrichment to help them associate their safe haven with positive experiences, making them want to chill out there.

Go to mat tutorial: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3W0H9fIAFx/

The Mighty Leave it

Dropped chocolates, fallen mince pies or an onion - a danger buffet for your beloved pet. A solid 'Leave it' can genuinely save the day (and your bank account!). Begin teaching this behaviour with low-value items, before slowly building up the intensity. When teaching this behaviour, consider the distance of the leave it item, the closer it is to your dog, the harder it will be!

Remember, Leave is different to Drop. In Leave, they are NEVER allowed access to the item. Drop is to remove the item from their mouth for a period of time before regaining access to it - e.g. tug.

Leave tutorial: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE0PL67C01B/

In Conclusion

With a little preparation, you can set your dog up for a relaxed, joyful Christmas. One where they feel safe, understood and part of the fun, as opposed to overwhelmed by it. Give these behaviours some practice in the lead-up to the holidays, and you'll have a much smoother, happier festive season.