Ever notice how the holiday season feels magical for us, but a little overwhelming for our dogs? Between twinkling lights, surprise visitors, and treats everywhere they can’t eat, the most festive homes can quietly become stress factories for our pups.
What many dog parents don’t realize is just how much those extra sounds, scents, and schedule changes can rattle even the calmest canine. And the signs? They’re often subtle, until they aren’t.
The good news: a peaceful, dog-friendly holiday home is much easier to create than you think. With a few simple tweaks, you can keep your pup relaxed while you enjoy your celebrations without worry. With this in mind, let’s dig in and unwrap the small holiday home changes that make a big difference for your dog.
Budget tip:
It doesn't take any extra money to make your holiday home dog friendly and your pup is calm over the seasn. But when you take these steps, it can make your holidays much easier and possibly even avoid unexpected vet bills or worse. That’s a major win-win for you and your buddy!
What we love for a dog friendly holiday home
Cuddle bed - Henry loves his cuddle dog beds. He has a few.
Heartbeat toy - I’m still shocked this gadget works so well.
Dog ebook - This is my first ebook and it features Henry.
Crate - Henry loves his crate and seeks it out as his retreat.
Customized dog treat - Who wouldn’t love a cookie with their favorite flavors?
Dog Friendly Holiday Home Care Ideas
Safe retreat – Provide a quiet spot for your furry friend to retreat with a dog bed (or crate), toys, heartbeat toy, and water.
Dog-proof decor – Place breakable ornaments high, avoid dangling cords, and skip edible decorations (like popcorn) that can entice a tree dive from your pup. Also, make sure to place snowglobes well out of reach of your furry kids. The contents are fatally toxic to pets (unless you make it at home in pet friendly manner without ethylene glycol, antifreeze, or windshield fluid).
Safe scents and sniffs – A lot of essential oils and even potpourri smells are toxic to dogs. Stick to dog-safe candles or natural scents. Remember, your dog’s nose is 100,000 times stronger than your nose. That means what might be a nice scent to you might be toxic to your pup.
Include your pup – Let your buddy unwrap a holiday toy or treat as you enjoy opening your gifts. You may even enjoy reading this fun Advent holiday ebook to your pup and doing the daily activities.
Holiday treats are yummy – Even your furry friend will love a special treat during the holidays. While you can buy a festive dog treat, you can make one with your pup’s favorite flavors with this free tool.
Holiday Tip: Try rotating your dog’s toys during the holiday season. It will keep your pup engaged in toy play and away from the tree. If your dog doesn’t like toys, then try keeping your dog’s mind engaged with a frozen treat, daycare, or sniff game. If your dog is insistent on being under or in the tree, then try a baby gate to keep your buddy out of the tree.
Managing Stress for Dogs During Holidays
Holidays can overwhelm even the calmest pup. Creating a dog friendly place, even with different sniffs, more people, different noises, shiny things, and lots of decorations, is easy. We all could use a bit of calm during the holidays. But for your pup, think about the following:
Schedules are important. Stick to your pup’s normal feeding and walking schedule. You may need help with your daily dog walk routine.
Keep minds engaged. Try using enrichment toys or puzzle feeders. They can be amazing for keeping your pup entertained. You can even give your canine companion a DIY toy.
Exercise is essential. Exercise your pup before guests arrive, you depart for a party, or shopping trip. If you don’t have the time, then ask a friend, family member, or call a dog walker.
Rejoice in retreats. Let your pup retreat from the noise in a quiet, safe spot with a bed (crate), toys, and water. Henry has a few safe zones and uses each of them depending on what he’s trying to escape.
Gadgets can be great. A heartbeat toy is amazingly effective for Henry. I have been surprised by how this gadget can almost immediately calm him.
Crates are calming. For Henry, a covered crate has also been a game-changer. It gives him a spot where he knows he’s safe and blocks out some of the scary noises or sights.
Calm dog treats can be effective. I use these mushroom calm treats as my first level of calming when I know Henry will be stressed (Mushroom Relax Calm Chews and get 10% with Code: LaylasWoof). They are amazing for him!
Holiday Hack: When I know something will be stressful for Henry like fireworks, I proactively give him a calm treat, cover his crate (which is in a quiet spot), and turn on his heartbeat toy. If he starts to pant, I’ll also put a cooling vest on him. Amazingly, with this combo of tricks he settles down rather quickly as if nothing is going on at all.
How do dog holiday safety tips save me money?
These tips are all easy and doable to help pets enjoy the holidays. They keep your pup safe and bills down. As a dog owner, consider the following for a moment.
| Issue | Estimated Cost |
| Pet poisoning | $200 – 550 |
| Choking on small items | $3,000 – 7,500 |
| Lost dog | $25 – 8,000+ |
| Happy and healthy holidays with your pup | PRICELESS!!! |
Related articles:
- Hidden Pet Poisons
- Holiday Dog Hazards to Avoid
- Dog Holiday Travel Dilemmas Solutions
- How to Calm a Dog Effectively
- Simple Way to Create a Dog Retreat
- How to Find a Great Dog Walker
- DIY Gifts for Dog Lovers
- Free Dog Cookie Creator Tool
- Benefits of a Dog Crate
- Fun Holiday Dog eBook
- Why Your Dog Will Love a Heartbeat Toy
Happy Holiday Homes are Pawsome
A dog friendly holiday home isn’t costly. Heck, it doesn’t usually cost me anything. Pet friendly homes are easy, even for a novice pet owner. I love to include Henry in the festive holidays and make sure he’s calm and safe. Seeing him enjoying the holiday at my side makes me happy. Most dog lovers wouldn’t think of celebrating the holidays without their furry buddies. I’m certain my Henry would say that when the holidays are furry, they are the best. I agree!
