Holidays, with a dog in the house
Five dates between now and New Year’s, each with its own risk: candy, an open door, a laden table, a tree, fireworks. Here is the countdown, my Halloween checklist, and the guides I’d read before each one.
Next up: Halloween · in 8 days
Halloween
Candy at nose height, a doorbell that never stops, costumes and an open door. The checklist below covers the night; the articles go deeper.
My Halloween checklist
Tick it off as you go. It stays on this device, so you can come back to it on the night.
If your dog eats candy or a wrapper, call your vet, the ASPCA (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (a fee may apply). Don’t make your dog vomit unless a vet or poison line tells you to.
Read before the night
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Halloween Dog Safety: Candy, Costumes, Escapes, and Hazards Halloween is a joy for people and a hazard for dogs. Chocolate, xylitol, costumes, an open door, and candles all pose risks, and a calm, vet-sourced plan prevents every one. 6 min read -
Trick-or-Treat and the Doorbell: Getting a Reactive or Anxious Dog Through Halloween Night Doorbell, strangers, costumes, screaming kids, candy on the floor. Halloween is the worst trigger stack of the year, so plan for it the force-free way. 6 min read -
Does My Dog Hate Its Halloween Costume? How to Tell (and What to Do) Some dogs don't mind dressing up, and some are quietly miserable. The difference is written all over your dog, and you can learn to read it. 6 min read
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Día de Muertos
An ofrenda puts chocolate, sweet bread, drinks, salt and candles at a dog’s nose height. Here is how to set one up with a dog in the house.
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Thanksgiving
The table is the risk: bones, fatty skin, stuffing with onion, and guests who want to share. What your dog can have, and what stays off the plate.
The Thanksgiving plate, one food at a time
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Christmas
A tree in the living room, food on every table, wrapped chocolate under the tree and guests at the door. The plan for all of it.
Read before the day
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How to Dog-Proof Your Christmas Tree A tree in the living room changes the rules of the house for a dog. Here is how I set one up so it stays standing, the water, wires and ornaments stay out of reach, and the dog learns to leave it alone. 7 min read -
Christmas Foods and Plants That Are Dangerous to Dogs Chocolate, fruitcake and panettone, sugar-free cookies, ham bones, eggnog and rising dough are the real holiday dangers for dogs. Poinsettia is milder than its reputation. Here is the sourced list, plus the decorations to keep out of reach. 10 min read -
Is Poinsettia Toxic to Dogs and Cats? Poinsettia has the worst reputation of any Christmas plant and one of the mildest effects. It is toxic to dogs and cats, but the trouble is usually a sore mouth and an upset stomach. 5 min read -
Dog Advent Calendar: 25 Tricks for December Most dog advent calendars are a box of treats. This one is a trick a day from December 1, in about five minutes, so your dog gets the treats and a new skill, and you get a quieter December. 7 min read -
Should You Give a Puppy as a Christmas Gift? 'A puppy is for life, not just for Christmas' is good advice, but the studies don't support the idea that gift pets get given up more often. Here is what the research says, the ASPCA's conditions, and how to make a holiday puppy work. 6 min read
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New Year’s Eve
Fireworks are the hardest night of the year for a noise-scared dog. Start the quiet practice weeks ahead.
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Worth knowing before any of them
Most holiday emergencies are the same few things: something eaten, something swallowed, a crowd at the door. These four cover them.
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My Dog Ate Something Toxic: The First 10 Minutes Chocolate off the coffee table, a raisin roll from the counter, a pill from a guest's bag: holiday poisonings happen fast. These are the steps for the first ten minutes, in order, and the mistakes to skip. -
Dog Choking: Signs and First Aid, Step by Step Holiday bones, gobbled treats, candy wrappers and ornament hooks all end up in dogs' mouths. Here is how to tell choking from coughing, and the AVMA's first-aid steps for dogs of every size. -
6 Cues to Teach Your Dog Before the Holidays Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve ask the same things of a dog: ignore the food, give back what they grabbed, stay calm when the bell rings, and don't bolt out the door. Six cues cover it, and you can start this week. -
Holiday Guests and Parties With a Dog: A Calm, Safe Plan Holiday gatherings are hard on dogs who love people as well as those who don't: noise, food at nose height, children, coats full of pockets, and a front door that keeps opening. Here is the plan I use, room by room.
Questions I get every year
Can my dog have a little Halloween candy?
No. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and the darker it is, the worse; sugar-free candy and gum can contain xylitol, which is toxic even in small amounts; raisins can cause kidney failure; and wrappers and lollipop sticks can choke a dog or block the gut. Keep a treat made for dogs by the door instead.
What do I do if my dog eats candy or a wrapper?
If your dog eats candy or a wrapper, call your vet, the ASPCA (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (a fee may apply). Don’t make your dog vomit unless a vet or poison line tells you to.
Should my dog wear a costume?
Only if your dog is comfortable in it. Nothing should cover the eyes or ears, press on breathing or limit the legs, and there should be no small parts to chew off. Practice in small, rewarded steps days before the night.
When should I start getting a noise-scared dog ready for New Year’s Eve?
Weeks ahead. Gradual sound training takes weeks of short sessions, and if the fear is moderate or severe, see your vet early so there is time for a practice dose of any medication. If the night is already close, focus on a safe den, steady background sound and an escape-proof house.