How to Prepare Your Dog for Holiday Visitors
Updated: 4 days ago
The holidays mean a busy house. The doorbell goes more, there are new voices, coats and suitcases in the hall and plates of food at nose height. Some dogs love it and greet everyone like a long-lost friend, while others find it all too much and hide, bark or get more and more wound up as the day goes on. Most dogs cope far better with a little preparation, and for me that means a quiet space of their own, the house line on before guests arrive, and the hello happening once everyone's sat down, not at the front door. Here's how to prepare your dog for holiday visitors, a week or two before they arrive and on the day itself.
THE SHORT ANSWER
To prepare your dog for holiday visitors, set up a quiet space away from the busy rooms, like a crate, a bed behind a baby gate or a spare room, and practise relaxing there with a chew in the days before. Practise a simple greeting routine at the door, and use a lead or baby gate when guests arrive if your dog jumps or rushes. Ask visitors to ignore your dog at first, not to feed them from the table and to let your dog come to them. Keep food out of reach, supervise children closely and give your dog regular breaks with a chew or lick mat. Stick to normal meal, walk and bed times. If your dog is very frightened, growls or hides for long periods, get help from a qualified behaviourist.
Think about your dog first
Start by picturing how your dog usually reacts to visitors. Do they race to the door barking? Jump up? Watch from behind the sofa? Get more and more excited the longer people stay?
Your plan depends on the answer. A bouncy, sociable dog needs help to stay calm and keep four paws on the floor. A worried dog needs space, time and the choice to stay out of the way. Both are normal, and neither needs to be told off.
Set up a quiet space
Every dog needs somewhere to rest where nobody will bother them. That could be an open crate, a bed in a quiet corner or a separate room with a baby gate.
Start using it a week or two before visitors arrive. Give your dog a chew or a stuffed Kong there, sit nearby and let them settle. Practise short spells with the door or gate closed while you're in the next room, so being there while the house is busy feels normal. Read calming mini games.
Get used to the noise
If your dog is sensitive to sound, the extra chatter, knocks and suitcases can be a lot. Play recordings of people talking or children laughing at a low volume while your dog relaxes, and turn it up slowly over a few days.
Practise the doorbell too. Ring it or knock gently, then drop a treat on your dog's bed. Short sessions work best. Read stopping your dog barking at the doorbell.
Practise greetings at the door
Jumping, barking and spinning at the door aren't bad manners. They're what dogs do when they're excited and don't yet know what we want instead.
Practise with someone in your household playing the visitor. Ring the bell, ask for a sit or a stand and reward four paws on the floor. If your dog can't manage it yet, stay further back from the door and try again. Read do obedience classes help with jumping up?.
Manage the front door
On the day, set your dog up to get it right rather than hoping for the best. A little management at the door saves a lot of stress. These all help:
pop a baby gate across the hallway so your dog can see guests arrive without rushing them
put your dog on a lead before you open the door
scatter a handful of treats on the floor as guests come in
let your dog say hello once everyone is inside and settled
This also keeps dogs from slipping out of an open door, which is easy to miss on a busy day. Check where your dog is every time someone comes or goes.
Give guests a few simple rules
Most visitors want to help, they just don't know what your dog needs. A quick message before they arrive is enough. You might ask guests to:
ignore your dog for the first few minutes while they settle
let your dog come to them rather than reaching or leaning over
not feed your dog from the table or leave plates on low tables
close the door behind them
leave your dog alone when they're on their bed
Something as simple as "please ignore the dog at first, it really helps him settle" works well. Most guests are glad to know what to do.
Let your dog meet people at their own pace
Some dogs go straight up to new people. Others need to watch for a while first. Both are fine.
Never pull or push your dog towards a guest. Ask the visitor to sit quietly and maybe toss a treat on the floor without staring. If your dog is excited, keep greetings short and calm, and ask guests to stroke gently under the chin or on the chest rather than the head.
Children and dogs
Children bring lots of energy, quick movements and hugs, and even calm dogs can find that hard. Supervise every moment they're together, however good your dog usually is.
Teach children to let the dog come to them and to stroke gently on the side or chest. No hugging, climbing on or picking up the dog, and no disturbing them on their bed. Make sure your dog can always walk away. If you can't watch, pop your dog in their quiet space.
Food on every surface
Holiday food ends up on coffee tables, counters and laps. Even dogs who don't normally steal will try their luck with new smells everywhere.
Keep food high, cover plates and clear up quickly. Practise "leave it" in the weeks before, rewarding your dog for looking away from food. Many festive foods are dangerous for dogs. Read what not to feed your dog at Christmas dinner.
Breaks, walks and routine
Most dogs can't cope with hours of people and activity without a rest. Watch for signs your dog has had enough, like yawning, lip licking, turning away, pacing or following you everywhere.
When you see them, take your dog to their quiet space with a chew or lick mat. A sniffy walk earlier in the day helps too, but don't come back from a big walk just before the doorbell goes. Keep meals, walks and bedtime as close to normal as you can. Read stress in dogs over the holidays.
Overnight guests and staying away
Guests staying over mean footsteps at odd times and new smells upstairs. Let your dog sniff the guest room before they arrive, keep their sleeping spot the same and ask guests to keep their door closed.
If you're the ones travelling, bring your dog's bed, blanket and favourite toys. Give them time to explore their new space calmly and keep feeding times the same. Read what to pack for your dog for holiday travel.
When to get extra help
Some dogs find visitors really frightening. If your dog growls, snaps, hides for long periods or can't settle at all, that's a sign they need more support, not more exposure.
Keep them in their quiet space when guests are over, and get help from a qualified behaviourist. The sooner you start, the more time you have before the next busy season.
RENEE'S TIP
Do a dress rehearsal a week before. Have a friend ring the bell, come in with a coat and bag, sit down and chat. Run through your whole routine, from the baby gate to the treats to your dog going to their bed. You'll spot any gaps while there's still time to fix them.
QUICK CHECK
ā Set up a quiet space and practise relaxing there
ā Use a baby gate or lead at the door
ā Give guests a few simple rules before they arrive
ā Keep food high and supervise children closely
ā Give your dog breaks and keep their routine the same
FREE DOWNLOAD FROM RENEE
Christmas with Your Dog
A free guide with the Christmas dangers to know about, a plan for the busy days and who to ring if your dog needs a vet on Christmas Day.
ONE-TO-ONE HELP
Help with a dog who struggles with visitors
If your dog barks, jumps, hides or growls when people come over, I can help you build a calm plan for the holidays in an online Dog Behaviour Consultation from wherever you are.
Online on Teams, wherever you are. 30 or 60 minutes.
FAQs
How do I prepare my dog for holiday visitors?
Set up a quiet space, practise greetings and the doorbell, and give guests a few simple rules before they arrive.
How do I stop my dog jumping on guests?
Use a baby gate or lead at the door, reward four paws on the floor and let your dog say hello once guests are settled.
Should my dog be shut away when guests visit?
Not always, but every dog needs a quiet space to rest. Worried dogs are often happier there with a chew.
How do I keep my dog calm with children visiting?
Supervise all the time, teach children to let the dog come to them, and make sure your dog can always walk away.
What are signs my dog needs a break from visitors?
Yawning, lip licking, turning away, pacing, hiding or following you everywhere.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
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