Christmas is a busy, noisy, indulgent time, and while we may love it, it can be overwhelming for dogs. More people, more food, more changes to routine, more excitement… all in one go.

If you’re thinking about preparing your dog for Christmas, a little planning now can make a huge difference. Whether you have a puppy experiencing their first Christmas or an adult dog who finds change tricky, these tips will help keep things calm, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.

Why Christmas can be hard for dogs

From a dog’s perspective, Christmas turns their familiar world upside down.

• Routines change
• People come and go constantly
• The house smells different
• Food appears everywhere
• There’s more noise and excitement

Spaniels, Cavapoos, Cockapoos and other doodles tend to feel this intensely. They’re social, sensitive, and easily overstimulated. Without support, this can show up as over-excitement, inability to settle, scavenging, or stress behaviours.

Preparing ahead gives your dog clarity and security.

Christmas food and dogs: what really matters

This is the area where I see the most genuine emergencies every year.

People often say, “A little won’t hurt.” Unfortunately, sometimes it really can.

Foods to keep well out of reach

• Ham (very high salt content)
• Stuffing (often contains onion and garlic)
• Onions and garlic in any form
• Mince pies and Christmas pudding
• Chocolate and sweets
• Festive desserts
• Cheese overload
• Fatty scraps and leftovers

Turkey itself is not the issue. Plain turkey meat is usually fine. The danger comes from skin, fat, seasoning, gravy, stuffing and salt.

A real example from home

Even with all my experience, Christmas still keeps me alert. Recently, Envy managed to get hold of ham. Thankfully we were quick, but it was a sharp reminder of how fast things can happen.

Salt-rich foods like ham can contribute to pancreatitis or salt poisoning, both of which are serious and distressing for dogs. It’s just not worth the risk.

Extra things people forget

• Guests leaving food on low tables
• Plates left unattended “just for a second”
• Open bins full of leftovers
• Wrappers and packaging smelling strongly of food

This is why bin security matters so much at Christmas. Use a lidded bin or put bins behind closed doors whenever possible.

Decorations, presents and festive hazards

Christmas décor is exciting, but for dogs, it can also be confusing and risky.

Things to be mindful of:

• Wires from tree lights
• Decorations hung low within reach
• Tinsel and ribbons
• Wrapping paper and bows
• Candles within tail or nose height

Be especially careful with toxic plants, including:

• Poinsettias
• Holly and holly berries

Presents are another common issue. Avoid leaving food-based gifts under the tree, particularly chocolate. Dogs don’t understand wrapping paper, they just smell what’s inside.

Puppies at Christmas

For puppies, this may be their first ever Christmas, which means everything is new.

Extra things to think about:

• Light wires at puppy height
• Low-hanging decorations
• Teething and chewing on packaging
• Visitors wanting to interact constantly

Puppies still need lots of sleep. Over-excitement plus lack of rest often leads to biting, zoomies and meltdowns. If this sounds familiar, revisiting my puppy biting blog can be really helpful.

Keeping naps, quiet time and boundaries in place is not “ruining the fun”. It’s protecting your puppy.

If you need support navigating this stage, my Dream Puppy Programme offers tailored 121 guidance to help puppies cope with busy environments while building calm, confident behaviour.

Visitors, children and over-stimulation

Most dogs don’t cope well with being the centre of attention for hours on end.

Helpful strategies:

• Manage greetings calmly rather than letting everyone rush in
• Advocate for your dog if they need space
• Remind guests not to feed your dog
• Teach children to interact gently and respectfully
• Give your dog somewhere quiet they can choose to rest

A dog who can walk away from the chaos is far more likely to cope well than one who feels trapped in it.

Teaching and protecting calm

Christmas is not the time to expect perfect behaviour, but it is a good time to reinforce calm skills.

Support your dog by:

• Keeping walks as normal as possible
• Using Kongs, lick mats and chews to help them settle
• Practising relaxed “doing nothing” time
• Ending play with calming activities, not abrupt stops

If settling is a challenge, this often links closely with recall, over-arousal and impulse control. My Dream Dog Programme supports adult dogs who struggle to settle or listen during exciting situations.

A simple Christmas checklist for dogs

• Keep human food well out of reach
• Secure bins and leftovers
• Watch guests and unattended plates
• Check decoration height and wiring
• Avoid toxic plants
• Maintain walks and routine
• Provide safe chews and enrichment
• Give your dog a quiet space
• Advocate for their needs

Final thoughts

Preparing your dog for Christmas doesn’t mean removing all the fun. It means recognising that Christmas is a lot, and giving your dog the support they need to cope with it comfortably.

A calmer dog means a calmer household. And that’s something everyone can enjoy.

If you’d like help creating a calmer, more settled dog for busy times of year, my Dream Puppy Programme and Dream Dog Programme offer thoughtful 121 training across Coventry, Kenilworth and Leamington Spa.