A puppy’s first Christmas should be the most wonderful time of the year\u2026 but chaos and stress can sometimes make an appearance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppies are curious beings that have no concept of what\u2019s right or wrong. They’re beautiful, blank sheets who need time and training to help them navigate life\u2026and Christmas is no different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alright! Grab a cup of cocoa, and snuggle into your seat as we prepare you for your puppy\u2019s first Christmas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we’ll show you how to set your puppy up for success over Christmas, everything you\u2019ll need to know about having a puppy at Christmas like how to greet your guests and have a great, problem-free Christmas dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ll also get into good \u201choliday\u201d manners to teach your dog, our take on the perfect Christmas gift for a new puppy, and many more tips for how to make your puppy’s first Christmas special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Download the Zigzag app<\/a> if you\u2019re getting a puppy for Christmas, or it\u2019s your dog\u2019s first Christmas – it\u2019s the best Christmas gift you can get yourself. You\u2019ll receive full training programs designed for rescued or breeder dogs, as well as for young puppies, adolescent or adult dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re juggling the typical puppy training shenanigans or want to teach them some fun tricks, we\u2019ve got everything you need – even a team of professional dog trainers<\/a> who are there to jump into action 24\/7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make your puppy’s first Christmas run smoothly, there\u2019s a few things we recommend: Get them into a routine, teach them not to be afraid of strangers and guests coming over, and puppy-proof your house to make sure it\u2019s safe for Christmas. Also remember that your puppy needs to sleep and rest a lot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sounds like a long list, we know. But you can totally manage. You can find everything you need to know in our guides to socialization<\/a>, and on how to dog proof your home at Christmas <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your puppy\u2019s first Christmas will come with a lot of \u2018firsts\u2019 for you, but also for them. You probably never thought about how to keep a puppy away from a Christmas tree, but now the concept feels all too real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some pointers to help you navigate through this time so that it\u2019s easy on everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs are curious and like to get into everything; the tree, the gifts, the plants, the whole shebang, and some of it really isn\u2019t safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what you do: Manage the environment and dog proof your home so that it\u2019s safe for your dog to roam free around the house at Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teaching your puppy to greet people politely is an important life skill. Puppies love to jump up to express their booming friendliness, but also jump up from being overwhelmed. Therefore, it\u2019s very important to understand their body language<\/a> and teach them an appropriate greeting, so your guests\u2019 Christmas outfits don\u2019t get muddy paws on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christmas only comes once a year, which means it can be full of things your puppy has never encountered before! If you can desensitize or get your puppy used to Christmas items like twinkling lights and giant blow-up Santa Clauses, it will help the holidays feel a lot more like Christmas and less like Halloween: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies need a safe space to be away from all the Christmas frenzy so that they get enough rest. Rest for puppies is a must \u2014 tired puppies get more bitey! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If it\u2019s your puppy\u2019s first Christmas, it\u2019s worth crate training<\/a> or teaching them to relax in their safe space like their bed away from your guests so that they get that much-needed peace and quiet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To teach your puppy to go to their safe space to go to, try the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s your dog’s first Christmas \u2014 we totally get the urge to include them in the fun and cook them an extra special dinner! You also want to teach your pup not to wait under the table hoping for a secret nibble at something that falls to the floor, or cause your guests any trouble. We get it, some people find it difficult to resist puppy-eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Safe Christmas foods for dogs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be aware of unsafe foods for your puppy like chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, or anything with excessive fat or salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make your Christmas dinner time go well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like all types of dog training, consistency and positive reinforcement is key! These two combined will help you make sure your puppy navigates their first Christmas as smooth as Rudolph the reindeer glides through the sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re going to be honest here \u2014 a dog’s first Christmas can be an exciting but still a potentially overwhelming experience. Here are some extra tips to ensure a safe holiday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christmas holidays can be a good time to get some training sessions in if you have some time off work. It\u2019s a great moment to build reliability in basic obedience cues like sit, stay and leave it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that Christmas is only one day, so be mindful of your stress levels and your puppy\u2019s over the busy holiday period. Christmas is supposed to be jolly and magical anyway, so let\u2019s keep worries to a minimum, shall we? Watch out for signs of overwhelm, stress or anxiety in your puppy, and take them and yourself out of situations which may be difficult for them to handle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are getting a puppy for Christmas or it\u2019s your dog\u2019s first Christmas with you, puppy-proof the Christmas tree to make sure they can\u2019t get into your ornaments. There are also toxic plants that tend to pop up around Christmas like Poinsettias or Mistletoe that