Holiday Stress and Pets

Holiday Stress is for Pets too!

Holidays are wonderful!  We all look forward to them. But we can all suffer from holiday stress, including our pets.

In this article you’ll find:

• Parties and pets
• Travelling with pets – do’s and don’ts
• What food is dangerous for your pets
• Can you leave your pet behind while you travel to reduce holiday stress?

A Busy Time of Year

You may be giving parties or dinners, having get-togethers, people visiting, people staying, or you may be packing up the family and pets and travelling.

Whatever your situation, here are some easy ideas for making sure your pet is stress-free during the holidays – which lessens your holiday stress considerably too!

As with everything, a little planning can go a long way, and if your pet is part of your family, you need to plan for them too.

What Can Go Wrong?

• Pets can get over-excited when there are many visitors, especially if they are used to a quieter life.
• Jumping up, grabbing food from peoples’ hands, incessant barking….
• Pets may panic and rush out of an open door onto the road.
• Plus, some of your guests may be frightened if they are not used having pets around.

What to Do

In the weeks before the event, take some time to work on your pet’s manners and reinforce obedience training.

Try some small get-togethers with pet-friendly people who can help you to reinforce your pet’s manners, so that when the bigger party night comes, your pet will already be prepared and won’t suffer from holiday stress.

A Quiet Place

Alternatively, perhaps you know that your pet simply won’t be able to hold back his exuberance.

No problem.  Simply set aside a safe room where he can stay for the duration of the event.

Make the space comfortable with a bed or rug, water, toys, and maybe some treats.

Close this area off to the guests so that you can be sure that your pet, and your guests, are safe.

Either tell your guests that your pet should be left alone, or put up a “No Entry” sign on the door.

Routine

One of the best ways to reduce holiday stress is to stick to a familiar schedule.   Take walks at your normal time, and feed your pet at the same time as usual.

Tip:  It’s easy to forget our routine when we’re on holiday, so create an alarm system on your mobile phone to remind you of your pet’s daily routine.

Also, don’t forget to take time to play and show affection, so that your pet does not feel thrown off balance by all of the activity and distractions.

Travelling with Pets

Leaving the familiarity of home can provoke anxiety in people and animals.  You want to bring along familiar items so your pet will be comforted, such as:

• Some favourite toys
• a blanket or bed or crate
• their regular food

Car Trips

If you’re travelling by car, consider placing pets in a travel-safe crate, or use an approved pet safety belt or harness.  This gives the following advantages:

1. prevents them from getting underfoot or on your lap while you are driving
2. prevents them from being thrown from the car should an accident occur
3. prevents them from getting free/running away during rest stops or after minor accidents

Yes, unfortunately all of these do occur regularly.

Most dogs like a breeze while they’re in a car, but a fully open window could invite disaster.  Open it only 6-8 inches / 15-20cm.

Be sure to bring a bowl or flat container with you in the car, so you can give water to your pet every time you stop.

Tip:  Pack an emergency first aid kit for pets as well as humans

Tip:  Take frequent breaks to allow for rest and relief

Tip:  Make sure your pet is wearing identification at all times.

Food and Decor

Food is an important pat of many holidays.  However, remember that some food is not good for pets.  For example, never feed chocolate or nuts to dogs.  Fatty trimmings are not a good idea either, and bones can be a choking hazard and can also splinter.  Don’t feel you need to give your pet special food just because it’s the holidays.  You’ll both be better off if you keep him on his normal food.

Sparkling lights and tinsel are attractive to dogs and cats but can be fatal if ingested.  Electrocution can occur if a dog bites into an electrical cable.   Keep candles out of reach to make sure they’re not knocked over, spilling hot wax and causing a fire hazard.

Leaving Your Pet Behind

If you will place your pet in the care of a boarding kennel or cattery, you will reduce your holiday stress if you know they will be well looked after.

Again, take time to plan this in advance.   You may need time to find a boarding facility that you feel comfortable with.

Always view the facility before agreeing.

Check that:

• it is clean and well kept
• there is ample space given for the animals to exercise daily
• you will be able to bring along toys and other familiar comfort objects from home
• Ask how many animals are kept together in one space, and if you can bring your pet’s food (partly for familiarity, partly so that his digestive system will not be upset by an abrupt change in food).

Alternatively, give yourself plenty of time to ask around the neighbourhood for someone to pet-sit in your home or theirs, or do some research into local pet-sitters that will come to your home to check in and care for your pet, or will take your pet into their home.

The better prepared you are, the less holiday stress you and your pet will endure, and the better your holiday celebrations will be.

Editor’s Note – this article was originally published in 2015 and has been updated again in 2025