Nothing is more wonderful during the Christmas season than going for a walk with your dog, but never as much as when big flakes are falling slowly and softly. I love to see the large wet flakes landing to melt on our pups' head and back.  It also brings a smile when we see perfect paw prints in the snow. Dog's paws are a great indicator of their well-being and special care of their paws over the holidays and all through winter is important.

Dog's feet are quite hardy, with a thick layer of fat to help insulate them from the cold, but many dogs will feel pain when snow accumulates in the soft places between the pads. You will see them lift their paws up for assistance and you should do your best to remove the balls of snow to avoid bruising. Not all dogs have this problem.  If fur growing between the paw's pads is dense enough they are better equipped. Paw care is also important on really cold winter days as dogs are susceptible to frostbite.

The best way to protect your Dog's tootsie is to prevent it. We recommend using Booties. Begin by putting on each boot gently using lots of treats or rewards. Try not to laugh at your dog, as it first experiences the new feeling of booties. Remember that all their lives they have had a connection between their paws and the ground and it can be disconcerting to have this connection suddenly severed. Ideally, you can make the first time they put on booties as  a confidence-building opportunity if you are supportive.  Only put them on for short periods at first, gradually increasing the time so your dog is comfortable with them. Select Booties with the right tread for the right terrain to avoid slipping.  If the experience is bad for your dog, you likely will have a difficult time putting on the footwear again.  The Booties should fit well enough to allow your dog to walk or run easily, but be sure you don't have them on too tight as it can cause another sort of pain. Comfort is critical just like it is for our feet. Booties are also preventative measures for salt-burns for when the walkways are salted to reduce ice.

Start early to allow yourself time to teach your dog to be comfortable with booties and increase the pleasure of holiday walks in the winter for you and your best friend.

See Day 53 Tips on Dog Costumes for Christmas

If part of your holiday tradition includes family pictures with Santa, you may be considering putting a costume on your dog. Are Antlers, a Santa Hat, to a full blown Elf suit cute, or cruel? 

In our recent "Deepening the Bond" workshop, we shared with participants all the signals a dog gives you to communicate, if you know enough to watch for them. We trained participants to see these emotions clearly through their Dog's body language and vocalizations. If you are not trained to see them, you may not realize that your dog doesn't like the Santa hat strapped to his head. Ask yourself, if my dog had a say, would he agree to be put in a costume? Likely not. 


Every eyebrow twitch, paw movement, tail wag or body shake has been proven scientifically to be purposeful. Body language is a primary tool for dogs to speak to other dogs and to signal to people. By putting them in a costume you alter this ability. Imagine if you were to go to a party with a lot of strangers, but you have  duct tape over your mouth and your hands in large clown gloves, how would you communicate and remain confident? Similarly, costumes demolish any hope of a dog being calm in a social setting.  A costume will never add confidence to a dog, nor provide the dog with a positive association of being a valued member of the family.

Many believe that their dog is happy in a costume. It is the reason the dog costume market is booming. It is easy to be confused by signals such as tail wagging or panting as signs of happiness. As a trained canine body-language observer I know tail wagging has many meanings, including stress and nervousness. Panting is also a multi-purpose signal, and is also related to stress, fear and dislike. When I see a dog in costume, with a wagging tail, and panting, I also see worried eyes and anxiousness to be relieved of their costume. 

If you insist on decorating your dog for Christmas, here are some rules to avoid being cruel:

• Make sure the costume doesn't restrict movement
• Make sure the costume doesn't cover their body or change their body shape or size. Their entire body, including shape and size is a functional tool to communicate with other dogs and people
• No masks ever
• Watch your dog with an eye for discomfort and remove the costume if your friend looks even a bit uncomfortable

An alternative way to share the cuteness of your Dog over the holidays would be to photoshop a picture of your dog with a Santa hat and show it to friends on your phone. By leaving your dog costume free, you are providing the best chances for reducing his stress, 

See Day 54 Tips on Reading Bedtime Stories

Remember the lead up to Christmas when you were a child, and your Mom or Dad would read to you wonderful stories of Santa and his workshop? It may surprise you to know that reading to your dog is beneficial to instilling a calm state of mind prior to their evening sleep.

Here's what it means to your dog:

• They hear your voice calm and controlled, meaning everything is good
• They equate book-reading time to sleepy time, a time to turn-off
• It imprints your voice as an additional calming tool to use in other situations besides bedtime

The latter point is particularly important. For example, reading out loud provides guidance to your Dog to stay calm in stressful situations like waiting in the Vets office. Also, it increases the effectiveness of new-to-the-market, remote electronic interactive devices, which are touted to help relieve Dog boredom. The devices allow you to dial up your dog and speak to it, and even give it a treat.  By reading every day you provide him with a clear signal that your voice, even heard remotely, is a good thing and a time to relax.  

Reading bedtime stories in a calm, soft tone not only delivers pleasure to your dog, but is a wonderful gift to deepen the bond between you and your Best Friend.  You can also consider having your children read to the dog, proven to increase their reading skills and confidence to read out loud. 

See Day 55 Tips on Holiday Dog Bite Prevention