Whether you moved with a pet or got a puppy once you settled into a new home, with your furry friend comes more responsibilities around the house – and holiday dog safety to consider this time of the year. You do these things to not only protect your puppy, but your house as well! Similarly to puppy proofing your house, there are a few precautionary steps to take to keep your home and your pet safe during the holidays.
Things, like watering the tree daily, turning off the string lights, and keeping candles away from flammable decor, are simple ways you can protect your home. On top of this, the holidays come with a number of risks for dogs between guests, decorations, and food. If your dog is a rowdy one, consider keeping your tree in an area where he won’t bother it. Holiday plants like pine, balsam, and poinsettias are especially dangerous to dogs. With tempting sweets around the house like cookies, candy, and nuts, make sure it’s not easy for your four-legged friends to get into anything they shouldn’t be eating.
If you’re hosting guests in your home, be sure to set some ground rules. Maybe you’ve got a relative who loves to spoil your pup with food from their plate, just be sure they know what to avoid! Turkey skin and bones, fatty trimmings from ham, onions, and garlic are all harmful to dogs. If you find this hard to avoid with plenty of extra people in your home, create a safe place for your dog in the guest room or another area of the house.
There’s nothing quite like spending a holiday in your home surrounded by the people you love, including your pets. By keeping your home, yourselves, and your pet safe, you can relax and enjoy the season. For more tips on how to make your home not only safe but more fun for your pet, check out these 8 ways to make your home more dog-friendly.
