Wouldn’t it be nice to have a well-behaved dog on Christmas Day? (Photo: Calm Golden Retriever with a decorated Christmas tree)
Raise your hand if you get giddy on Christmas morning? It’s hard not to race downstairs and rip open the presents right away. You may find that your excitement is contagious. Like any mood/emotion, excitement has a ripple effect that reaches everyone around you — this includes your dog.
When you and your kids squeal with excitement, jump up and down because Santa brought an Xbox, or sprint back and forth from the couch to the tree to get more presents, don’t be surprised when your dog mirrors your behaviour.
Dogs live in the moment and reflect our own energy back at us like a mirror (Photo: excited boy holding a young puppy)
If you don’t enjoy being jumped on, mouthed, and humped, here are a few tips to help Christmas morning (and the rest of the day) be fun for the whole family.
WALK YOUR DOG — Tossing your dog into the yard to do their business isn’t enough. Take them on a nice long walk BEFORE breakfast. This is a walk, not a drag. Being dragged around by an excited dog and then allowing them to excitedly reenter your home isn’t going to help. Provide structure on the walk (have them sit before crossing the street, encourage them to heel beside you, and then let them know when they can take a break.)
Fulfill your dog’s need to walk, before expecting them to rest and relax (and watch you open presents) (Photo: two couples walking dogs: one couple has a stroller, both couples have dogs heeling beside them)
2. ENCOURAGE CALMNESS — Encourage the kids to walk when they help hand out the presents. Encourage your dog to practice calmness. Provide them with direction. Would you like them to be on their bed? Calmly direct them to their bed and ask them to stay (or use your place command, if you have one.)
3. DOG ENRICHMENT — A bored dog is a dog who finds their own way to amuse themselves. Odds are you won’t love the games they choose. There’s stealing wrapping paper and toys to entice you into a fun game of chase, counter surfing, and barking out the window. Avoid this by providing your dog with appropriate chew items and mental stimulation. Today is a great day for your dog to chew a bone calmly on their bed. You can also freeze a bit of canned food along with their kibble inside a rubber toy (like a Kong or West Paw’s Toppl Toy.) Take breaks for fetch, off-leash hikes, and of course, more structured walks.
When we allow puppies and dogs to choose their own adventure, we don’t always love the results (Photo: puppy gnawing on a running shoe)
We wish you a Calm and Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Alyssa
Photos by: Robert Koorenny @fujicanon (Calm Golden Retriever with a decorated Christmas tree,) Alicia Jones@amjay_7 (excited boy holding a young puppy,) Olena Sergienko @olenkasergienko (two couples walking dogs: one couple has a stroller, both couples have dogs heeling beside them,) Chris Benson @lordmaui (puppy gnawing on a running shoe.)