you\u2019ll need to keep out of reach for your puppy, or simply avoid having them at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs are creatures of habit and enjoy a consistent schedule of feeding, nap times and walking, but they are also able to adjust their schedules when needed. However, if you\u2019re toilet training your new puppy, then having a regular schedule will definitely help speed things up, so try not to go too off course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Christmas holiday is a great time to strengthen all that great training you\u2019ve been doing with your dog, getting them to become polite members of society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look at the following areas and see what you can work on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t mean to brag, but the perfect Christmas gift for a new puppy is the Zigzag puppy training app. For your puppy, it will help them gather the knowledge they need to thrive in the world, and for you, it will help you get peace of mind and set you up for a joyful life journey with your puppy. By helping you understand your puppy and show you how to go about their developmental milestones, you\u2019ll learn everything you need to know and feel prepared for any hiccups that come your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But of course, you can always get actual <\/em>presents for your puppy\u2019s first Christmas holiday. We have loads of recommendations for toys<\/a> or chews<\/a>, or even snazzy collars<\/a> or harnesses<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the wait for? Download the Zigzag app<\/a> to prepare your new pup for their first Christmas. With Zigzag\u2019s training lessons, the holidays will go as smooth as butter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To make your puppy’s first Christmas special and unique, we’ve come up with the following suggestions mixing safety, fun, and unforgettable experiences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reminder! This is not Halloween – so there\u2019s no need to dress your puppy up unless they<\/em> like that kind of thing. But do take nice photos of your puppy and add them to your own Christmas card – you\u2019ll definitely want to remember your puppy\u2019s first Christmas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ohh – baking homemade Christmas treats for your pup sounds too good. Choose a festive recipe (using dog-friendly ingredients, of course) or simply dehydrate some turkey meat to make some homemade Christmas dog treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can learn more about making your own dog treats in our article on DIY dog food and treats.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, fine, an \u2018Ugly Christmas Sweater\u2019 party could be the greatest fun for your puppy\u2019s first Christmas. Pups French Bulldogs<\/a> or Chihuahuas<\/a> enjoy wearing sweaters as they like to stay warm, but your active Labrador<\/a> might feel like their social butterfly wings are being trapped in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Use plenty of rewards and treats<\/a> and make sure the sweater isn\u2019t too tight, so your pup stays happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have a local Christmas walking trail or a route where you can see the glimmering decorations? Christmas light shows can be fun, though we\u2019d say probably keep away from firework displays<\/a> or things that might overwhelm your puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s bring in the Christmas magic by teaching your puppy some party tricks to show your guests. Teaching them to take a bow, twirl, give you a kiss, or wave and say \u2018bye\u2019 will do the trick \u2014 your pup will enjoy the training process and your visitors will have an extra sweet memory to add to Christmas..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn more about tricks<\/a> and clicker training<\/a> in our articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s all folks! We hope that\u2019s helped you figure out how to make your puppy\u2019s first Christmas go without a hitch. Our article on puppy-proofing your home for Christmas has lots more to learn!Download the Zigzag app today, and treat yourself to our huge library of problem-solving solutions, lessons, and articles to get on the puppy training train smoothly. Any questions? Our certified dog trainers<\/a> are happy to help 24\/7 \u2014 yep, even on Christmas Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\nSetting your puppy up for success this holiday season<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What you\u2019ll need to know this Christmas with your puppy <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dog proof your home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How your dog greets Christmas visitors <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Desensitizing your dog to Christmas <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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You can also teach your puppy that presents are off-limits. Practice the “leave it” cue with wrapped boxes that look like presents before there are actual gifts around, and give them chew toys as alternatives. During gift-opening time, give your puppy their own toy to keep them busy.<\/li>\n\n\n\nGiving your puppy space at Christmas <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Christmas dinner with your dog <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Other tips for a successful first Christmas: <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Use it as a training opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Manage the overwhelm<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keep your puppy safe <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adjust your routine if necessary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teaching your dog \u201choliday\u201d manners <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The perfect Christmas gift for a new puppy <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Making your puppy’s first Christmas special <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Have a puppy photo shoot<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bake Christmas Dog Treats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take part in Christmas Sweater Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Choose some festive walks <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teach your puppy a Christmas trick<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n