How to Handle a Puppy During Christmas: A Guide for a Safe, Calm & Joyful Holiday
The Christmas season is full of excitement, decorations, delicious food, and visitors coming and going—basically, everything a puppy finds both fascinating and overwhelming. While your puppy may bring extra joy to the holidays, they also bring their own set of challenges. With a bit of planning, you can help keep your pup safe, calm, and content throughout the festivities.
Below are the key things to keep in mind, from avoiding toxic foods to protecting your Christmas tree—and even managing Christmas dinner!
1. Protecting the Christmas Tree
A Christmas tree is basically a playground of sights, smells, and chewable things from your puppy’s perspective. To avoid accidents:
Secure the Tree
- Block access, use a puppy playpen around the tree.
- Use a sturdy tree stand just in case your puppy gets to the tree and can’t pull it down!
- Provide plenty of alternative chew toys so your puppy has a better option.
Choose the Right Ornaments
- Hang fragile or sentimental ornaments higher up.
- Avoid edible ornaments such chocolate treats, popcorn strings or candy canes. These are just too irresistible for dogs!
- Skip tinsel— puppies think it’s great fun but it can cause serious internal blockages if swallowed.
2. Toxic Christmas Foods to Keep Away From Puppies
Christmas is full of tempting scents for puppies, but many classic holiday foods are dangerous for dogs. Make sure guests know not to feed the puppy scraps.
Avoid these common toxic foods:
- Chocolate – including brownies, cookies, hot cocoa mix.
- Grapes & Raisins – often found in fruitcakes, mince pies, and snack mixes.
- Onions & Garlic – in stuffing, sauces, and savoury dishes.
- Alcohol – no beer, wine, or eggnog.
- Macadamia nuts.
- Xylitol – an artificial sweetener found in some sweets, peanut butter, and sugar-free baked goods.
Also be careful with:
- Turkey & chicken bones – they splinter easily and cause serious injuries..
- Rich, fatty foods – can cause pancreatitis.
- Leaving food close to the edge of the kitchen counter – some dogs have been known to steal a whole turkey from the kitchen!
- Unattended plates – puppies are lightning quick when a plate is left at “nose height.”
- Keep rubbish bins covered or behind closed doors, and remind visitors to keep food out of reach.
3. Helping Your Puppy Settle During Visitors
Lots of visitors, unfamiliar faces, excited children and extra noise can be extremely stimulating for puppies, and many will find the whole experience quite overwhelming.
Create a Safe Retreat
- Set up a cozy area in a quiet room with a bed, blankets, water, and favourite toys.
- Use this as a calm place for your puppy to decompress.
- Make sure it is puppy proofed or use a crate or puppy pen.
- You may need to put your puppy here if the kids want to get out the marbles or lego!
Practice Short Settles
Before the holidays, practice sending your pup to their bed with a chew while you chat or move around. This helps them learn that relaxation is normal even when exciting things happen around them.
Use Enrichment During Busy Moments
Chews, frozen Kongs, snuffle mats, or filled calf hooves (more on that shortly!) can help keep your puppy occupied when guests arrive or during dinner.
Teach Visitors Puppy Rules
Do Not Disturb the Puppy When:
- They are resting or sleeping
- They are eating, chewing, or working on a treat
- They are in their safe space (crate, pen, or quiet room)
A puppy who can relax undisturbed learns to feel secure in the home.
No Feeding Under the Dinner Table
Please avoid giving the puppy any human food from your plate, especially under the table.
This helps prevent:
- begging
- food stealing
- upset tummies
… and keeps them safe from toxic Christmas foods.
No Fuss if They Jump Up
If the puppy jumps up, simply:
- Remove the attention and look away
- If you need extra help with jumping up, get in touch and we can work on some strategies to reduce this.
Reward four paws on the floor instead!
4. Using Filled Calf Hooves During Christmas Dinner
Filled calf hooves, Kongs, and other long-lasting chews can be an excellent way to keep your puppy calm and occupied during busy moments like Christmas dinner.
Important Safety Note
Always supervise your puppy when they have a calf hoof or any long-lasting chew.
If the hoof becomes small enough to swallow or begins to splinter, remove it immediately. If you need to take the hoof away, always trade for a treat and lift it calmly. This helps your puppy learn that giving things up is positive and nothing to worry about.
Why Calf Hooves Help
- They provide an engaging activity.
- They reduce begging and attention-seeking during meals.
- They encourage calm, settled behaviour.
- They last longer than most chews.
Puppy-Safe Filling Ideas
- Puppy-appropriate wet food mixed with kibble
- Soaked puppy kibble in warm water.
- Plain (xylitol-free) yoghurt
- Mashed banana
- Freezing the filled hoof to make it last even longer
Give your puppy their chew just before everyone sits down to eat to promote relaxed behaviour throughout the meal.
5. Extra Tips for a Smooth Christmas With a Puppy
- Stick to their routine as much as possible—same feeding times, naps, and toilet breaks.
- Watch the door—extra visitors mean more chances for a puppy to slip outside. Baby gates in the hallway can be very useful.
- Keep cords and lights out of reach or covered.
- Provide daily exercise— make sure that with all the excitement of the Christmas season they still get their needs met – regular toilet breaks, short walks or training sessions help burn energy and reduce mischief.
Final Thoughts
Your first Christmas with a puppy is special—and sometimes a little chaotic. But with proactive safety measures, some strategic enrichment (like those filled calf hooves!), and a calm retreat space, you can give your puppy a holiday season that’s joyful, safe, and full of positive memories.
