As the song says, ‘tis the season to be jolly! But sadly it is not always a jolly time for our companion animals.

They can be easily forgotten while we all rush around visiting relatives and friends, and generally enjoying the holiday season.

If you are going to leave your animals alone for any length of time, especially a dog, please check that they can be left safely at home.

Good fencing, shade and water are essential, and a big uncooked bone for the pooch will help to keep him/her occupied and out of mischief.

Even if your days are spent at home but are very busy with lots of visitors, you will need to give your pets a space where they feel secure.

Cats will usually find themselves a quiet corner away from the crowd. Some dogs can be overwhelmed by lots of new faces too, so will need to retire to their bed. Others are more sociable and will stay close to the action.

The lovely food smells will be very tempting to them and you will probably want to share a bit of your Christmas dinner with your pets, but don’t overdo it. Definitely don’t give them any small turkey or chicken bones as they can easily lodge in the throat.

Why not put a present of a pig’s ear under the Christmas tree? It can be fun to watch your pooch unwrap their gift.

And do take care not to let your dog get to the chocolate stash, as it highly poisonous and can be fatal.

Is a puppy coming your way this Christmas? How wonderful! You will need to take special care of them as lots of noise and new faces can be very overwhelming, making them feel anxious and upset.

Investing in a crate before the pup arrives, with a nice comfortable bed or blanket to fit inside, is a great solution. 

Your furbaby will feel safe in its own space, whilst you enjoy time with your guests. Like human babies, puppies need lots of sleep, so don’t stress them with excessive handling.

When the new year arrives, we would be delighted to see you at dog training, beginning in February 2019. Ring Carol on 0458 953 281 for details.