Ways to Make the Holidays Safer for Pets

The holiday season is a wonderful time for families, friends, food, decorations, and celebrations. For dogs, however, all the excitement can also introduce unfamiliar risks (holiday safety for dogs).

Holiday meals can contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs. Decorations may become choking or intestinal hazards. Christmas trees, candles, electrical cords, and crowded gatherings can also create problems for curious puppies.

Fortunately, a little preparation can make the holidays much safer for your dog.

Whether you have an adult dog or a young Cavapoo puppy, these simple holiday pet safety tips can help you enjoy the season while keeping your four-legged family member protected.

Holiday Safety for Dogs: Keep Holiday Foods Away From Your Dog

Food is one of the biggest concerns during holiday celebrations.

Families often prepare larger meals and leave desserts, snacks, and drinks within easy reach. Unfortunately, many foods that people enjoy can be dangerous for dogs.

Keep your dog away from:

• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic
• Alcohol
• Foods containing xylitol
• Rich or very fatty foods
• Cooked bones
• Excessively salty foods
• Yeast dough
• Foods heavily seasoned with spices

Chocolate can cause serious health problems in dogs, while grapes and raisins can potentially cause kidney damage. Cooked poultry bones can also splinter and create choking or gastrointestinal hazards.

The American Kennel Club recommends keeping dangerous foods, treats, and edible gifts completely out of your dog’s reach during holiday celebrations (holiday pet safety).

Be Careful With Holiday Leftovers

It can be tempting to give your puppy a little piece of your holiday dinner.

A small amount of an appropriate, unseasoned food may sometimes be acceptable, but table scraps should not become a regular part of your dog’s diet. Rich foods can cause digestive upset, especially when your dog is not accustomed to them.

Instead, consider giving your dog a few pieces of their normal food or a dog-safe treat while everyone else enjoys dinner (Christmas safety for dogs).

And never allow your dog to chew on leftover cooked turkey or chicken bones.

Keep Alcohol Away From Dogs

Holiday parties often mean wine, cocktails, beer, champagne, and other alcoholic drinks.

Dogs should never have access to alcohol.

Even a small amount can cause serious problems because alcohol is absorbed quickly. Keep glasses on high surfaces and clean up spills immediately (Christmas tree safety for dogs).

Remember that alcohol can also appear in desserts, sauces, and other holiday recipes.

Be Careful With Holiday Plants

Holiday plants can make your home look beautiful, but some can be dangerous for pets.

Holly and mistletoe deserve particular attention. Certain holiday plants can cause gastrointestinal problems or other serious reactions if consumed.

Poinsettias are often described as extremely poisonous. In reality, they generally cause much milder gastrointestinal irritation than many people believe. However, keeping them away from a curious puppy is still the safest approach.

If your dog enjoys chewing plants, consider using pet-safe alternatives or placing decorations somewhere completely inaccessible (holiday dangers for dogs).

Skip the Tinsel

Tinsel may look harmless, but it can be extremely dangerous if your dog swallows it.

The shiny material can attract puppies and playful dogs. Once swallowed, long strands can become lodged in the digestive tract and potentially cause an obstruction or serious intestinal injury.

For that reason, avoiding tinsel altogether is one of the simplest holiday safety decisions you can make (safe holidays with dogs).

The ASPCA and AKC both warn pet owners about the dangers associated with ingested tinsel.

Secure Your Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree can create several potential hazards for dogs.

First, make sure the tree cannot tip over if your dog bumps into it. A securely anchored tree is much safer than one that can easily fall.

Keep fragile glass ornaments higher on the tree and avoid placing tempting decorations near the bottom.

You should also prevent your dog from drinking Christmas tree water. Tree water can contain bacteria, fertilizers, or other substances that may cause gastrointestinal problems (holiday safety tips for puppies).

A puppy gate or exercise pen around the tree can provide an additional layer of protection.

Keep Electrical Cords Out of Reach

Holiday lights can introduce additional electrical cords into your home.

Curious puppies may see electrical cables as something interesting to chew. Chewing an exposed electrical cord can result in burns, electrical shock, or more serious injuries.

Keep cords secured and out of reach.

If possible, route them behind furniture or use appropriate cord covers. Check your decorations before plugging them in and replace damaged wires.

This is particularly important with young Cavapoo puppies because puppies naturally investigate their surroundings with their mouths (Cavapoo puppy holiday safety).

Be Careful With Candles

Candles create a warm and festive atmosphere, but they can also become a serious fire hazard around pets.

A wagging tail, curious nose, or playful puppy can knock over a candle in seconds.

Never leave a lit candle unattended around your dog.

Consider using flameless candles instead. They can provide a similar decorative effect without an open flame.

The AKC specifically recommends taking precautions with candles because energetic puppies can knock them over and suffer burns or cause a house fire.

Make Decorations Dog-Friendly

Not every decoration needs to disappear from your home during the holidays.

You simply need to think about where decorations are placed.

Keep small, breakable, sharp, or easily swallowed objects away from your dog’s reach. Glass ornaments can break and injure your dog’s mouth or paws.

Avoid decorations made from materials that your dog may chew or swallow.

