Happy Holidays!!!
Hey there, Barkers!🐾
Christmas morning through a dog’s eyes is pure magic: twinkling lights (for sniffing), wrapping paper (for shredding), and humans acting extra emotional over socks. It’s the one time of year when the house smells like cookies, pine trees, and opportunity.
But while we’re sipping cocoa and cueing up holiday movies, our dogs are navigating a season full of excitement, new routines, and temptations wrapped in tinsel. This special Christmas edition is here to help you sleigh the holidays without your dog eating the ornaments, the turkey twine, or Aunt Linda’s scarf.
🤣Joke of the Week:
Q: Why did the dog sit under the Christmas tree?
A: Because he heard the presents were ruffly addressed to him!
Training Tip: “Leave it” with Holiday Temptations.
The holidays are the Super Bowl of distractions. This is the perfect time to reinforce “leave it.”
How to do it:
1. Place a holiday item (wrapping paper, ornament box, or a low-value treat) on the floor.
2. When your dog investigates, calmly say “leave it.”
3. The moment they disengage even for half a second mark and reward with a better treat.
4. Gradually increase difficulty (sparkly things, guests, smells of ham).
Why it works:
Impulse control training reduces stress and destructive behaviors, especially during high-stimulation events (American Kennel Club, AKC.org).
📌Bark Tip: Practice before guests arrive. Once the doorbell rings, your dog’s brain is already singing Christmas carols at full volume.
🩺Vet Corner: Holiday Hazards
According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the holidays bring a spike in emergency visits (ASPCA.org). Top offenders include:
Chocolate & xylitol (toxic even in small amounts)
Cooked bones & turkey twine (choking and intestinal blockage risks)
Tinsel & ribbon (string foreign bodies are especially dangerous)
Poinsettias & mistletoe (mild to moderate toxicity)
Vet-approved advice:
Stick to dog-safe treats and remind guests not to share table scraps. Sudden diet changes can cause GI upset even if your dog gives you those Hallmark-movie eyes (American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA.org).
📌Bark Tip": Create a “dog-safe zone” during dinner, stuffed Kong, cozy bed, low music. Less temptation = more peace for everyone.🦴
🐕Gear Pick: Long-Lasting Enrichment Chew Toy
A durable, stuffable toy (like a rubber enrichment toy designed for power chewers) is a Christmas miracle in disguise.
Why we love it:
Keeps dogs mentally stimulated
Reduces stress during guests, noise, and chaos
Encourages calm, focused behavior
Studies show mental enrichment lowers anxiety and destructive behaviors in dogs (Journal of Veterinary Behavior).
📌Bark Tip: Freeze it with dog-safe peanut butter or plain Greek yogurt. That buys you enough time to actually finish a conversation.
Bark Events This Week:
Sunday December 28th : Paint With Pups. (New York, NY)
Sunday December 28th: Pups and Brews: Winterfest. (Riverside, CA)
Sunday December 28th: Adoption Event. (Houston, TX)
Saturday December 27th: Poodles & Doodles Meetup. (Dunedin, FL)
🐕Here’s A Bark From Our Sponsors:
Do you have a product or service that a dog lover would adore? Our readers are passionate pet parents who value trusted recommendations.
📢Pack Call: Share Your Tails!
Hey, Barkers!
Did your dog unwrap their own gift? Steal a stocking? Fall asleep halfway through gift opening?
Send us your:
Christmas dog photos
Holiday fails (we live for these)
Questions for future Vet Corners
You might just be featured in our next edition and yes, fame comes with bragging rights.
Share your stories, photos, or training wins with us for a chance to be featured in next week’s issue! [email protected]. 📸🐶
Until next time,
Keep the treats flowing, the trees anchored, and the dogs close.
Wishing you a calm, cozy, Bark Christmas.🎄 🐶 🐾💙🧡
A Worthy Bark.
Where every bark has meaning and every reader's part of the pack.