Provided your view of Christmas is not ‘bah, humbug!’, the Christmas holidays are a whirl of frenetic and frenzied fun. We tend to ‘let our hair down’ and many of us even turn into quite the party animal; a couple of vodkas along with playing that funky 70s pop and I’m dancing the night away – alas my dog is not such the party animal and would prefer to lie low as a consequence.

So if your dog doesn’t share your gregarious view on life, or you think that lots of people or excitable children in your house, loud music, or even Aunt Mabel’s dog will be too much for your pet to cope with, then you may consider leaving your dog with someone else for a while.

Whether it’s someone you know, kennels or a commercial sitter, don’t be afraid to tell them how you want your dog to be looked after and what your ‘rules’ are. Bad experiences can have a lasting effect on your dog’s behaviour.

Your rules rule!

Your house rules are your house rules so gain reassurance from potential ‘sitters’ that they will adhere to these when looking after your dog. You don’t want to be getting back ‘more’ dog than you previously had, and that your dog now has a penchant for sleeping on the bed - so consistency is vital. Boarding kennels are licensed and provide consistency and routine for dogs. However if you prefer to have your dog stay with someone, consider the following: 

• Provide clear ‘ house rules’, e.g. allowed on furniture or not
• What food and treats your dog can have
• Will your dog come into contact with other dogs, and how will this be handled?
• Are there going to be lots of people or activities at your dog’s temporary home?
• How would the person deal with canine misdemeanours they don’t normally tolerate, for example, your dog may not be used to or cope with being shouted at?

You can find out more about how to choose professional doggy day-care or a dog walker on our help sheet.

We all want to have a fun and stress-free Christmas, and there’s no reason why our dogs shouldn’t too!