Also pay attention to ornament hooks. Small metal hooks can become dangerous if they fall from the tree and your dog finds them.

The safest approach is to place fragile decorations higher up and use sturdy, pet-friendly decorations closer to the bottom of the tree.

Don’t Forget About Wrapped Presents

Wrapped gifts may look completely harmless.

Your dog, however, can smell what is inside.

Food, candy, chocolate, toys, and other tempting items may encourage your dog to investigate presents under the tree.

Do not leave food-containing gifts where your dog can reach them.

Also clean up wrapping paper, ribbon, string, and bows after presents are opened.

These items can become dangerous if swallowed.

Give Your Dog a Quiet Safe Space

Holiday parties can be overwhelming for some dogs.

There may be unfamiliar people, children running around, loud conversations, music, food smells, and doors opening constantly.

Not every dog enjoys that level of activity.

Create a quiet area where your dog can retreat when they need a break.

This space can include:

• A comfortable dog bed
• Fresh water
• Familiar toys
• A favorite blanket
• A properly introduced crate
• A safe chew or enrichment toy

The goal is not to punish your dog or isolate them. It gives them somewhere calm to relax when the household becomes overwhelming.

The AKC recommends creating a private space for dogs during busy holiday gatherings and maintaining their normal routine as much as possible.

Watch the Front Door

This is especially important when hosting a holiday party.

Guests may repeatedly open the front door while arriving and leaving. A dog that normally stays safely inside can suddenly run outside.

Before guests arrive, decide how you will manage your dog.

You might keep your dog in a secure room during the busiest part of the gathering or use a properly secured gate.

Make sure your dog’s identification information and microchip details are current in case they accidentally escape.

Keep Your Dog’s Routine Consistent

Dogs generally feel more comfortable when they know what to expect.

The holidays can completely disrupt their normal schedule.

Try to maintain their usual:

• Feeding times
• Bathroom breaks
• Walks
• Exercise
• Rest periods
• Bedtime

You do not need to make every day identical, but maintaining familiar routines can help reduce stress.

This can be particularly helpful for puppies that are still learning how their new home works.

Give Your Dog Breaks From the Celebration

Your dog does not need to participate in every holiday activity.

If your dog becomes tired, nervous, overwhelmed, or overstimulated, give them time away from the action.

Watch for changes in body language such as hiding, excessive panting, repeated yawning, avoiding interaction, or trying to move away.

Allowing your dog to leave the situation can prevent stress from escalating.

Holiday training should focus on making the experience positive rather than forcing your dog to interact with everyone.

Pay Extra Attention to Puppies

Puppies require additional supervision during the holidays.

Everything is new to a young puppy. A Christmas tree, ornaments, wrapping paper, electrical cords, plants, and holiday food can all become interesting objects to investigate.

Puppies are also naturally curious and tend to chew objects while exploring.

Before your guests arrive, walk through the house from your puppy’s perspective.

Ask yourself:

Can my puppy reach this? Can my puppy chew this? Can my puppy swallow this?

If the answer is yes, move the item.

This simple approach can eliminate many potential holiday hazards before they become problems.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats Something Dangerous?

If you believe your dog has eaten chocolate, medication, alcohol, a toxic plant, tinsel, or another potentially dangerous substance, do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking professional advice.

Contact your veterinarian or an appropriate animal poison-control service as quickly as possible.

The ASPCA advises contacting a veterinarian or its Animal Poison Control Center when a pet may have ingested a potentially toxic substance.

Keep packaging or ingredient information available if you know what your dog consumed. This information can help professionals determine the appropriate response.

Make the Holidays Safe and Enjoyable for Your Dog

The holidays should be enjoyable for everyone in the family, including your dog.

You do not have to remove every decoration or completely change your traditions. A few thoughtful precautions can make a major difference.

Keep dangerous foods secured, avoid hazardous decorations, anchor your Christmas tree, protect electrical cords, supervise your dog around guests, and provide a quiet place where your pup can relax.

Most importantly, remember that your dog depends on you to make safe decisions for them.

With a little preparation, you can enjoy the holiday season while giving your four-legged family member a safe, comfortable, and happy celebration.

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Keep Learning About Cavapoos

If you’re raising a Cavapoo puppy or preparing to welcome one into your family, these guides can help you understand your puppy’s needs:

• Cavapoo Puppies for Sale
• Cavapoo Breed Guide
• Cavapoo Care Guide
• Cavapoo Buying Guide
• How to Train a Cavapoo Puppy
• Puppy Buying Checklist
• Questions to Ask Before Buying a Cavapoo Puppy
• Cavapoo Puppies by State
• Health Guarantee
• Shipping & Delivery
• Adoption Process
• Frequently Asked Questions

Trusted External Resources

For additional holiday pet-safety information, these authoritative resources are worth reviewing:

• American Kennel Club — How to Keep Your Dog Safe and Calm During the Holidays
• American Kennel Club — Dog-Friendly Holiday Decorating Tips
• ASPCA — 10 Holiday Pet Hazards to Steer Clear Of
• ASPCA — Holiday Pet Safety Tips