Have you thought about the outdoor steps to keep your dog safe during the holiday season? Most dogs, like my dog, Henry, loves to play in the snow, but knowing the essential outdoor holiday dog safety steps to take is vital for a happy season.
The holidays are full of fun, lights, glitter, excitement, noises, and so much more. But when you look at it from your dog’s perspective, it takes on a new meaning for pet safety. Heck, your dog can sense and smell things days before they happen. Can you imagine what the holidays does to your pup’s sensory system? YIKES!!!
While it may not take much effort to take precautions and keep your dog safe outdoors during the holiday, it can make all the difference. I always like to think safety first, so I don’t have tears later. With this in mind, let’s dig in and discover outdoor holiday dog safety tips.
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Budget tip:
Precautions are priceless. Knowing key dog holiday safety tips can translate into no scary pet emergency vet visits even for the curious pet. It’s easy. Simple. Generally doesn’t cost any money. That’s all a great win-win for you and your dog.
Dog Outdoor Safety During the Holiday Season
Seasonal outings to spark your holiday spirit might start with looking at holiday decorations, and Christmas lights can be fun with your furry companions, even in cold weather. I like to take Henry to see the holiday lights each year. He seems to enjoy them as well. But there are a few holiday hazard points you will want to avoid.
Holiday Lights and Christmas Decorations – Some dogs may be scared of Christmas lights or moving and loud noises with festive decorations. Let your dog get used to the holiday decor by sniffing and rewarding calm behavior. If there are “scary” decorations on your walk, let your furry friend check them out during the daylight hours when they aren’t on or moving. Again, reward calm behavior with a pet or yummy treat.
Holiday activities - Mark the holiday with dog-friendly winter adventures like snow chases, photos with Santa, family photos in silly sweaters, or taking a pup-approved holiday walking tour.
Cold potential hazards – Salt and antifreeze are toxic. Avoid any areas that look like anti-freeze has spilled. Then make sure to wipe your pup’s paws when coming inside from a walk.
I like this pet-safe ice melt.
Backyard safety – As the snow falls, the top of the fence can become easier for your dog to jump. Make sure to keep the snow cleared near your fence line, and your yard remains pet safe and secured.
Holiday Hack: If your dog is covered in “snow berries” or snowballs, use a wire whisk to more easily get them off the fur. Then you can dry your pup quickly.
Gear up – Often, we have to walk our dogs after dark. There are some fun DIY reflective options, or you can purchase a reflective collar, harness, leash, and flashlight.
Dry off – If your pup gets soaked playing in the snow, make sure to dry off your buddy with a quick dry towel or a hair dryer on low. It can prevent skin issues and more pricey bills.
Pro Tip: Always carry poop bags with you because you never know when the moment may strike your pup. Check out this easy trick for opening those tricking bags with this easy hack.
How does keeping my dog safe outdoors during the holidays save me money?
I love it when you don’t have to do much, but you can save a lot of money. Consider the possible expenses you can avoid for a moment.
| Issue | Estimated Cost |
| Pet poisoning | $100 – 5,000 |
| Injured pup from escaping | $200 – 8,000 |
| Scared lost dog | $25 – 8,000 |
| Keeping your pup safe during outdoor holiday adventures | PRICELESS!!! |
Related articles:
- Beware of These Dog Holiday Hazards This Season
- Dog Holiday Dilemmas: Travel or Stay-Home Solutions
- Create a Calm Dog Friendly Holiday Home For Your Pup
- Save Big When You Dry Your Dog!
- 11 Heartfelt DIY Gifts for Dog Parents
- Lost Dog? Guide to Find Your Buddy
- Tricks for Walking Your Dog Safely in the Dark
Furry Outdoor Festive Fun is The Best!
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I love including Henry in the holiday celebrations. He loves to play outdoors. But I always make sure he’s geared up properly for outdoor holiday adventures. I also make sure he avoids anti-freeze, use pet-safe ice melt, clean off his paws after being outside, and dry him off when he’s wet. It’s easy, yet it keeps him safe. That means we both have a happy and fun holiday.
Find a curated collection of all the articles mentioned here and more here!
Great tips for holiday safety, and something we can’t hear enough about. It’s too easy to get swept up in the festive feeling, and lose focus. I love the point about the fence line, and how easy it could be for a dog to jump over when there’s a nice high pile of compacted snow to climb up.
Snow can make it a much easier escape. I appreciate your kind comments, Hindy. Thank you!
This is wonderful! Leia just recently hurt herself slipping on the icy deck going after a squirrel. I thought she tore her ACL, but it turns out she just exacerbated her arthritis in that leg. She’s already almost better but still has to do crate rest.
I’ll be salting the deck to try and avoid slippage–and then carrying her across it to the grass so she doesn’t step in it. Thanks for the tips!
It’s so scary when they slip like that. I’m glad Leia healed so quickly. Henry has done those slips a few times and then is a bit sore for a few days. My heart always skips a beat when it happens. I wish he’d learn he can’t run on ice. It can be so hard to see sometimes. Thank you, Andrea for your kind words. I appreciate it!
Wow, what a clever idea to include the financial benefit of keeping dogs safe during the holidays!
I never really thought about these things because, due to our lifestyle, we don’t run into such problems.
However, so amazing you thought of listing the fence! My brother-in-law ran into this issue big time and had to amend the fence. Sufficient snow accumulation can indeed make a fence much shorter.
I had experienced the phenomenon myself when taking my dog for hunting expeditions. In the Winter, I had to crawl under low branches where I could have just crouch-walk under otherwise 🙂
Snow really can change the environment for both the pups and the humans. I glad you found this helpful. Thanks, Jana!
I did not think about it but maybe dogs ARE afraid of Christmas lights sometimes!! Thank you for this and the other time reminders. It is so easy to forget!
Absolutely, dogs and even humans can get scared or uncomfortable with holiday decorations. Looking at them in the daylight does help.
Moving decorations can be super scary for pets, but antifreeze and rodent poison are the scariest things for me as a pup parent! In the winter, more people set out poison, and it doesn’t always stay where they put it. Each year I hear of dogs and cats in the neighborhood that have died from both of these things. Thanks for bringing attention to this!
Such important tips and I love the idea of walking them in the areas where the decorations are during the day so it is less scary at night. Lots of cookies for Henry from Nil as he deserves them
Great post (as always), Terri! Having five Huskies, I always worried about fencing when we had a lot of snow. We oped for extra tall as that was one of the very reasons! I think it is *so* important to point fencing out as a lot of folks don’t really give that a thought since it’s seasonal.
Oh, I loved taking my FiveSibes out for night strolls around our neighborhood to look at the lights. I am so glad I took my camera along with then as I have the photos to cherish now. Gibson was the big lover of holiday lights. We’d pause and he would just watch them glittering. Oh, this brings back warm memories. xo
Your budget savings is always “priceless” as it really drives home the importance and the savings of proper care of our beloved pets.
Sharing with my FiveSibes readers! Happy Howlidays to you and sweet Henry!