Holiday Tips for Dog Owners: Keep Training (and Sanity!) on Track this Holiday Season!

Image description: Black dog has his face and paws on a white counter top. He is in the process of grabbing a slice of cheese off a black plate that has four slices of cheese.

You’re running around putting last-minute touches on the holiday meal, getting the house ready to be full of guests to celebrate with! You put the cheese plate down with some plates and napkins and begin welcoming guests in.

As friends and family enter the home, Buddy — your normally sweet, bouncy dog — launches himself forward in excitement, planting two perfect paw prints (and a bit of drool) right on your first guest’s sweater.

“Buddy, off!”

You sigh, guide him away, and return to greeting everyone with a smile- now trying to juggle the dog as well, all while wondering, what happened to those training classes we took? 

As you direct your guests over to the appetizers, you notice the cheese plate is… empty. You swear you just set it down. And there’s Buddy, smacking his lips and looking quite pleased with himself. 

Does this chaos sound familiar?

The holidays are full of joy, but they can also be full of distractions and stress — for both us and our dogs. Between guests, food, new decorations, and travel, even the best-trained pups can struggle with impulse control and routine changes.

As a trainer, I want to help you enjoy the holidays and set your dog up for success. Here are a few of my favorite tips to help your dog stay calm, happy, and on their best behavior through all the festivities– so you can both enjoy them!

Holiday Tips, from a Professional Dog Trainer

1) Refresh your Skills BEFORE you need them!

If you have behaviors you’d like your dog to practice, such as polite greetings, “leave it” or being able to relax in a quiet room– start now! Create a training plan and practice around all different distractions!. Your dog has to know the behavior, and practice it around all sorts of distractions, to be successful!

Trainer Tip: Look for a Holiday Manners class or positive reinforcement trainer in your area to brush up on skills!!

2) Manage the Environment for Success!

Set your dog up for success by reducing their chances to practice unwanted behaviors. A little prevention goes a long way, especially during the holidays! Use management options such as x-pens, baby gates, crates, or a quiet room where your dog can safely relax. This isn’t about restriction, it’s about setting your dog up for success and protecting their comfort and progress!

3) Plan ahead to prevent chaos!

Before holiday get-togethers, make a plan for your dog- and a back up plan, just in case! If they need medication or calming aids from the vet, be sure to call well in advance (not the day before!). Set aside time for physical exercise before the excitement and prepare mental enrichment for them to enjoy while you’re busy preparing or hosting!

Trainer Tip: If your schedule changes or is out of the normal, build in intentional “quiet time” for your dog. A nap in their crate or a chew in another room is important for decompression and reliable behavior

4) Prepare Mental Enrichment… and more mental enrichment

When you’re busy cooking or entertaining, you’ll thank yourself for preparing mental enrichment for your dog ahead of time. This will help to keep your dog busy, reduce boredom and stress levels, and gives them an outlet for natural behaviors during a chaotic time! Some great options are treat dispensing toys, snuffle or lick mats, and frozen kongs.

Trainer Tip: Freeze and prepare your enrichment ahead of time, then you can grab one as needed!

5) Advocate for Your Dog with Visitors

Not everyone knows how to greet or interact with dogs, or your dog, appropriately- and that’s okay!. It’s your job to advocate for your dog and instruct your visitors on what your dog needs.Set boundaries kindly but clearly:

• “He’s excited right now — let’s wait until he’s calm to say hi.”

• “She’s taking a break in her crate; we’ll bring her out later.”

• “He’s nervous of new people, please ignore him while he watches from behind the gate”

Your dog will feel safer, calmer, and more confident when you advocate for them and protect their comfort.

6) Watch the Food and Treats

Holiday food is tempting for everyone — but especially for dogs! Keep unsafe foods (like chocolate, grapes, onions, and cooked bones) far out of reach. Remind guests not to feed table scraps, even if your dog looks cute as it could quickly cause a medical emergency.

Final Thoughts: From Chaos to Comfort!

The holidays should be enjoyable for humans and dogs alike, even if they come with a little chaos! This isn’t the time to push for brand new training goals. Instead, rely on well-planned management and reliable behaviors to set your dog, and yourself, up for success.

So as you prep for your upcoming holiday gatherings, take a breath, make a plan, and put that cheese plate a little higher and further out of reach this year!