• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Ex-police officer and comedian Alfie Moore bringing new show to Town Hall

    Tickets for RABBLE’s William The Conqueror on sale on Saturday

    Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles elected as Mayor of Reading

    Workers ‘optimistic but overwhelmed’ about AI, new research shows

    European Movement in Berkshire welcomes news of a UK/EU ‘relationship reset’

    Council announces fresh wave of cost of living support

    Knife crime in Thames Valley down nearly 10% last year, ONS figures show

    Nearly 100 singers raised their voices for women’s health

    TK Maxx moves to The Oracle, gives customers the chance to win a gift card

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    Rob Couhig reveals new Reading FC CEO following takeover

    It’s a podium streak for Wokingham racing star Bobby with a win at Silverstone

    Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

    Lewis hits brilliant century to see Berkshire CCC beat Buckinghamshire

    ‘Without you, there would be no club’: Defender sends farewell message to Reading FC fans

    Style and splendour returns to Newbury

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured
Sponsored by Hunters Dog Holidays Hunters Dog Holidays

Sharing the most wonderful time of the year with your beloved dogs, with Hunters Dog Holidays

Guest Contributor by Guest Contributor
Friday, December 13, 2024 5:00 am
in Featured, Opinion
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and lots of us get to share that with our friends, family and our beloved dogs!

The season is filled with presents, Christmas food, chocolates, family greetings, alcohol and lots of outings to festive parties. How then, do we make sure we can celebrate the season safely with our dogs?

Can I give my dog a Christmas present?

First things first, provided your dog does not have any resource guarding issues – YES, of course you can give your dog presents under the tree! There is a lot of scaremongering these days when it comes to activities we allow our dogs to take part in. The general rule of thumb here would be, supervise your dog. Don’t leave your dogs unattended in a room where there are presents AT ALL.

Those incredible noses will be very intrigued by new smells and will go to extreme lengths to find out what’s inside. If temptation does become too much to bear – move the presents to somewhere more suitable, well out of reach.

You can even alleviate any worries about wrapper chewing by using edible dog paper and cards. As a side note, giving your dog their own edible present to open in a quiet space can even help them to decompress at a very overstimulating time. While the rest of the family open their gifts, your dog can be in a quiet space using their brain to unwrap the gift to reveal a nice long-lasting chew.

Toxic foods

This is a widely discussed topic so I will keep this one brief – Christmas cake, alcohol, mince pies….. all no go’s! Although Grandmas dog once ate a chocolate digestive and lived to be 100, it doesn’t mean your dog has the same tolerance. These foods are on the toxicity list because when dogs have had a reaction to them, they have been severe and on occasion devastating. Don’t take the risk.

Related posts

Winter-proof your dog walks, with Hunters Dog Holidays

Friends and family

There’s often lots of people coming in and out of the house at Christmas who your dog might not know. Dogs that are in a heightened, excited state can be unpredictable at times.

With this in mind, make sure you have doors shut, stair gates or barriers in place and anyone coming in and out is aware of your four-legged friend to avoid accidental escapes.

Sadly, some dogs are going to feel incredibly over whelmed at this time of year with all the changes and excitement. Remember to be empathetic. We can’t explain to our dogs what this magical and busy time is all about, but we can reassure them and put measures in place to make them feel more comfortable.

One final point

Christmas is a time to spend with the ones you love. Make sure this extends to your dogs. Include them in your Christmas movie marathons, take them for a wintery walk, give them their own Christmas dinner. They might not understand the concept of Christmas, but they certainly understand love, peace and time with their family.

Happy Christmas dog lovers!

Laura Varney is the Head of Training at Hunter’s Dog Holidays. The Burnham-based company is looking for new members to join its network of trusted, vetted, licensed dog boarders providing homes-from-home to dogs on holiday. Find out more about becoming a member here.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: huntershunters dog holidays
Previous Post

Two Reading men jailed for supply offences after more than £5,000 of drugs found

Next Post

Rams RFC defeated in low scoring top of the table clash

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Young man and woman attacked by group of teenagers in Reading robbery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to be released as free agent by Championship club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to become free agent following Championship relegation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thousands experience power outage in Reading, not expected to be fixed for hours

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC group Sell Before We Dai makes generous donation following end of campaign

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.