Holiday Survival Guide: How to Keep Your Dog Calm During Christmas Chaos

The holidays are meant to be joyful — but for dogs, Christmas can feel like sensory

overload. New people, loud voices, food everywhere, altered routines, and heightened

emotions can push even well-trained dogs into stress responses. Barking, jumping, pacing,

whining, or “forgetting” their training aren’t signs of bad behaviour — they’re signs of a dog

struggling to regulate in a chaotic environment.

The good news? Holiday calm isn’t about perfection. It’s about preparation, structure, and

knowing when to give your dog a break.

Calm Greetings Start Before the Door Opens

Most holiday chaos begins before guests even arrive. Dogs hear cars, doorbells, voices, and

feel anticipation build long before anyone steps inside. By the time the door opens, many

dogs are already overstimulated.

Instead of hoping for polite greetings, set expectations early. Put your dog on leash, ask for a stationary position, or send them to a familiar spot before opening the door. If your dog

cannot greet calmly, that’s not a failure — it simply means greeting isn’t appropriate yet.

Calm behaviour must be taught and reinforced, not negotiated in the moment.

Remember: dogs don’t need to greet everyone. Neutral behaviour is success.

Recognize Overstimulation Before It Explodes

Holiday overstimulation often masquerades as excitement. Excessive panting, inability to lie

down, frantic movement, jumping, whining, or zoomies are all signs your dog’s nervous

system is overloaded.

Rather than correcting symptoms after the fact, intervene early. Short leash walks, quiet

place work, or structured downtime between social interactions help your dog reset before

stress escalates. Expecting a dog to self-regulate indefinitely in a chaotic environment is

unrealistic — even for highly trained dogs.

Calm is built through proactive management, not reactive correction.

The Crate Is a Reset Button — Not a Punishment

Crates become especially valuable during the holidays. When properly introduced, a crate is

not confinement — it’s relief. It gives your dog a quiet, predictable place where nothing is

asked of them.

Think of the crate as a mental reset, not a timeout. Many dogs return from crate breaks

calmer, clearer, and more capable of handling the environment. Rotating between social

time and crate downtime prevents behavioural spirals later in the evening.

A dog who gets appropriate rest makes better choices — every time.

Use the “Place” Command to Create Boundaries

The “place” command is one of the most powerful tools for managing holiday chaos. It gives

your dog a defined job when the environment is busy and unpredictable. Instead of

hovering, pacing, or inserting themselves into every interaction, your dog learns to observe

calmly from a designated spot.

Place work builds impulse control, emotional regulation, and clarity. It also helps guests feel

comfortable by creating clear boundaries around space and interaction.

If your dog struggles with place during the holidays, that’s a sign it needs more

reinforcement — not that the command doesn’t work.

Structure Creates Calm

Holiday success doesn’t come from luck or last-minute corrections. It comes from structure,

consistency, and realistic expectations. Give your dog clear guidance, allow for breaks, and

don’t be afraid to remove them from situations they’re not ready to handle.

A calm Christmas isn’t about forcing your dog to tolerate chaos — it’s about setting them up

to succeed within it.

If you’d like help preparing your dog for the holidays or building these skills properly, reach

out. The season can be peaceful — for you and your dog — with the right approach.