Christmas with Our Dogs: Slowing Down, Staying Connected & Choosing Calm

Christmas is a time many of us look forward to all year — cosy evenings, festive food, long winter walks, twinkling lights and a change of pace from everyday life.

But while Christmas feels familiar and comforting to us, it can feel very different from a dog’s point of view.

Routines shift. The house becomes busier. There are new people, unfamiliar smells, different noises, doors opening and closing more often, and food appearing at unexpected times. Even confident, well-settled dogs can find this level of change overwhelming.

At The Paw-sitive Experience, I always encourage owners to approach Christmas with one guiding idea in mind:

Connection over perfection.

Christmas Looks Different Through a Dog’s Eyes

Dogs thrive on predictability and clear patterns. Christmas, by its very nature, disrupts both.

Some dogs become more excitable or restless. Others may seem quieter, clingier or more sensitive than usual. Puppies and adolescent dogs, in particular, can struggle with the combination of excitement, tiredness and reduced structure.

This isn’t bad behaviour or training “slipping backwards”. It’s simply dogs responding to an environment that feels busy and unpredictable.

Understanding this allows us to respond with patience rather than frustration — and that makes all the difference.

Let Training Soften Over the Festive Period

Training doesn’t stop over Christmas — but it does change shape.

This isn’t the time to aim for perfect loose lead walking, long stays around visitors or endless tolerance of stimulation. Instead, think in terms of supportive training:

• Short, easy wins rather than long sessions

• Familiar games that build engagement and calm

• Sniffy walks that allow decompression

• Plenty of uninterrupted rest

A dog who feels safe and supported is far more likely to cope well during busy periods.

Supporting Calm in a Busy Home

A few simple adjustments can make Christmas much easier for your dog:

• Protect rest time — make sure your dog has a quiet space where they won’t be disturbed

• Manage greetings — not every dog wants to say hello to every guest, and that’s okay

• Keep walks familiar — routine routes can be grounding when everything else feels different

• Watch festive food — rich food, leftovers and constant treats can affect both behaviour and digestion

• Lower expectations — calm moments matter far more than flawless behaviour

Christmas isn’t a training test. It’s a chance to reinforce safety, trust and comfort.

Choosing Kindness Over Pressure

One of the most valuable things we can offer our dogs at this time of year is kindness.

Kindness looks like:

• Noticing subtle stress signals

• Respecting when a dog needs space

• Advocating for them around visitors

• Allowing them to opt out

• Letting go of the idea that they must cope with everything

When we meet our dogs where they are — rather than where we think they should be — we strengthen the relationship that training is built on.

A Gentle Reminder

Your dog doesn’t need a perfect Christmas.

They don’t need to enjoy every guest, tolerate every disruption or remain calm all day long. What they do need is reassurance, consistency where possible, and a human who understands that Christmas is a lot to take in.

Those quiet moments of connection — a walk together, a shared pause, a calm cuddle — are what truly matter.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

From my dogs to yours, I wish you a calm, peaceful and joyful Christmas.

May it be filled with muddy walks, cosy naps, wagging tails and moments of genuine connection.

Merry Christmas from The Paw-sitive Experience 🐾 🎄 🐾