Give Your Dog a Merry Christmas

 

The holiday season sparks a certain feeling inside all of us. There’s something about twinkling lights, and holiday songs that summons childhood memories and fills our hearts with warmth. There are wonderful hot drinks to sip, and heaps of food to savor. All of these things bring us joy. Dogs are very sensitive to our feelings and moods and seeing us happy makes them happy too. Below are a few tips to make sure your dog enjoys holidays as much as you do!

 

1. Include Your Dog in Celebrations

Holiday season may be busy with parties and visits, so remember to allocate time for your dog. Even better - develop a plan for your dog’s holidays. Organize family events so that your dog can be a part of them. Keep up with your dog’s daily exercise and feeding routines, so that they stay in a good mood over Christmas.

 

2. Get a Gift for Your Dog

Get a gift for your dog, not just for you. There is nothing wrong with getting a Santa hat and a fur-trimmed Christmas sweater so that your puppy would look the cutest. Yes, that would make your Christmas merrier, and the dog will feel it too and will love it. They do love to see us happy. But what they also enjoy are treats and toys.

 

• Dog Toys should be appropriate for your dog’s current size. For example, balls should be large enough to carry, but not too small. Balls and other toys that are too small can easily be swallowed or become lodged in your dog’s mouth.

 

• Soft & Squeaky Dog Toys Are Fine For Gentler Dogs. They are gentle with them and would never rip them apart. However, if your dog is one of the many who like to “rip apart” his or her toys, take note. Your dog may feel that he must find and destroy the squeak-source and could ingest it, in which case squeaking objects should be “supervision only” toys.

 

• hard rubber toys that you can fill with treats are great for play. They are easy for your dog to carry around in his mouth and chew. Plus, filling them with treats will keep your dog engaged for a long time.

 

3. Healthy Christmas Dinner Leftovers

Give your dog healthy Christmas dinner leftovers. They will feel that this time is special and will appreciate you even more. Of course, try to keep their Christmas dinner as plain and low-fat as possible.

 

• Good options:
  Boneless, skinless meat and/or fish without gravy, sauce, or dressing. Vegetables - Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, and green beans.

 

• To Avoid:
  Cooked bones from any roasted meat, turkey to lamb. Splinters from bones can perforate your dog’s digestive tract. Avoid foods with butter and salt. Don’t give them foods that include onions, garlic, chocolates, or alcohol - these are poisonous to dogs.

 

4. Give Your Dog Lots of Exercise.

Taking your dog for a walk, especially in the mornings, is a great way to help her achieve relaxed and contented state for the rest of the day. Some training for the sake of mental exercise can also help your dog to be at her best the rest of the day.

Take a walk in the evening too. It’s good for you and for the dog. The exercise is great, even if you walk slowly after a long day of celebration, and most dogs love being outside. If your dog is not used to a walk at that time, it’s a special treat. If she’s used to going out at that time, sticking to this part of her routine is a great kindness to her. Tired dog is a happy dog, but bored dog can be trouble.