Keeping Your Dog Happy And Healthy At Christmas

The Joyous occasion of Christmas can also be a stressful one. Particularly for dogs who don’t have the ability to think as we do and cannot regulate emotions like humans can. Dogs live in the moment; they are not able to put on a smile to please others and wait until tomorrow to off-load their stress. Besides this, dogs don’t understand a sudden celebration, they can be adversely affected by the sudden excitement. Changes in routine can make your dog feel anxious and the influx of people with good cheer, loud voices and uncharacteristic behaviours, brought on by alcohol, can worry dogs.

This Christmas try following these simple steps to ensure your pooch stays happy and their behaviour doesn’t become unpredictable. For those dogs that are anxious anyway this is all the more important and should prevent trigger stacking.

ROUTINE - Make sure your routine sticks as closely as possible to your dog’s normal expectations, particularly timings for walk and meals.

SAFE SPACE - Provide a safe space for your dog to retreat to if it all gets too much. Our dogs are very good at seeking out solitude when they need it. Place their bed in a quiet area of the house away from the main party goings on, similarly a crate if that’s what they have been trained to use. Ask all members of the house to ensure that if they are in this space they respect the dogs needs to be alone, in peace and quiet.

CHILDREN - Ensure children are supervised with dogs at all times. If your dog is showing any of the following traits it is indicating stress: licking its lips, cowering or showing the whites of its eyes. If this happens move the children away, encourage your dog to its safe space and offer a long-lasting chew like a Likki mat, Snuffle or Kong to help calm them.

CHRISTMAS JUMPERS - Whilst some dogs are perfectly fine being dressed up like everyone else in the household, bear in mind a lot of dogs find this utterly alien and aren’t so biddable to such behavior. Listen to your dog, if they wriggle away don’t force the issue. Let’s remember dogs have coats of their own and are likely to find the Christmas Jumpers itchy and with the extra layer in addition to central heating, open fires and oven heat they will probably overheat.

CHRISTMAS TREES - Christmas Trees can be endless fun for the young pup or even the older dog, with those baubles, chocolates and dazzling lights, not to mention the excitement of a real tree being inside the house. You may find your dog finds your lovingly dressed tree an object of great interest and they may even cock their leg! Tinsel can also be viewed as a new toy and if chewed and ingested can cause a blockage in the digestive system, the last thing you want is a trip to the emergency vet on Christmas day! If your dog is looking interested in the Christmas tree, perhaps think about blocking access to it, build a barrier around it or maybe use a fireguard if you have nothing else to hand. Also, think about what are in those parcels of joy under the tree, your dog will know which ones are edible! And unfortunately, they do not know that chocolates, brandy snaps and such are not food for them!

CHRISTMAS FOOD - Christmas food can be another cause of expensive trips to the vet at Christmas. I have added some recipes below to help your dog enjoy some treats without adverse effects. Some of the foods we love to eat at Christmas are toxic to our pets and will actually cause physical harm. These include chocolate, alcohol, Macadamia nuts, grapes (including dried raisins and sultanas), onion (think about what’s in your stuffing for the Christmas bird) and nutmeg are all toxic. If you’d like to give your dog a taste of Christmas dinner, stick to non-fatty meats, peas and potatoes but avoid creaming up the potatoes before putting them in your dog’s dinner bowl. Also remember cooked meat bones must be avoided as all of the collagen is cooked out of them leaving shards of bone that may cause internal tears. If you want to give your dog the gift of a tasty bone, many pet stores sell raw bones that are rich in marrow and will keep your dog happy. When you do give them a treat make sure you leave them be when eating to avoid any resource guarding. Otherwise, they may feel under threat of their tasty morsel being taken away from them if you are in close proximity. Keep toxic foods out of reach and ask that others in the house do the same. Whilst your pooch may not help himself to these potential hazards in your presence, remember they are opportunists and if you turn your back on your goodies, they may not be there when you get back! I’ve included some yummy healthy recipes below for you to treat your dog with during the festive season.

NOISE - The things that make us oooh and ahh at Christmas like crackers, party poppers and the inevitable fireworks that go with the celebrations may leave our dogs running for cover, and if they can, burying themselves beneath the floorboards. If these items play a feature in your environment at Christmas time, ensure your dog isn’t in the room before setting them off!

LEAVING THE HOUSE - Finally, if you are going to visit other people, consider whether or not you need to take the dog with you. It’s likely that as long as your dog doesn’t have separation anxiety that they will enjoy the opportunity to curl up and go to sleep giving them the respite and relaxation they need so that they greet you with love on return. If your dog can’t be left alone, think about whether or not someone can stay with the them, or if you absolutely have to, take them with you. Make sure they have a quiet space to settle and that the garden is safe and secure. If a toilet break is needed you do not want them bolting off, trying to escape a distressing environment.

Remember, dogs aren’t party animals like us! So keep them happy and healthy at Christmas; consider their needs and you are more likely to get the best out of them.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ENJOY YOUR YULETIDE in the knowledge that your pet is having fun too.

Christmas Recipes

Both very quick and easy to make, these recipes will help use up leftovers and give your dog a taste of Christmas without making them poorly. They are both curtesy of the Dog Training College of which I am a member.

Berry Christmas

Equipment - Silicone cupcake baking mould

Ingredients:

• Natural Yoghurt (full fat please - no diet products should ever be given to your dog)

• Left over chicken or turkey

• Cranberry Sauce

Place a small amount of leftover meat into the base of each cupcake compartment

Layer with a dollop of cranberry sauce and a dollop of natural yoghurt and freeze for two hours.

Feed a cupcake sized portion each day. Enjoy watching your dog love these morsels of goodness.

Happea Christmas

Equipment – Silicone Cupcake mould

Ingredients:

• carrots

• Parsnips

• Peas

• Potatoes

Method: boil all the vegetables until soft. Drain and mash all the vegetables together and let them cool. Place the mixture into the compartments of the silicone tray and freeze for two hours (or more). When ready serve a portion per day to your dog. You’ll melt at the sight of your dog’s delight.