Dog Trainers HATE The Holidays - Here’s Why
For a brief few months every year, just as the air turns crisp and festive lights start twinkling, everybody seems to become a model citizen. People suddenly remember the spirit of giving, knowing that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. They donate to charity to balance out that Black Friday shopping spree, foster shelter animals to offer them a cozy sense of home for social media points, or directly donate toys to children’s hospitals by taking from their own kids, spreading joy to those who need it most to feel better about themselves. The holiday season is probably the only time during the entire year when folks stop and think twice about being unpleasant, worried about being labeled a “Scrooge” or “The Grinch” by friends and family alike. It’s a brief but beautiful moment when kindness truly takes proverbial center stage.
— Or so you think, because it’s all a performance. There’s definitely something sinister looming over this holiday season behind the niceties and cheer, and pet professionals everywhere are anxiously waiting to see the fallout that’s sure to follow.
If Your Dog is Stressed Out During Family Gatherings, The Best Place for Them is a Crate
One of the most common things I hear as a dog trainer is, “My dog loves me and my partner, but the moment my family arrives with my nieces like on Christmas, she transforms into a completely different dog! She won’t settle down or listen to her commands!” There are a few different reasons why this might happen, but you know what they say about assuming…
It often leads to misunderstanding.
So, I ask a few important questions:
Are they crate trained? Do they have a designated safe space away from the rest of your family? How long have you had your dog in your home? How frequently does your dog get to see visitors when they come over? How old are your nieces? And, what has your training routine looked like so far?
Usually, the answers to these questions help clients come to the realization on their own that their dog is experiencing more difficulty than they initially believed. Reflection is important for growth. We love that.
Stress in Dogs Can Escalate… Catch it Before it Does
Stressed dogs can still bite, even if they have never bitten anybody before in their entire life. Just one wrong movement, an overlooked warning sign, or an overly excited child can quickly escalate into a dangerous or unpleasant situation. Using a crate is the safest and most effective way to prevent this from happening and to keep everyone calm and secure. Dogs learn best from consistent patterns and gentle, controlled repetition, which helps them feel secure and understand what’s expected. ‘
If your family members don’t visit often, and if you don’t frequently welcome guests to help create positive experiences over time, your dog may not get the crucial opportunity to gradually desensitize to the presence of others - a process that's especially important to manage before the busy holiday season. In that case, it’s safe to assume your dog might not be as comfortable or relaxed around visitors or new people as you might believe, and extra patience and preparation will be key.
Remember: an excited dog is not necessarily a happy dog - dogs can feel excitement without knocking people over, panting until their mouths are dry, or even throwing up their food. True happiness in dogs often shows through calm, joyful behavior rather than overly frantic energy.
If your dog exhibits three or more of the following behaviors at the same time on Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s a good sign they might be feeling stressed or overly excited. In these moments, they really benefit from having their own quiet space where they can relax, settle down, and decompress away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowd.
Pacing
Heavy panting
Obsessive barking
Obsessive spinning
Nipping
Trembling
Frequent yawning
Whale eye
Low, deep growling
Excessive drooling
Inappropriate elimination
Humping
Jumping on others
Crates Aren’t Evil. Crate Train Your Dog BEFORE The Holidays Come Around.
When conditioned appropriately with patience and positive reinforcement, they're a safe haven and cozy retreat for your dog, especially during the hectic and often noisy holiday season. Even just 5 minutes a day of practicing being settled in the crate and rewarding calm behavior can quickly become a really useful and reliable outlet for your dog during Thanksgiving dinner chaos. This little routine helps reduce stress and keeps your furry friend feeling secure amidst the festivities.
By introducing the crate to your pup well before you actually need to use it, you help teach them that their crate is a cozy, safe den - a special place to relax when they’re sleepy or need a quiet moment to rest - and not a place of punishment or isolation. This straightforward and gentle training step makes holidays and gatherings more enjoyable for everyone involved, transforming your pup into a confident, calm, and well-mannered guest who comfortably joins in on every celebration with ease, knowing that the option to get away is there.
But crate training can be quite challenging, especially if you’ve never tried it before or aren’t sure where to start. Scheduling a session with a professional trainer can provide the guidance and support you need to make the process smoother and set you up for success where it matters this season. Consultations with Pawfect Partner LLC are always free to troubleshoot any difficulty you may have with training.
Your Dog Doesn’t Need to Share Your Food.
Many common holiday foods, such as chocolate, grapes, onions, and fatty scraps, are toxic to dogs and can cause serious health issues ranging from digestive upset to organ failure. Even when a dog appears fine after eating human food, hidden dangers like pancreatitis, diabetes, kidney stones, gastrointestinal blockages, bloat, or long-term damage may be brewing and the occasional table scrap can turn into an emergency.
Veterinarians and other pet professionals strongly advise against sharing holiday treats because dogs metabolize foods very differently than humans do. What might seem like a harmless snack to us could actually trigger severe and unexpected reactions later on - especially if your dog is already prone to anxiety or has a history of health issues. It’s important to keep in mind that a trip to the emergency vet during the holiday season can cost about five times more than a regular appointment with your primary veterinarian, which can quickly turn a festive celebration into a stressful and expensive ordeal.
Preventing exposure is the safest way to protect your dog from unintentional harm, and using a crate is one way to do that - training a “leave it” behavior is another way. If your dog regularly gets in the trash, steals food off the table, or begs until someone gives in, that’s an indicator that you may need additional guidance this holiday season. Book your session to prepare for Christmas!
The Reason Dog Trainers and Other Pet Professionals Hate the Holidays
Nobody who really would benefit listens to the advice, and unfortunately, their dogs end up paying the price, and we end up seeing the aftermath. Frantic phone calls and inquiries, social media posts begging for help, and on borrowed time in an emergency. Many rentals will not permit dogs who have bitten anybody, even if it was a family member.
People often hold off on seeking professional training (and vet care) for their dogs until they’ve already encountered significant difficulties, such as multiple trips to the vet because their pet has eaten things they shouldn’t, or even more serious incidents like a dog bite involving a family member. By that point, many owners become desperate and frantic but hesitate to spend more money for help. This delay can make it much harder to change the unwanted behavior, especially because many don’t realize that effective training requires not just addressing the dog’s behavior but also embracing a lifestyle change for the entire household to remain consistent.
As a dog trainer that prioritizes owner education, it saddens me every time I see blatant negligence. We should all be trying to do better for our pets who don’t have their own voice in an arbitrary, manmade world.
Just because your Uncle John fed his dogs garlic, chocolate, raisins, turkey skin, and pumpkin pie and nothing seemed to happen right away, doesn’t mean those foods weren’t causing significant harm behind the scenes. Conditions like diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney stones, and urinary crystals don’t develop overnight - they take time to show up, often when it’s already too late.
Stay safe this holiday season.
~ Ashley