Puppy's first Christmas

Dreaming of a white Christmas

I love watching puppies discovering the snow for the first time. They may be cautious at first, wondering what to make of this fluffy white stuff. But it is usually not long before they give in to the fun of bouncing around in it.

Whether your Christmas is white or not, there are a few precautions to take in order to keep your companion safe when the weather turns cold. Rinse and wipe your puppy's paws after a walk on pavements and roads in icy weather. They may have walked in the salt left by the gritters or in antifreeze spills. Both substances are lethal to dogs. Note that antifreeze is not only highly toxic but often very attractive to dogs, so make sure you store yours well away from little paws.

Meeting merry friends

Family and friends often come together at Christmas to celebrate this special time. This may mean a lot of guests coming through the door. And what do puppies like to do best with visitors?... Jumping up at them of course! While you may be tempted to put up with it and deal with this bad habit after Christmas, you would be missing out on a fantastic opportunity to train your puppy (and your guests!). So follow my advice. Keep two treat bags by your front door, but out of reach for your puppy. Fill one with dog treats and one with chocolates and toffees. When a guest arrives, ask them to put a couple of dog treats in their pockets. Instruct them to turn away from your puppy when they jump up. The moment your puppy has all four paws on the floor, your guest can fuss them and if your puppy sits down, your guest can give them a dog treat, and help themselves to a chocolate. Reward based training works on people too! Even on mothers-in-laws, honest.

Keep an eye on your companion at all times, especially when children are visiting. If the excitement proves too much for the little ones (whether two or four-legged) or if you are too busy in the kitchen for instance, put your puppy in a safe place with a favourite chew. A crate is ideal for this. It gives your dog a break and will avoid tears.

Santa Paws is coming

If you've been good at training your puppy and your guests, Father Christmas should bring many presents. Keeping them under the tree may prove too much temptation for a young puppy, especially as little noses are great at detecting the edible kind. The cocoa in chocolate contains a substance that is lethal to dogs. This means some presents could present extra risks that are simply not worth taking. So leave a note for Santa: Presents must be left well out of reach of your puppy. If this is not possible, make sure that your puppy is under close watch when around the presents or use a crate.

Turkey sandwich anyone?

We often overindulge at Christmas. It is only natural to want to spoil your puppy too. But sharing your Christmas meal with them could result in an upset tummy. Quite a Christmas spoiler if you ask me. Onion, cabbage and dairy are often the culprits when given in large quantities, but even if you stay away from these and are careful with what you give, some puppies will not tolerate any change in their diet.

However, I do have the perfect solution to help you deal with the leftover turkey. Do not give any of the cooked bones to your puppy, but cut up some of the meat in little pieces and here you have healthy and tempting training treats. Perfect for practising the recall on your Boxing Day walk or to reward your puppy for toileting outside despite the cold.

If you have nice pictures of your dog enjoying Christmas, at home or on walk, why not post them on the Mind Your Dog Facebook wall and spread some Christmas cuteness and cheer all rounds.

Merry Christmas from Mind Your Dog