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Socializing over the Holidays

Socializing your puppy during Christmas can be a wonderful opportunity to expose them to new experiences, sights, sounds, and people in a controlled, positive way. Here are some tips to make the most of the holiday season for your puppy’s social development:

  1. Introduce Them to New People
  • Keep interactions positive and calm: Christmas gatherings can be overwhelming. Let your puppy meet one or two people at a time to prevent overstimulation.
  • Reward good behavior: Use treats or praise when your puppy behaves well during greetings.
  • Educate visitors: Ask guests to let the puppy approach them rather than forcing interaction, especially with children who may get too excited.

 

  1. Expose Them to Holiday Decorations
  • Gradual introduction: Let your puppy explore Christmas trees, lights, and ornaments at their own pace. Supervise to ensure they don’t chew on or ingest decorations.
  • Avoid scary sounds: Introduce noisy decorations like jingling bells gradually to prevent fear.
  • Safety first: Keep electrical cords, tinsel, and fragile ornaments out of reach.

 

  1. Manage Holiday Sounds and Music
  • Play holiday music at a low volume: Gradually increase the volume to help your puppy adjust to different sounds.
  • Desensitize them to noise: If you’re hosting a party, start with recordings of similar sounds and reward calm behavior.

 

  1. Practice Travel and Visiting Skills
  • Short trips: If you plan to travel, take your puppy on short car rides beforehand to get them used to it.
  • Prepare a quiet space: At a relative’s house, have a designated spot where your puppy can relax and feel secure.

 

  1. Handle Gift and Food Temptations
  • Teach boundaries: Train your puppy not to jump on gift-wrapping areas or nibble on presents.
  • Prevent food incidents: Many holiday foods (like chocolate, onions, and grapes) are toxic to dogs. Ensure guests know not to feed your puppy from the table.



About CVL

Colonial Village Labradoodles is Indiana’s premier labradoodle breeder. We raise multi-generational Australian Labradoodle and Australian Bernedoodle puppies with a purpose. Our dogs are bred for their therapy-oriented temperaments and allergy-friendly coats.

What is a multi-generational Australian Labradoodle?

Multi-generational Australian Labradoodles are a cross between many different parent breeds. The breed originated in Australia in the 1980s with the intent of creating an allergy-friendly service dog for the blind. Australian Labradoodles are a combination of a Poodle, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, and Irish Water dogs. These breeds were hand-selected for specific breed qualities to create the ideal service dog for those with allergies. Since then, the breed has continued on and spread across the world. Australian Labradoodles are now considered their own breed with its own breed clubs (ALAA and WALA).