Making the Holidays Enjoyable for You and Your Pets

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< A version of this article was published on the ForceFreePets blog >

< Updated 2026-11-01 >

< The link to this page – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/2026/11/01/making-the-holidays-enjoyable-for-you-and-your-pets/ >

For most of us, November and December are one of the busiest times of year. While the many holidays bring joy and celebration, they can also make family life hectic, even chaotic. We have more events to attend, like school concerts, company parties, and family gatherings, all with a flurry of activity. We are often away from home more at this time of year, which can make our pets feel left out. We go out of our way to decorate our homes, which is no small task, and can radically change our pets’ environment. Finally, there is all the special holiday food we enjoy, which can also be tempting and dangerous for our pets. It can be a very stressful time for the whole family, but even more so for our pets, who typically love predictability and routine. As you read on, you will find a few tips to make the coming frenzy less stressful for you and your pets.

As you get busy with the holidays, don’t forget your pet. Set aside time for them, as they miss you more when you are not home as much as usual. Spending time with them also helps you relax from the holiday madness. A quiet family walk with the dog, or one of you playing with the cat using a wand toy while the other makes cookies, are all ways to connect and hopefully relax.

Your Pet Gets to Decide if They Choose to Interact

Make sure everyone who lives with your pet understands the visual cues a pet uses to show whether it wants to interact. Many people are unaware of the signals pets use or, sadly, believe a person can do anything they want to a pet at any time. Please ensure everyone visiting your home understands that your pet ALWAYS gets to choose who they interact with and who they wish to stay away from, just like any other member of your family.

For both dogs and cats, moving towards you usually means they want to engage. Staying still, turning their head away to break eye contact, or moving away clearly signals, “Please stay away.” When someone ignores these signals, the pet may vocalize, lunge, or bite to keep someone away. No one wants to deal with a bite over the holidays, so do not hesitate to remind people, “My pet ALWAYS gets to choose who they interact with and who they wish to stay away from. Please respect our wishes.” It’s entirely up to you if you want to add “or leave my home” to the end of that sentence.

If you have a pet who is often tentative about visitors, it is often best to set them up in a room in your home with a bed, some water, a favorite toy, and a sign on the door that says “Private—Do NOT Enter.”

If you are confident your pet will not enjoy the increased activity from the event, or if you are more relaxed knowing your pet is in a safe, pleasant environment, consider boarding your pet the day and night of the event.

Holiday Hazards

Many people love to decorate for the holidays, which can drastically change our pets’ environment and add hazards that weren’t there before. Specific holiday hazards to be thinking about are:

Christmas Trees—Whether live or artificial, a holiday tree can be tempting and a hazard in your pet’s environment.

The holiday tree should be secured so your pet(s) cannot knock it over.
If you have a live tree, you must ensure it has water. If you add chemicals to the water to help the tree stay “fresh,” ensure they are not toxic to your pets.
More than one cartoonist has created an amusing visual of a dog finding the trunk of the Christmas tree a spot worth marking.
Keep lights and fragile ornaments off the lower branches of your holiday tree where your pet can reach them.
Ensure all electrical cords for holiday lights and decorations are located so your pet will not become entangled or attempt to chew on them.
Avoid using edible ornaments on your tree.
Tinsel can be very attractive to dogs and cats and can also be fatal if ingested.

Holiday Gifts—Be cautious about where you leave holiday gifts, especially those with food inside. A misplaced box of chocolates or candy containing Xylitol or raisins can kill a pet, and some gifts may have small parts that can choke dogs or cats.

Holiday Plants, such as Holly, Mistletoe, and Poinsettias, are poisonous to pets. Keep them away from your pet.

Holiday Food & Snacks

For many families, your home will be filled with tasty holiday food from the night before Thanksgiving until January 2^nd. If you’re entertaining, you may leave that food where your pets can get into it. Or you may be so busy preparing food, visiting with friends and family, or opening gifts that your pet does what pets sometimes do—sneaks a bite. My Golden, Tikken, decimated the pumpkin pie we were bringing to our friends on Thanksgiving one year because we left it somewhere she could reach. Sometimes the best place for our pets during meal prep or while the humans are all eating is in their own quiet space.

Pets As Gifts

Giving a pet as a surprise holiday gift is usually not a good idea. I will make an exception for parents surprising their children with a pet, but only when they understand the pet’s well-being is their primary focus. That means a quiet holiday at home with just themselves, the kid(s), and the new canine or feline family member. Whether it’s a dog or cat, puppy or kitten, give your new family member a quiet, uneventful environment for the first few days.

Instead of giving the pet as a surprise gift, I recommend giving gifts that will help the family with their new pet. A leash and collar set, toys, or better yet, a book so they can start learning about their new pet before they ever bring them home. At the top of my list is Beyond Belly Rubs – The Compassionate Pet Guardian by Niki Tudge and Louise Stapleton-Frappell. [ FMI – BOOK REVIEW – Beyond Belly Rubs ]. Another great book for the family, also by Niki Tudge, is A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog! [ FMI – Book Review – A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog! ]. Gift cards from a trusted, locally owned pet care service provider also make a great gift for those adding a dog or cat to the family.

Pets in Costumes and Clothes

No matter how much fun we think it is to dress up our pets in costumes and clothes, most pets hate it. Look at the visual cues noted above, and if your pet is trying to avoid you and the costume, please leave them alone. Pets are NOT a fashion accessory.

Be Prepared!

The holidays can be a very busy time for emergency veterinary hospitals. Sometimes they may be so busy that they may need to send you to another facility. Make sure you ALWAYS have their contact information available. Call ahead to confirm they can see your pet and be prepared for you when you arrive.

Emergency Veterinary Facilities in Maine

Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic – 820 Main Rd, Holden, ME 04429, (207) 989-6267
Midcoast Animal Emergency Clinic – 191 Camden Rd, Warren, ME 04864, (207) 273-1100
Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine – 37 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 777-1110
Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care (PVESC) – 739 Warren Ave, Portland, ME 04103, (207) 878-3121
Maine Veterinary Medical Center (MVMC) – 1500 Technology Way, Scarborough, ME 04074, (207) 885-1290