The festive season can be a very overwhelming time for your dog. This is especially true if you intend to travel or host your friends and relatives. As a responsible pet parent, you need to ensure that your canine companion is comfortable and at ease during this period so that they can enjoy the holidays as much as everyone else. 

In case you are wondering how you can make the festive season less stressful for your dog, here are some of the tips that may help you do so. 

• Prepare Adequately Before Traveling
  If you are planning to visit family members or friends with your dog, you need to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that your dog is accommodated. Ask your hosts about their holiday plans and discuss how your dog can be involved. Finding out about your host’s expectations for pets will make the stay much more enjoyable both for yourself and your pet. In addition to this, you may want to inquire from your hosts whether there will be any other people or pets coming. This will help you devise effective ways of managing the environment, to keep it stress-free for everyone involved.
• Create a Safe Space for Your Dog
  Family gatherings can be very overwhelming for dogs, given the number of people they are exposed to. That is why you need to set aside a safe area for your dog to retreat if they need to get away from the crowded areas. You should keep in mind that just like humans, dogs too can get overstimulated when exposed to a lot of activities. You should therefore give your dog frequent breaks to recharge in-between family gatherings in order to protect it from fatigue and stress.
• Arrange for Someone to be on Duty
  With plenty of activities going on during the festive season, it is very easy for the dog to get ignored. In most cases, everyone in the family assumes someone else is taking care of the dog. This can lead to the dog’s needs not being met. For this reason, you should designate someone on duty to ensure the dog is taken care of. You can take turns feeding the dog, playing with it and giving it a shower. This will ensure that your dog is comfortable and stress-free. You can also enlist dog training services to keep your dog occupied and active during this season.
• Maintain your Dog’s Routines
  Dogs typically operate best when there is a routine involved. For this reason, it is important to ensure that your dog’s routines are not affected during this festive season. If you plan on traveling, ensure that you carry packed food for your dog so that you can feed them during regular meal time. You should also bring toys for your pet to play with.
• Plan Dog-centric Activities
  You can make this festive season less stressful for your dog by enrolling them in fun activities such as dog talent shows and park walks. This will help your dog stay fit, healthy and active.