Holiday Prep For Dogs Who Struggle with Visitors or Travel

The holiday season is a time of joy, family, and food, but for dogs who struggle with meeting new people or traveling, it can also be a time of stress. Whether you're hosting guests at home or traveling to see family, there are ways to ensure both you and your dog have a peaceful holiday season. Here's how to prepare your reactive or aggressive dog for the holiday hustle.

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*If you’re worried your dog might harm another being, please prioritize safety by staying home or avoiding interactions with others and reaching out to a qualified behavior consultant for personalized support. This blog post offers general tips but isn’t a substitute for professional guidance, and Holistic Dog Behavior cannot be held liable for any incidents that occur. Your dog’s safety—and the safety of others—is always the top priority.

Preparing for Visitors at Home

Greeting and Introducing Visitors

When guests arrive, it’s important to manage introductions so your dog feels safe and comfortable.

Set Them Up For Success: Teach them that being behind a baby gate is great. Give them food, treats, toys, puzzles, all the fun stuff, when they are behind the gate. Practice this many times before your visitors come.
Build Calm with Supplements: Try a calming supplement like Progility Calming Aid or Composure from VetriScience a few days beforehand to test how it affects your dog. If it helps, try giving it to them a little while before your visitors arrive.
Set Boundaries with Barriers: Use the baby gate to separate your dog from the visitors initially, allowing them to observe new people from a safe distance. This lets them warm up on their own terms.
Help Your Dog Feel Good: Toss them yummy treats (pieces of chicken, hot dogs, etc.) through or over the barrier, anytime they quiet down, look at the visitors, or lay down. Wait until your dog is relaxed for several minutes before allowing them to say hi to the visitors without the barrier. When you do let them say hi without the barrier, call them back to you frequently and give them a treat each time.
Guide Visitors’ Behavior: Let visitors know not to approach, talk to, or make direct eye contact with your dog, especially at first. Visitors should stay seated the first time your dog approaches to investigate. You can have your visitors toss yummy treats behind your dog frequently so they disengage from the visitor often and don’t get overwhelmed.

Traveling with Your Dog

Preparing for a Car Ride

Traveling can be overwhelming, especially if your dog is reactive or nervous. Helping them feel comfortable in the car is the first step.

Build Positive Associations: If your dog struggles with car rides, start by simply sitting in the car together without going anywhere. Offer treats to build a positive association. The more you do this the stronger their association will be.
Use Safety Gear: Secure your dog in a crate, dog car seat or a seat belt harness to keep them safe. Not only does this prevent them from roaming, but it also reduces anxiety by providing a stable, enclosed space.
Comfort & Calm: Discuss with your vet if any medications or supplements would be helpful for traveling, whether your dog doesn’t like the car or struggles once you get to your destination. Some dogs respond well to calming pheromones like Adaptil (travel spray or collar). They might also benefit from calming supplements like Progility Calming Aid.
Rest Stops and Breaks: Plan for regular stops where your dog can potty, stretch, drink water, and sniff around. Keep these short and calm, away from busy areas that might trigger reactivity. Have high-value treats (pieces of cut up chicken, hot dogs, etc.) on hand for distraction if needed. Plan your route to stop at rest areas that have large green spaces and ample parking so you can avoid your dog’s triggers easily. Finding a large empty parking lot or a big open field off the highway might work better too.
You can even try using apps that let you book a private spot along your route. Sniffspot is a good one to use if you want to guarantee that you can control the amount of triggers you may run into.

Introducing Your Dog to Human Family/Friends at Your Destination

Arriving at a new place with new people can be overwhelming, so take it slow.

Use Familiar Items for Comfort: Bring your dog’s bed or favorite blanket so they have a piece of home. Familiar smells can help them feel more at ease. Adaptil or calming supplements (linked above) can be helpful here too.
Guide Your Host's Behavior: Reach out ahead of your arrival to ask your host if they can help you by doing an introduction (even if they’ve already met your dog). Let them know not to approach, talk to, or make direct eye contact with your dog, especially at first. Ask if they can be seated when you come in, since this can be helpful and less intimidating for your dog. It also helps your hosts let your dog approach them.
Controlled Introductions: When meeting new people, keep your dog on a slack leash and allow them to approach at their own pace. Encourage family members to avoid direct eye contact or reaching out to pet them yet. Call them back to you frequently to help them disengage and give them a treat. Have your hosts toss treats behind your dog to help them disengage while building a positive association.
Set Boundaries: Explain to family members that your dog might need help disengaging from them and that you’ll ask them to stop interacting with your dog if necessary.

Introducing Your Dog to Other Dogs at Your Destination

If your plans include introducing your dog to other dogs (whether they’ve met them before or not) this can be stressful.

