Christmas is a fun time for everyone, but puppies in particular are likely to be fascinated by all the lights and sparkly Christmas décor, not to mention the smells coming from the kitchen. Alternatively, puppies might also be affected by the merriment that might come off as chaos to them. Keeping both your Christmas trees and puppies safe during the holidays is going to take a keen eye. The keys are creatively protecting your Christmas tree decorations while also meeting your pup’s needs to play and chew elsewhere. Read our tips for managing both Christmas trees and puppies.
Stick to the schedule
Despite all the festivities, the Christmas trees and puppies, you should be sure to keep your routine with your puppy. Puppies thrive on consistency with feeding, playtimes, training sessions, and walks. Keep this as normal as possible amid holiday hustle and bustle. Help puppies learn to wait patiently for treats, toys, attention, and more with impulse control games. This is going to come in handy when it builds skills for all the tempting holiday food and gifts lying around.
Additionally, stay vigilant with the training. Practice basic commands like “sit”, “stay” and “leave it” using lots of treats and praise. Give your puppy clarity on what behaviours earn rewards in tempting holiday settings.
Tire them out
Your puppy will be another member of the family that is bound to be overstimulated by all the decorations and merriment, but you can always help that along so that they keep calm during the louder points of the day.
Give your pup a nice long brisk walk or two around your neighbourhood before company comes over. Let them tire out their legs and nose on the outdoors sights and smells. Keep them occupied with puzzle toys. Hide small portions of your puppy’s meals inside puzzle toys like Kongs, treat balls, snuffle mats, or id squeaky toys to extend how long it takes for them to eat and work their brains too. Offer bully sticks, Himalayan chews, frozen Kongs, nylon bones, etc under supervision to burn chewing energy and keep them gnawing for long periods.
Secure the tree
Christmas trees and puppies do not mix, so you’d be better off ensuring that the tree is secured in case your new puppy thinks they have a new challenge ahead of them. Start by preventing access by placing your tree in a puppy proof spot, like on a steady table or counter out of reach. Create a barrier behind a pet gate, or in a room you can block off when unattended.
Protect both the Christmas trees and puppies with blankets covering the base and any wires with blankets, towels, or fabric – just in case a puppy does get near your décor. Secure your Christmas tree so it can’t be tipped or pulled over. Anchor it firmly into a heavy stand and attach ties to the wall so it stays very stable if disturbed.
Additionally, you’ll have to keep up the training. Correct and distract with a firm “no” whenever you catch puppy nosing around the tree, and redirect attention to their own toys. Be patient – it takes time.
Make a chewy alternative
Remember the tree-shaped charcuterie boards that influencers make during the holidays? They’re made of a cone of foam with pieces of cheese, olives and deli meat stuck in them with cocktail sticks. Consider making your puppy an edible or chewable alternative to a tree to keep them distracted. Add safe, durable chew toys to a foam cone or simply place them on branches on the floor away from your real tree.
Conclusion
With a few steps to managing the environment through confinement and supervision, meeting pup’s needs proactively, and maintaining realistic patient expectations around training puppies through the stimulating holiday season, your Christmas trees and puppies combination should go off without a hitch.