Did you know that 40% of dog owners said they saw a change of behaviour in their pooch around the festive period?
Christmas is an incredible time of year. However, while you’re blasting Wham! in the kitchen, your pooch might be exhibiting some unusual behaviour as a result of all the festive merriment.
Why do dogs get stressed at Christmas?
The new sights, smells, routines, and people at Christmas can have a stressful effect on your pup which causes them to look unhappy or act out.
A change in behaviour could be increased panting or it could be more outwardly destructive. Also in that recent study, it was also found that 23% of owners said their dogs have destroyed gifts, decorations, the tree and food over Christmas.
There are many things you can do to reduce the stress levels. However, all those items also represent danger to your dogs.
6 Festive Doggie Dangers to Watch Out For
1. Christmas trees
It may look incredible sitting in the corner of the room in all its finery. But did you know that the fir, spruce or pine in your living room can be mildly toxic to your dog.
Ingesting tree needles can be understandably painful and cause vomitting. But, the bigger issue is dropped needles. These can get caught in their paws causing your furry friend some discomfort.
So, think about either getting a fake tree this year or one that isn’t prone to leaving needles all over the floor. And don’t leave your dog’s Christmas gift under the tree for impatient snoots to sniff either - we can teach a dog many things but patience isn’t one of them.
2. Fairy Lights
Those twinkling lights may look super festive. But to a boisterous or young pup, the shiny lights and wires could start to resemble a toy.
Stay safe by keeping any loose wires fixed somewhere and turn them off at the wall when you go out.
3. Decorations
Likewise, the dec’s might look awesome in your new theme. But glass baubles, tinsel and angel hair can cause some problems for your pup by shattering or causing intestinal distress if ingested.
4. Flowers
Christmas flora like holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias are all toxic to dogs. Ingesting these natural decorations can cause vomiting, diahorrea and even breathing problems.
If you’re thinking of adding some floral festive fun to the house, make sure to fix your holly or mistletoe firmly up-high. And place your poinsettia out of reach of wondering snoots.
5. Christmas food
Giving your dog their own version of a Christmas dinner is a fun way of further including them in the celebrations. However, some festive foods are poisonous to dogs.
If you want to fill up their bowl with the good stuff here’s what you can include:
- Turkey (just remove the fatty skin and check for small bones)
- Potatoes
- Veggies (carrots, green beans, parsnips, peas, sprouts, swede)
- Cranberry sauce
Also, don’t give them a big bone to chew on. It’s just not safe.
6. Crackers
The final thing on our list of Chirtsmas doggie dangers are crackers. The little toys can be ingested and cause internal issues. But the main problem here is the loud bangs that can startle your pup.
Think about popping your pooch in the other room when it’s cracker time.
To Wrap Things Up
There are many dangers to your dog around the festive period. But, with a little forward planning and consideration, your Christmas can be as amazing as ever and stay risk free for Fido.