Bring Your Own Gate or Playpen: Give your dog a way to be in the same house with the new dog(s) while still having their own space. This also adds a level of safety if you’re not sure how your dog will react to other dogs.
Guide Your Host's Behavior: Again, reach out ahead of your arrival to ask your host if they can help you by doing an introduction with their dog(s). Your dog might need time to acclimate to their dog(s) so ask if they will do some things to help it go smoothly.
Controlled Introductions: Going for a walk together while staying on opposite sides of the street can be a great first step. Don’t let your dogs meet on leash though! After this, try going inside separately and setting up your dog’s safe space (with the barriers you brought) and keep them in that area when the host's dogs come back in. Give your dog something yummy to do (Licki mat, or kong) or give them a yummy treat while they watch the other dog(s). Finally, if your dog is doing well, see how they do in a fenced area with the other dogs. Let their leashes drag so you can grab them if things get heated and you need to pull them away. It’s not recommended to use treats in these situations so just use praise for now. Keep interactions short and utilize the barrier you brought for your dog whenever needed throughout your visit.

Handling Well-Meaning Friends Or Family Members

Preparing for Inappropriate Interactions

Friends & family members may unintentionally act in ways that make your dog uncomfortable. Setting clear expectations in advance can help.

Teach 'Off-Limits' Cues: Work with your dog on cues like 'Leave It' or 'Go to Place' if someone tries to touch them inappropriately or if they seem uncomfortable. These cues give your dog clear options to disengage.
Educate Family on Dog Body Language: Share some basics with friends & family ahead of time—like a dog turning away, yawning, or licking lips as signs of stress—so they understand when to back off.
Have a Code Word: Use a specific word that signals to friends & family members when to stop interacting with the dog, like 'give space.' This word can serve as a gentle reminder to be respectful of your dog’s boundaries.

Advocating for Your Dog

Sometimes you’ll need to step in and advocate for your dog’s comfort, especially if they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Be Direct and Kind: Let friends & family know politely but firmly how to interact or when to give your dog space. Phrases like, 'She’s a little shy; let her come to you,' can help manage expectations.
Model Positive Interactions: Show friends & family how you’d like them to pet or interact with your dog. Demonstrating calm, slow movements can encourage everyone to mirror the behavior.
Reward Good Choices: Keep treats on hand to reinforce calm behaviors from your dog, especially when they’re choosing to relax or calmly disengage from attention.

Consider Muzzle Training as a Precaution

Even if your dog has never bitten anyone, muzzle training can be a wise precaution, especially to use during the busy holiday season. Sometimes, simply knowing your dog is safely muzzled can help reduce your own anxiety, which can actually help your dog feel calmer as well. Dogs are incredibly attuned to our stress through subtle changes in body language, breathing, and even heart rate. A muzzle can be a simple way to help both you and your dog relax in situations that might otherwise be stressful.

Full Training Plan: Check out our Muzzle Training blog post for a full explanation.

What to Do if Your Dog Doesn’t Warm Up

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your dog may not feel comfortable with traveling or with visitors. That’s okay—what’s most important is that they feel safe. If you are already in these situations here’s some ways you can try to help them.

Create a Safe Space: Set up a quiet room with their favorite toys, water, and a comfy bed. Use gates or closed doors if needed, and let your dog decompress away from the commotion.
Enrichment Activities: Give your dog something to occupy them, like a stuffed Kong, treat puzzle, or a chew. Enrichment not only helps alleviate stress but also keeps them focused on something positive.
Monitor Body Language: Keep an eye on your dog’s signals. If they’re showing signs of stress (e.g., lip licking, yawning, or turning away), encourage them to go to their safe space and reward them for choosing to stay calm.

Considering if Your Dog Can Handle the Holiday Hustle

As much as we want our dogs to be part of the holiday festivities, it's essential to consider whether they can truly handle the stress of traveling, meeting new people, or having visitors at home. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our dogs may not yet be ready for these high-energy situations, especially if they’re dealing with anxiety, reactivity, or other behavior issues. In these cases, it's okay to take a step back and prioritize their needs over holiday traditions.

Alternative Plans for Your Dog’s Well-Being
If your dog isn’t comfortable with visitors or traveling, consider options that allow you to celebrate without putting undue stress on them. This could mean inviting family or friends to visit your area but having them stay at a nearby Airbnb or hotel, allowing you to spend time with loved ones while your dog remains in a familiar, safe environment. When needed, you could spend a few hours with family or friends, then return home to check in on your dog and ensure their comfort. You can also do this yourself by staying at a dog-friendly Airbnb or hotel near your family. This works especially well if your dog is comfortable with traveling but struggles with meeting new people or interacting with unfamiliar dogs.

Why These Measures Are Worth It
For some, arranging alternative plans like this may seem like an extreme measure to take for a pet. But it's important to remember that our dogs don’t have much choice in their lives—they rely on us to make decisions in their best interest. While dogs may not participate in holiday events the way we do, they deserve our empathy and understanding. By prioritizing their needs, we can create a happier, more secure environment for them, which will ultimately strengthen the bond we share.

If your dog isn’t quite ready for the holiday hustle, consider this an opportunity to support them where they’re at. With the right approach and gradual behavior help over time, they may eventually become more comfortable with social situations. But for now, it’s perfectly okay to set boundaries that keep them feeling safe and respected.

Remember, every dog is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Tailoring these techniques to your dog’s specific needs and personality is key to making the holiday season less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone. If you need guidance on how to best support your dog, reach out to us. It’s best to start early so your dog has time to learn tools for coping with these situations. Let’s work together to create a calm and joyful holiday season for you and your dog.

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