Puppies first Christmas

  • by Tash Clark
  • 13 Dec, 2023

3 tips for a stress free Christmas with your puppy!

I love Christmas! The tree, the lights, the presents, the food, the drinks! Chocolate for breakfast, seeing family and all the turkey you can eat!

I want my dogs to be a part of Christmas fun, but also keep them, and everyone else safe and happy!


So here are my top three tips to keep everyone content around this Festive season, with a bonus of a training video on how to teach your puppy to settle (link to the video is at the bottom)!


1. *Festive Decor Dos and Don'ts:* 

When decking the halls, it's essential to keep your pup's safety in mind. Make sure to position toxic plants (poinsettia, for example), somewhere where you puppy cannot get to. Plus, remember to keep those chocolates, mince pies, nuts (macadamia nuts to be precise), alcohol and sweets out of their reach! 

 

To keep your tree and the ornaments safe – consider dusting off that puppy playpen that you had when they were young, and putting it around your tree.

 

2. *Mindful Mingle Management:* 

Hosting gatherings can be exciting but overwhelming not just for humans, but for dogs too! Help your dog feel at ease by setting up a peaceful retreat area away from the hustle and bustle. Provide a cosy bed, their favourite toys, and some calming background music. You can help them settle with a stuffed Kong or a long lasting chew. Encourage guests to respect your pup's space and avoid overwhelming them with constant attention. A little mindful management goes along way in keeping everyone happy.

3. *Creating Calm with Mat Settling:*

This is one of my favourite exercises to teach, because it has so many uses!

Kids opening presents - your puppy can settle on the mat; cooking and serving Christmas dinner - your dog can be on the mat. Loading the dishwasher and don't want your dog helping with 'prewash' - again, mat settling could be the answer.

 

But the benefits don't stop there! Mat settling can also be a saving grace when tidying up, taking a leisurely walk to the pub on Boxing Day, or visiting family during that in-between period before New Year.

 

To help you get started, we've prepared a video tutorial on teaching reliable mat settling. Simply click below to watch to begin this valuable training.

 

Mat Settling Training Video


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Please feel free to share your essentials or ask any questions! 

My essentials (I am getting these before puppy arrives):

🐾 Puppy playpen (so I can set up a safe area for the puppy downstairs - in the room where we will hang out the most)
🐾 Crates x2 (I prefer to have a crate downstairs for sleeping during daytime and one for upstairs for nighttime sleeping - next to my bed, so should the puppy wake up during the night, she is right next to me)
🐾 Light collar
🐾 Harness (my favourites are Perfect Fit and TTouch harnesses), I will buy them as close to the “coming home” date as possible and will ask the Breeder for guidance on the size
🐾 Lead - a flat (non extendable lead) at least 2 metres long - most leads sold in pet shops are way too short!
🐾 Food and water bowl (several water bowls in fact)
🐾 Toys - different textures and sizes - several long toys are a must to prevent puppy biting - I am hoping not to go crazy, as I have 4 dogs and bags and bags of toys, but I am not making any promises! 
🐾 Baby gates (I already have them on most doors), especially if you have a children’s play room where little Lego pieces live!
🐾 Dog training books - here are some suggestions: Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy,   Perfect Puppy
🐾 Food - a good breeder will send you home with some good food. Here is a good resource to find the food with the best nutritional value that suits your budget: All About Dog Food
🐾 Puppy classes! Very important to book sooner rather than later - good classes get booked up weeks if not months in advance (we only have a couple of spots left for September start). Click here to book your puppy class with us Dogs Be Dogs Puppy Classes.
🐾 Vet - get your puppy registered with your vet of choice (asking friends/family who have dogs for a recommendations is a great starting point), as some of the amazing vets in your area may not be taking on new clients due to high demand

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