It's that time of year again, Advent: frantically buying gifts and taking the dog into the crowded city center, a detour to the Christmas market while the dog shivers under reindeer antlers or trots through mulled wine puddles. Plus, lots of appointments and family visits. Here and now, you'll find out how you and your dog can best get through this time and what to consider during the Christmas season with a dog.
Don’t drink & dog: Dogs don't belong at Christmas markets
The pre-Christmas season is characterized by hectic activity. Your dog feels it too. If you then seem more stressed than usual because there's still so much to do, it transfers to your dog. It's better to give him more peace and quiet and dedicate quality time to him, spending it specifically with him instead of including him in your pre-Christmas plans. A dog feels anything but comfortable in the Christmas hustle and bustle. New smells and fresh impulses everywhere, the dog's nose is working overtime, and then there's the volume of the Christmas musicians and the smell of the sausage stands on every corner. This has nothing to do with going for a walk; it stresses your beloved four-legged friend in every respect.
Please don't take your dog Christmas shopping.
Visiting a Christmas market is even harder for your dog. While we humans warm ourselves with mulled wine or punch, the dog lies at our feet in the cold. A cold is pre-programmed after a short time. Then there's the alcohol level of other people, who, after enjoying a few mulled wines, might stumble and kick our dog or, in the worst case, spill mulled wine in front of or on the dog.
Please don't take your dog to the Christmas market.
No-Go’s for your dog during the (pre-)Christmas season
But who thinks that interesting-looking glass Christmas tree ornaments can become dangerous dog food? Users of the then widespread tinsel can still sing a song about what can happen with tinsel and a dog, keyword intestinal obstruction. The same applies to burning candles on the Advent wreath, which can invite knocking over.
Possible hazards for dogs at Christmas and alternatives:
- Avoid tinsel and glass Christmas tree ornaments; use ornaments made of straw, paper, or wood instead.
- Don't leave gift ribbon lying around.
- Don't leave candles burning unattended on the Advent wreath and ensure LED fairy lights are out of reach.
- Place poisonous poinsettias, mistletoe, or holly branches out of reach for your dog, or better yet, completely forgo these plant decorations and use real fir branches instead.
How your dog can survive Christmas and family visits
Whether it's brunch with friends or coffee with family – dogs are taken out of their usual routine during times of many visitors and get a little stressed. Therefore, here are our
Top 3 tips for dogs & visitors:
- Let your dog feel that he is still important and don't just focus on your visitors. Use every opportunity to play with him.
- Set up a special area just for your dog. This could be a dog blanket in the bedroom or a protected spot under the stairs. Even nicer and more comfortable is a real retreat designed for your four-legged friend's needs: With us, you'll find many cozy dog beds that offer your dog security and comfort. Dog caves are particularly popular, as they additionally shield your dog's space without excluding him. This way, he can retreat anytime if the hustle and bustle get too much. Especially when many small children are visiting, this is a real blessing for your four-legged friend. Speaking of which: tell everyone beforehand what treats the dog is allowed and how many.
- Don't postpone or shorten walks; instead, include your visitors. Many people are happy to go for a walk, especially after a good meal, and will surely be happy to accompany you.
During the Christmas season, there are many things unsuitable for dogs.
Every dog owner is certainly well aware that the theobromine and caffeine in chocolate are poisonous to dogs. Therefore, we would like to briefly point this out here.
If your dog has accidentally eaten chocolate, especially with a high cocoa content, go to the veterinary emergency service immediately!
We are much more concerned with prevention: especially at Christmas time, sweets are present differently than the rest of the year. There might be a bowl of marzipan on the table or a chocolate Santa Claus adorning the festively decorated sideboard. Not to mention the rings on the Christmas tree or the sharply spiced festive roast. Here, the dog likes to grab something in an unsupervised moment. Therefore:
Please keep sweets and food scraps safe from the dog and never leave them lying around!
An exception is special dog biscuits. Especially homemade, they are a joy for your dog and, in any case, his very own Christmas highlight. Especially since your dog can be there while baking and also likes to taste. In cooperation with dog-bakery.de, we offer you two very simple recipes for dog biscuits to bake yourself as a PDF. You can find even more culinary delights for your dog in the free Dog Bakery app, where all recipes can also be searched by keywords such as "grain-free".
DOWNLOAD DOG BISCUIT RECIPES HERE
How do you spend Advent and the pre-Christmas season with your dog? Do you have proven tips for other dog owners? We look forward to your comment and wish you, your dog, and your family a wonderful Advent season.
