Keeping Your Puppy's Training on Track During Holidays

The end-of-year holidays can bring happiness to many homes. Things feel different. The days might start later, you might pop out more than usual, and new faces may wander through the house for a visit. These changes can shift the rhythm your puppy relies on, often without you even noticing.

Puppy dog training might feel like something to pause during this time, but that can leave pups unsure of what to expect. Training doesn't need to stop altogether when life gets a bit fuller. In fact, small, regular moments of learning can make things easier. The key is building around what's already happening each day, so your puppy still feels supported, even in the busiest weeks. Here are a few helpful ways to keep that steady rhythm going.

Staying Consistent When Schedules Change

Holidays often mean a change in timing. Breakfast comes later. Walks shift to new slots. Days blend together when work takes a backseat. But young dogs thrive on structure. Keeping some things predictable helps your puppy stay calm and connected.

Try to hold steady on the basics like feeding, toilet breaks, and naps, even if other plans move around. These little anchors offer comfort and give some shape to their day. Keep lead time regular if you can, and try to keep bedtime about the same as usual. When those simple parts stay in place, your puppy will have a better chance at keeping their behaviour steady too.

You don’t need to carve out long sessions. Even everyday tasks, like grabbing your shoes or turning on the kettle, offer tiny windows to practise quick cues. Ask for a sit while you're putting on your coat, or a short wait as you dish out food. These become part of the routine, no extra time needed, and they help training fit naturally into your day.

Handling Visitors and Busy Homes

Visitors are often part of the season. Whether it's a neighbour popping by or a few cousins staying over, the added movement and buzz can overwhelm a young pup. It’s not just the noise; it’s also new faces, new scents, and a different atmosphere in the house.

This can be a great time to practise polite greetings. Choose simple cues like sit or wait and repeat them at the door. A short pause before someone gives attention can shape better habits over time. If your puppy tends to jump or bark, give them a job to do instead. That might be going to their bed when the doorbell rings or waiting quietly with a chew in a set spot.

A calm place to retreat makes a big difference. Try setting up an area with a blanket or mat in a quiet part of the house. Let them choose that space when things feel a bit much. The goal isn’t to remove fun or guests, just to give your puppy gentle options for quiet when they need it.

Paws Academy Dog Training offers puppy classes year-round, so you can keep socialisation and visitor manners on track, even during the holidays.

What to Focus On When You're Home More

Spending more time at home during the holidays opens up chances for small wins. You don’t need a big plan or new skills. In fact, going back to basics often works best. Think simple cues like sit, down, stay, or come. The extra time just lets you repeat those lessons in calm, steady ways.

Make sessions short and often. A few minutes after breakfast. Two rounds while waiting for the washing to finish. These little moments add up. They keep your puppy engaged and help reinforce the idea that learning happens every day, no matter who else is around.

You can even turn it into a fun game. Hide a treat and ask your puppy to find it. Ask for a wait at one end of the hallway, then call them to you. Use what’s already in your home: the space, the people, the noises. The more your puppy learns in different places or around distractions, the better those cues will stick when things get busy.

Sticking With Training While Travelling or Staying Elsewhere

If you’re travelling during the holidays, your puppy will likely notice the change straight away. New floors, new smells, and sometimes new rules. It's totally normal for them to test things out, even cues they know well at home.

Packing a few familiar items helps. Bring their bed, a few toys, or their food mat. These comfort touches are more than just routine; they signal safety. Try to keep up with a few short training times each day in the new place, even if it’s just one or two cues at a time. Keeping up with things like asking for a sit before going through a door or a wait before meals helps re-establish normal rhythm.

Most importantly, stay patient. A little accident or not coming the first time doesn’t mean your training is lost. It’s just your puppy adjusting. Relaxed repetition is the way through. Keep your tone calm, reward what works, and use gentle reminders when things feel off.

For those away from home, Paws Academy Dog Training provides online puppy dog training, so you can keep daily check-ins going even if you're miles from your usual setup.

Knowing When to Ask for Help

Sometimes the holidays shine a light on behaviours you hadn’t noticed before. That might be chewing out of boredom, getting clingy when people leave, or totally ignoring cues they seemed to know well. This doesn’t mean you’ve gone wrong; it probably just means your puppy’s environment has changed more than they can handle easily.

If the wobble starts to grow or you feel stuck, this is a good moment to check in with someone who understands puppy behaviour well. A professional trainer can spot where things are going off track and help adjust your approach. You’d still be doing the everyday work, just with a bit of thought behind what will help your puppy feel more settled again.

Clarity helps. Knowing what to focus on often makes all the difference. The holidays don’t have to take training backwards, even when things get tricky.

Keeping Calm 

Puppies don’t press pause just because it’s the holidays. They’re still watching, learning, and picking up on what worked yesterday and what didn’t today. Your house may look different from one day to the next, but your puppy’s brain is still open and responsive.

That means each small cue, each repeat of sit or pause at the door, is still doing good work. Staying gentle and simple goes further than trying to get everything right. You don’t need to hit perfect. Just keep steady. Those daily touchpoints, whether it’s a moment of calm before dinner or a quick practice before guests arrive, make the weeks ahead more manageable.

Across these winter weeks, a little patience paired with regular cues can help your puppy settle into the holidays with more ease and less stress. It's not about doing everything. It's about carrying over the small, helpful habits that already work. That’s what brings comfort into everyday moments, even the ones filled with wrapping paper, noise, and change.

Steady routines now can make all the difference for your puppy, especially as days get darker and life picks up pace. Simple cues and calm habits learned early on tend to stick, even as things change. When time gets tight and it’s hard to stay consistent, we’re here with online support that works around you. To see how we can guide you through puppy dog training, contact Paws Academy Dog Training today.