Keep Your Dog Calm, Happy, and Stress-Free This Holiday Season

Christmas can be magical for humans, but all the noise, visitors, and excitement can be overwhelming for dogs. Here are 5 ways to help your dog navigate the festive season calmly and happily. 

1. Long-Lasting Chews & Puzzle Toys

Keep your dog engaged and calm with long-lasting chews or stuffed kongs. These are especially useful when visitors are over. They give your dog something to focus on while the household is busy.

2. Give Them a Choice

Some dogs love being at the centre of the festive fun, while others feel stressed by the activity. Provide a safe, quiet space where your dog can retreat if they need a break. Let them choose whether to join in or chill out. Respecting their preferences reduces stress and keeps everyone happier.

3. Gentle Exercise or Mental Stimulation

A short walk or a brief training session before guests arrive can help your dog release  some energy in a positive way. We particularly love things like find it games and scent activities to give them a mental workout that’s just as tiring as physical activity.

4. Build a Settle/Bed Cue Through Repetition

Start by rewarding calm behaviour on the bed to create value for the spot. Introduce a release cue first so your dog knows when they can leave (say your release cue, pause, then throw some food to pair it with moving off the bed, your dog will soon associate the word with moving off the bed, without the need of the tossed cookie). Once your dog begins to immediately return to the bed after release, that’s the perfect time to introduce a cue for getting onto the bed, capturing the behaviour they are already offering. Continue to place the food directly on the bed as a reward, reinforcing the bed itself as valuable.

With consistent repetition, your dog will start offering the behaviour automatically, and/or will stay on the bed when cued.

If this skill is new to your dog, keep up the practice and next holiday season you’ll really see the difference. If your dog already knows it, now is a great time to polish the skill ready for when holiday visitors arrive.

5. Plan for Predictable Calm Moments

Holidays often mean lots of excitement, from kids running around to wrapping paper flying. During these moments, help your dog by structuring short, calm breaks — even just a few minutes with a slow-feeding chew or Kong — to reset and maintain calm energy. It’s about creating small, predictable pockets of calm in the chaos.

A few simple strategies can make a huge difference in keeping your dog calm, happy, and stress-free this holiday season. With a bit of planning and practice, Christmas can be enjoyable for everyone — dogs included!