When we think of December, we immediately think of the holiday season and all the wonderful things that come along with it — like spending time with our loved ones, decorating our homes and eating so much yummy food we all fall asleep together on the couch. Sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up in all the holiday prep and forget our furry family members. We cannot stress holiday safety enough here at Scenthound. Our dogs do best with routine and it’s hard for them to understand a change in that routine during this time of year.

Here are a few safety tips to keep your dog happy and healthy this holiday season: 

1. With all the wonderful food being made and shared, we want our dogs to enjoy some treats too! Remember people food is for people. If you want to include your dog in all the holiday fun, buy special holiday treats — or even better, get some family and friends together and bake your own doggie treats at home! That way you get to spend time with loved ones and your pup doesn’t get any bellyaches. It’s a win-win!

2.  Make sure that all of your decorations are either dog-proof or out of reach. Christmas trees can tip over and possibly injure an animal and broken ornaments can be mistaken for treats and ingested. Consider anchoring your tree to either a wall or ceiling to prevent it being knocked over and keeping breakable ornaments out of reach from your little one. Also, festive plants are not always safe for pets. Mistletoe, poinsettia, pine, cedar, amaryllis, and holly are a few of the common holiday plants that are not only unsafe for your dog, but may even be toxic if consumed. The ASPCA has a comprehensive list of all plants that are toxic to dogs listed here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list. Keep toxic plants out of your dog’s reach.

3. Our homes are our dogs’ safe space, and this space may have some very unfamiliar faces occupying it this month. Whether your dog is a lap loving sweetheart or a protective loyal companion, it never hurts to be overly cautious. Your pup should always have access to a safe and cozy place to retreat in the case they feel overwhelmed with all the guests — maybe a room upstairs or a crate in the bedroom. Don’t forget to notify guests before they arrive that you have a furry family member so they’re prepared and can take personal precautions if necessary (ex. allergy medications). Finally, keep an eye on entryways when you have company. With lots of people coming and going, it is easy for a four-legged family member to get lost in the shuffle and sneak out an open door. 

Most importantly, enjoy your holidays with your family and friends — human and canine alike!