Christmas. It’s magic for us—but for our dogs? It’s mostly chaos. From visitors and strange behaviour (seriously, why are we screaming?) to mountains of food and weird objects wrapped in paper, the season can feel unpredictable and overwhelming. For certain dogs, it’s a perfect storm of excitement, stress, and stacked triggers, setting the stage for something to go awry.

The good news? With a little forethought and a lot of empathy, we can make the silly season less hectic and more harmonious for our dogs—and for us.

Why Rest Matters for Dogs

Dogs are constantly learning and processing their surroundings, even when we don’t realize it. Every new experience—whether it’s meeting a stranger, hearing a loud noise, or practicing recall—uses mental and emotional energy. Without adequate downtime, dogs can become overstimulated, anxious, or reactive.

Just as humans consolidate memories and process emotions during sleep, dogs need time to process what they’ve learned. Rest is where growth happens. It’s where yesterday’s training session becomes tomorrow’s success.

Halloween is a season brimming with excitement: spooky decorations, vibrant costumes, the sounds of laughter (and the occasional shriek!) filling the streets. Many new puppy guardians might look at Halloween as a perfect time to expose their puppy to the world’s quirks, but trick-or-treating often isn't the best environment for effective socialisation. Here’s why you might want to skip the door-to-door festivities with your pup and consider alternative ways to build their confidence.

Introducing a new puppy to an existing dog is a delicate process. Here are some tips to help make the introduction smooth and positive for everyone:

Many dogs show problem behaviour when they have mild chronic pain, so it is important to get your dog checked by a vet sensitive to this issue.

Confidence building is all about helping a dog feel secure and capable in a given situation. Just like us, dogs confidence grows by having lots of positive experiences, that boosts their sense of achievement and helps them feel more confident.