The holidays are supposed to be joyful and full of family time, and for many of us, they often are! But for many dogs, especially anxious or older dogs, this season can feel overwhelming. Holiday gatherings, visiting children, disrupted schedules, and louder home life all increase stress for dogs. If you’re a parent trying to keep both kids and dogs safe during the holidays, here are the three important things to know.

1. More Family Time At Home Can Cause Increased Stress
Holiday breaks from school or daycare can mean that kids are home a lot more than normal. For dogs, that means less rest and more noise, which can lead to stress. Dogs thrive from predictable routines and down time every day to rest. This is especially so for older dogs and anxious dogs.

You might notice:

• Pacing, whining, difficulty settling
• Irritability or a “short fuse”
• Avoidance or hiding
• Increased startle responses or barking
• Sensitivity to touch, noise, or sudden movement

These all may be signs that your dog is stressed by the increased activity at home with the kiddos during the holiday time. They do not mean that your dog is bad or a jerk.

What To Do:

• Build in proactive rest breaks throughout the day
• Coach older kids at home to give your dog extra space
• Use baby gates, pens, or closed doors to give your dog quiet time
• Offer enrichment (lick mats, chews, stuffed food toys) when separated to give your dog some mental stimulation
• Try to keep your dog’s routine as normal and consistent as possible

2. Your Dog’s Comfort With Your Child Doesn’t Apply to Visiting Kids
Many dogs do great with their own family’s children because they’ve built trust and familiarity. But visiting kids at holiday gatherings create an entirely new dynamic.

New kids often bring:

• Different energy levels
• Less predictable behavior around your dog
• More play time from holiday commotion

It’s extremely common for a dog who is well-acclimated with their own child to struggle with other kids, especially in loud, crowded holiday settings.

What helps:

• Manage the environment with gates, leashes, or closed-off rooms
• Supervise every interaction between dogs and visiting kids
• Create a “no-kid zone” where your dog can retreat
• Skip interactions entirely if your dog seems overwhelmed, stressed, or scared.

3. You Know Your Dog and Child Best. Be Their Advocate

During holiday gatherings, people will offer opinions like:

• “He’s fine!”
• “She loves kids.”
• “Dogs need to get used to this.”
• “Let them sort it out.”

Ignore all of that. You’re the only one who truly understands your dog, your child, and what feels safe. If something seems off, it is off. Your responsibility is not to cater to your relative’s opinions about dog behavior. It is to protect your dog’s comfort and your child’s safety.

Advocating could look like:

• Saying “No, thanks. My dog needs space right now.”
• Putting your dog in a quiet room with a stuffed Kong
• Ending interactions at the first sign of stress
• Prioritizing management over hoping things will “go well”

You are not being overprotective. You are being responsible and proactive. You are preventing negative interactions, including dog bites.

The holiday season can be a lot for everyone. Your dog should not be forced to endure it all in hopes that they “get used to it.” By providing rest and consistency in their routine, implementing boundaries with visitors, and proactively managing your dog’s interactions with children, you can keep your kids and dog safe, comfortable, and be able to genuinely able to enjoy the season.

If you want personalized help navigating kids-and-dog dynamics this holiday season, I support families with this exact issue every day as a certified dog behavior consultant and Family Paws Parent Educator.

Schedule a private training consultation here: In-person (Indianapolis and surrounding areas) or Online

Schedule a “ask the behavior consultant” call here.

To read more about why holidays can be stressful for dogs, see my other blog post here.