Why My Dogs Aren’t Naughty at Christmas (and How Yours Don’t Have to Be)

As a dog trainer who has lived through more than a few “creative holiday dog moments,” I wrote this to help you avoid the ones I didn’t. This is real-life advice from my home to yours — plaster sheep included.

I love Christmas. I do. As a kid, it was pure magic: cookies, hymns, twinkle lights… the whole holly-jolly package. And somewhere between childhood wonder and adult responsibility, the holidays shifted from magical fun to hair-on-fire chaos.

Our dogs feel that shift too — but without any understanding of what the heck is happening. More guests, more food, more tempting decorations, fewer walks, and a stressed-out human who suddenly expects perfect behavior?
It's a lot.

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My first dog, Maverick, celebrated his first Christmas by eating an entire plaster sheep from my nativity set. Ate it. Gone. Just four sad legs left stuck to the base.
The following year, Maverick and Jasper zoomed past the tree so hard the shepherd fell over… and his head fell clean off. That shepherd is still glued together today.
Lesson learned: smart trainers put the nativity UP and the baby gate AROUND the tree.

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Dogs aren’t perfect — even when they belong to trainers
Here’s the thing most people misunderstand: dog trainers don’t have flawless dogs. What we know (that most people don’t realize) is that we must meet their needs before their creativity takes over. Because when dogs are bored, anxious, under-exercised, or ignored, they will find their own “holiday enrichment.” And we will not approve of it.

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What I do differently (and how you can steal it)
I’m not regimented. I don’t spend hours training every day. But I DO rotate fun, simple activities that keep brains and bodies happy.
Every day — including December — my dogs get my attention for at least 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes it’s a 30-minute walk plus fetch in the yard. We might do some recall races in the yard. I will admit that summer is far easier to meet their needs because we go outside and play, but it’s unfair to expect them to hibernate all winter just because I don’t want to be cold outside. That’s when we shift to more inside enrichment, like “hide and seek” with a toy or “find it” with treats. I can even do those while cleaning the house, so I feel extra productive. Winter is the best time to practice or teach new tricks.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about prevention. Because nature abhors a vacuum… and dogs abhor being ignored. If we don’t give them an outlet, they’ll create one. And I guarantee you won’t like it.

I realize that, as a dog trainer and a hardcore dog geek, what might seem normal and natural to me might not even cross your mind. Instead of wishing you would think like me, I decided to help my students by creating an easy-to-follow resource that is packed with a variety of simple-to-advanced activities that are easy to add to daily life — and that’s how the Doggie Advent Calendar was born.

It is a 25-day enrichment plan — one small fun thing each day that helps you:
• think outside the fetch-and-walk box
• survive winter with your dogs
• feel less stressed, not more
• include kids in the fun
• create holiday memories that involve the dog (and not in a “she ate the gift wrap” way)

And here’s the best part: when you prioritize a tiny bit of fun and connection with your dog each day… you feel better, too.

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Want the plan I use?
If you want 25 days of dog-friendly fun all mapped out for you — including easy activities, bonus games, and videos for select challenges — I’ve put my Doggie Advent Calendar up for download:
Grab the Advent Calendar Here (so your nativity scene survives the season)

Download Now — Make December Stress-Free!

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Want a sneak peek at what the buzz is all about?

Holiday Crackers
Make your own holiday cracker puzzle game by putting some treats in an empty cardboard tube. You can use a paper towel, toilet paper, or gift wrap rolls. Poke a few scent holes and fold the ends closed. Supervise and help as needed. This is a mental enrichment game that uses their nose, and I don’t worry about them chewing a bit of paper. If I want to take it to the next level, I can hide the “crackers.” This is a fun activity for kiddos to do.

Obedience Brush-Up — Sit
If you don't practice the basics they can get rusty. Don't let that happen with sit! You can practice in a new location, increase the duration, reward only the fastest sits. Spice it up to keep it fresh. Here is a video of me doing that with my dog Stanley. I routinely practice the “basics” when out on walks, in new places, and during everyday life. Brushing up on the basics helps the dogs have nice manners when visitors come over during the holidays.

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Mistletoe Mission
Each December, the Mistletoe Messenger assigns secret missions to good pups everywhere. Their task? Follow their nose to uncover hidden delights and spread joy throughout the home! Game instructions and video examples included. This is a GREAT nosework game, which is the fastest way to tire a pup out — using their nose.

And as a special bonus, I’ve added a DIY Dog Scholar™ Training Game — my Doggie Tic Tac Toe Holiday Edition.
Most dogs only know their basic body positions in a pattern: sit → down → treat → done.
Tic-Tac-Toe breaks that habit. This game teaches your dog to listen for the actual cue, not the “order they expect next,” which is one of the sneakiest reasons dogs get confused. I’ve included instructions for single or multiple dog play with increasing challenge levels. This is great to brush up on obedience or to use as a fun game with the kids or visitors.

Stocking Day
Providing my dogs with mental enrichment is so routine for us we call Christmas “Stocking Day” for the dogs. They each have their own stocking, and we stuff it and they have to empty it out. I use a variety of treats and chews, and it’s fun to see which treat they like best, which ones they ignore, who steals what — and it’s become my favorite part of the holiday.

At the end of the day…
We made a promise to take care of them from their first day to their last.
I did not say, “I’ll take care of you… except during the busiest month of the year.”

Just a few minutes of intentional fun makes the whole season smoother — for both of you.

Want help keeping your dog included in the magic?

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Grab the Advent Calendar here and let the fun begin!

Your turn!
What’s YOUR funniest holiday-with-dogs memory?  (Bonus points if plaster was involved).