Top tips for preparing your dog for New Year's Eve celebrations

As we head off to our New Year's Eve parties tonight it is important to remember the noisy celebrations can inflict stress onto our pets.

The festive season is a time of good food, visiting relatives and friends and parties.

It is a time that, once organised, gives us all the opportunity to switch off and relax as we say goodbye to another busy year - but, unknown to some, this time of the year can be incredibly stressful for our pets.

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In many households, this festive season may be the first for their pets after so many of us added a new four-legged family member during the pandemic.

This means pups across the country will be experiencing things like parties, presents, decorations and dinners for the first time.

While some pups may adapt comfortably to the ongoing of the season, others will be left feeling overwhelmed or overexcited.

The good news is, there are things new dog owners can do to make New Years an enjoyable time for them and their pets.

Veterinary Physiotherapist Tilly Wild, who has collaborated with retailer Matalan, has put together a list of tips and advice to to help ensure that your dog has a happy, healthy and safe New Year, making the festive season as enjoyable as possible for the whole family.

Remember if you have any concerns about your pet’s health then contact your vet.

Don’t fuss over your dog if they’re scared

Tilly says by doing this, it confirms there is something to be afraid of to your dog. Try not to fuss over your pet too much though if they do become afraid, as this only confirms they are right to feel scared.

Put your dog somewhere they feel safe like a crate or pen

Rather than making a fuss out of your pet, pet owners are encouraged to provide their dog with a safe space, such as their crate, den or puppy pen. This will help them feel more calm and relaxed while in an environment they feel safe in.

Provide you dog with lots of toys and treats

Make sure to pack out there safe space with lots of interesting and fun things, such as their favourite toys and long lasting chews to keep them occupied and distracted from the events going on around them.

Set your dog up in the quietest space possible

If their current crate or safe space is situated in a place which is going to exposed to a lot of noise, whether that be people or fireworks, Tilly advises to move it temporarily to a quieter space. This will help your dog avoid becoming stressed. This applies if taking your dog to a friend's or family's house also.

Set ground rules for any visiting children

Just like your dog, children may be excitable too, which can be hard for some dogs to tolerate. If children will be present, make sure they know how to handle a dog and don’t leave them alone together without supervision. This will keep everyone safe and avoid your dog becoming irritated or overwhelmed.

Remove festive litter off the floor as soon as possible

With plenty of rubbish likely to end up all over the surfaces from crackers, party poppers and last minute gifts from family you didn't get round to seeing over Christmas, keep an eye on what your dog might pick up. Small prizes from crackers could be a choking hazard so, if possible, do these types of activities away from your dog and ensure a quick tidy up. As a lot of dogs enjoy ripping up wrapping paper, have a bin bag ready for paper to go in straight away.

Keep food out of the way

Several festive foods can actually be poisonous to dogs. It may seem like a seasonal treat, but letting your pup have anything from your dinner plate that contains chocolate, mince pies, Christmas pudding, onion gravy or alcohol could be very dangerous for them – so avoid the urge to let your dog enjoy your festive party food, too.

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