By Louise Toal, Founder of Furr Boost
There’s no doubt that Christmas is a magical time of year. But the changes to daily routines, new decorations and an influx of visitors can be overwhelming for some dogs, leading to stress and anxiety. For most families though, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to include their four-legged friends in the celebrations. Here are our top tips for making sure your dog feels safe, happy and very much part of the festive fun.
We’ve also included our favourite festive Furr Boost recipe ideas — from a warming winter drink to a dog-friendly cocktail — so your pooch can enjoy their own Christmas treats alongside the family.
See our blog on why hydration matters for dogs year-round [pillar 1 hydration]
Grooming
Before Christmas Day arrives, we always make sure our dogs have visited the groomers, it keeps unwanted hair off the furniture and off our guests.
On Christmas Day itself, we wash the dog’s bed and linen so the house smells fresh and welcoming for the big day.
Involving Your Dog on Christmas Day
Try to keep the routine as normal as possible — a good walk and calm activities go a long way. We put the dogs’ beds in the room with us (when we’re not eating) so they can snuggle by the fire and feel part of the day. We always include them in the present opening too, with a treat or toy under the tree just for them.
A Christmas jumper or festive outfit can make for brilliant family photos. That said, always remove any jumper if you have a log burner or open fire, as dogs can overheat quickly.
Keeping Your Dog Calm at Christmas
Always make sure your dog has a safe space they can retreat to when things get noisy. Our dogs have their own quiet corner where they can take themselves off and decompress and they use it more than you’d think at Christmas.
If the party is getting lively and the dogs are unsettled, a pre-prepared frozen lick mat filled with Furr Boost works brilliantly as a calming distraction. The action of licking is naturally soothing, and with our Turkey and Cranberry variety it’s a festive treat too. Find out more at furrboost.com.
See our blog on How emotional wellbeing links to routine and calm — Pillar 8 Emotional Wellbeing
For open-plan homes, a portable interior gate is a game-changer when cooking Christmas Dinner, it keeps dogs safely out from under your feet without shutting them away entirely. We use the Dog-G8 concertina gate (www.dog-g8.com).
Introduce decorations gradually in the days before Christmas so your dog adjusts to new sights and smells. Allow dogs to greet visitors at their own pace — avoid forcing interactions, especially with children.
Christmas Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs
It’s easy for things to slip through during the Christmas chaos – guests feeding titbits, children leaving snacks unattended. Even experienced dog owners can be caught out. The following foods are toxic to dogs and must be kept well out of reach at all times:
Mince pies, Christmas pudding, fruit cake and stollen — all contain dried fruits (currants, raisins, sultanas) which are toxic to dogs, and often alcohol too.
Chocolate — the cocoa content is toxic and can be fatal even in small amounts. Advent calendars, tree decorations, selection boxes and cakes all need to be kept away from curious noses.
Onions and leeks — toxic to dogs. If any part of your Christmas dinner contains them, avoid sharing titbits from the table.
Gravy — most gravies are onion-based and high in salt. Use Furr Boost as a safer, more nutritious topping instead.
Stuffing — typically contains onion and salt, so best avoided entirely.
How digestion is affected by what dogs eat [Pillar 2 digestion]
Other Christmas Hazards to Watch Out For
Food isn’t the only hazard at Christmas. Some seasonal plants and decorations can also pose serious risks to dogs:
Toxic plants: Pine needles (from real Christmas trees), Mistletoe, Poinsettia and Holly are all toxic to dogs. Be mindful of falling leaves or berries when using fresh foliage.
Tree decorations: Baubles and tinsel can be choking hazards if chewed or swallowed.
Christmas tree lights: Dogs can suffer electric shocks if they chew through wires. Keep cables tidied away and supervise your dog around the tree.
Wrapping and packaging: Supervise your dog during present opening and clear away packaging promptly — ribbons, plastic ties and foam inserts are all potential hazards.
Festive Furr Boost Recipe Ideas
Furr Boost is more than a daily hydration drink — it’s a versatile ingredient for festive treats your dog will love. Here are four of our favourite Christmas recipe ideas:
1. Winter Warmer
Warm your pooch’s favourite Furr Boost slightly, place in a cup and top with sugar-free and xylitol-free* squirty cream. Add sprinkles using their favourite pet treats and a dog-friendly cookie for an indulgent festive treat.
*Xylitol is toxic to dogs.
2. Furr Boost Pawpresso Martini
Add ice and your pooch’s favourite Furr Boost to a cocktail shaker, shake well and pour into a martini glass. Top with training treats cut in half widthways so they float on top, and serve.
3. Christmas Frozen Treats
Pour Furr Boost into festive ice lolly moulds together with an edible protein stick and place in the freezer. Serve once frozen for a Furr-Boosting Christmas iced treat.
See our recipe blog https://furrboost.com/frozen-dog-treats-recipe/
4. Gravy Topper for Christmas Dinner
Pour Furr Boost over your dog’s favourite pet food as a perfect Christmas dinner gravy topping — a nutritious, dog-safe alternative to traditional onion-based gravy.
How appetite and nutrition support dog health — Pillar 4 Appetite
A Christmas Dinner Your Dog Will Love
We settle our dogs in their safe space during Christmas Dinner to avoid the begging, but we always save them a plate of their own. Plain turkey with carrots, sweet potato and broccoli, topped with Furr Boost as a nutritious gravy alternative. They love it.
For their Christmas dinner: set aside plain turkey meat (no bones — these are a choking hazard), serve with dog-friendly vegetables, and top with Furr Boost for a genuinely festive and nutritious meal they can enjoy alongside the family.
Follow these simple steps and you’ll be set for a safe, happy and memorable Christmas — for the humans and the hounds alike. From everyone at Furr Boost, we wish you and your furry family a wonderful festive season.
Shop Furr Boost for Christmas
