Holiday and Winter Safety Tips

Outside Guidelines

• General rule of thumb: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them. Dogs can get frostbite too. Please keep them indoors during inclimate weather conditions. Keep walks short, but try to provide them more frequently so they still get proper exercise.

• See if there are indoor tracks or facilities near you where you could walk the dog for exercise.

• Musher’s Secret is a good option to use on the dog’s pads for cold-weather walking.

• If you’ve walked the dog on surfaces that have been salted for ice, wipe their paws and in between toes upon coming inside. If they lick the salt off themselves it can make them ill and bother their feet.

• You can choose to put an LED light attachment to the leash or collar for nighttime visibility and added safety for you both.

• Outings:

  • Shopping:

    • If you are going to be doing a lot of shopping, please refrain from bringing the dog, as all outings’ main focus should be on the dog.

    • Busy malls are a great outing exposure, but make sure the dog can handle that type of stimulation before taking them. Keep the outing short, and be prepared to leave. Refer to the outing guide for age-appropriate durations and places.

  • Make sure to pack a towel or baby wipes to wipe off the dog’s feet after walking on sidewalks.

  • Dogs are NEVER allowed to ride escalators or go through revolving doors.

Visitors and Guests

• Dogs may not enjoy the hustle and bustle as much as humans do. If the dog does not enjoy a house full of humans, kindly let them be kenneled in a quiet part of the house for some down time. Give them a nylabone or kong to chew.

  • The kennel can also be utilized during meal times. This is a safe place for the dog to be when unsupervised.

• Children Interactions:

  • Guide them through the proper interactions with a dog. Some tips are:

    • Let the dog sniff them first.

    • Pet the dog gently.

    • Refrain from hugging or pulling on the dog.

    • Keep the dog in an open space.

    • Always stay above the dog, don’t go face to face, put fingers near their mouth etc.

    • If the dog seems uncomfortable, respect their boundaries and remove the dog from the situation.

    • If you want more tips on kids and dogs, please ask Puppy Program staff.

• Don’t allow the dog to jump on guests who arrive, and if necessary, keep them on leash or kennel them until things settle down. You can use the same guidelines for children's interactions with your guests.

• Be sure to give the dog plenty of exercise and walks before the festivities begin. Exercise is a big stress reliever for them. This can include mental stimulation as well.  A well exercised dog is usually a well behaved dog.

Food, Decor, and Other

• Food:

  • Common holiday foods that can be toxic to dogs are:

    • Avocado

    • Bread Dough

    • Chocolate

    • Alcohol

    • Grapes & Raisins

    • Hops

    • Macadamia Nuts

    • Onions & Garlic

    • Moldy food

    • Xylitol (found in sugar free foods and some peanut butter)

    • BONES - Natural bones (especially turkey and chicken bones) are very dangerous to dogs. Make sure all bones are disposed of properly.

    • This list is not all inclusive. Be sure nobody feeds the dog human foods or food bones of any kind.

  • Keep trash cans and recyclables out of reach of the dog and/or covered.

  • If you wrap any food items as a present, be sure they are out of reach of the dog. They have excellent noses and a determined heart to get to food.

  • Food on countertops and tables can be very tempting to dogs. Make sure to supervise the dogs when in the kitchen for counter surfing and move food out of the dog’s reach.

  • Use the kennel to secure the dog during meal times if you are unable to watch them.

• Decor:

  • Holiday decorations can cause blockages or damage to dogs if ingested. Keep them out of the dog’s reach and if necessary, block access to the Christmas tree or other decorations.

  • Some wreaths and greenery may have a preservative on them. Make sure the dog does not ingest any of these.

• Other:

  • Mouse traps and poison

    • If possible, limit the use of poisons and place them in an appropriate location where a dog cannot access. If a dog can fit its tongue into a kong-sized hole, they can fit it anywhere.

      • If a dog does ingest poison, please contact us immediately.