How do I dog proof my house for Christmas?

Christmas brings a concentrated wave of new items into a home in a short time, the tree, decorations, wrapped gifts, seasonal candles, and often food gifts, all appearing within days of each other, which is considerably more change than a dog usually encounters at once. Walking through each room specifically looking for what is new since last week helps you catch things a routine dog proofing check might miss.

Wrapped presents, particularly ones containing food, chocolate, or anything with an appealing scent, should be kept up off the floor or in a room your dog cannot access unsupervised, since wrapping paper does nothing to stop a determined nose. Any incoming food gifts, boxes of chocolates especially, need immediate secure storage rather than sitting temporarily on a low table or under the tree.

Position lit candles well out of tail-wagging range on a stable, elevated surface, and consider flameless alternatives for lower surfaces a dog frequents. Check that any trailing cables from festive lighting are secured along walls or behind furniture rather than loose across a walkway where a curious dog might chew or trip on them.

Do a final walk-through the day before any major gathering, since holiday preparation often introduces last minute additions, a bowl of nuts, a new houseplant received as a gift, that were not present during an earlier check. This final pass catches anything added in the busy final stretch of preparation.