Tips for Your Puppy’s First Thanksgiving!

The holiday season is upon us! If you have a new puppy joining you for the festivities this year, we’re sharing our go-to puppy prep advice, safety tips and food list to ensure your puppy’s first Thanksgiving is a happy and worry-free time for the whole family!

The Puppy Academy student: Thurman!

Thanksgiving, a day many of us look forward to for weeks with mouth-watering anticipation. One of those holidays when you can really kick back and enjoy spending time with family. 

Our puppies are no exception to the excitement that Thanksgiving has to offer! But as exciting as it is, it can also be a time that can cause distress for your puppy. Think about it from a little puppy’s perspective: new people, lots of movement and sounds, and...the smells! 

And if you are like the rest of the nation hosting family or friends over, you have a dozen or so things going at once, including ensuring the safety of your puppy. Just like your dinner, the best thing you can do to care for your puppy in this case is come prepared with a plan for them the day of!

New situations always present risk factors, but when you follow the same helpful tips we share with our students and their parents at our puppy training school, the only thing you’ll need to worry about for your pup’s first Thanksgiving is enjoying the feast and feeling grateful!

Can My Puppy Eat Thanksgiving Dinner?

The short answer: kind of! Although we recommend sticking to your pup’s normal diet, if you do want to treat them to something festive, your pup most certainly can enjoy a version of a Thanksgiving meal. However, certain foods aren’t good for their young digestive systems and can even be toxic. So, to help you decipher what is safe and what isn’t, we put together an easy-to-follow infographic with the dos and don’ts when it comes to Thanksgiving food for your puppy. Don’t forget to save it for future reference!

Making Sure Your Puppy is Satisfied & Safe

With so much prep work that goes into Thanksgiving dinner, it’s super easy to forget that your puppy’s needs aren’t on hold just for the holiday. They still require care, attention, and above all: security! Develop a day-of plan for your puppy and consider including the following:

1. Exercise Your Puppy in the Morning

If you’re planning on hosting or even bringing food to a family member’s home, prioritize your puppy’s needs first before getting into the weeds of Thanksgiving prep. Give your puppy plenty of time to burn off some of their excess energy in the morning with a walk, interactive playtime session, and make sure to include puppy training for mental stimulation that will leave them feeling fulfilled and ready for a nap. By providing your puppy the right type of exercise and structure, they’ll be in the right, calm mental state for the rest of the day, which will give you more time to focus on getting your meal and home ready.

Grab our go-to training routines that will satisfy your pup while teaching good behaviors in our Online Puppy School!

2. Ask for Help!

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, chances are you will be running around with a million things on your list to get done. Avoid finding yourself in a situation where you can’t tend to your attention-seeking puppy and instead enlist the help of a trusted family member or friend to watch over your puppy while you are prepping dinner.

Hand them your daily puppy schedule to follow to keep your puppy on track and take our any guesswork of wondering what your puppy needs and when.

If you can’t enlist the help of others, your pup’s crate and playpen will be your BFFs today!

3. Keep Your Puppy’s Crate Readily Available

The crate is your puppy’s safety zone. With so many people coming and going, excited talking, loud music, and new smells, all that stimulation can get overwhelming for a little puppy. Keep their crate in a quiet, stress-free area of your home so your pup can escape to relax to and get their much needed down time.

Puppies can get overwhelmed and energized by all the activity happening around them, so some crate time throughout the day to help them settle and get the rest they need will help prevent your puppy from exhibiting anxious behaviors!

And in times throughout the day where you can’t supervise your puppy while cooking, socializing, or eating dinner, your puppy’s crate is also the perfect place to keep them in so they are safe and you can let your pup-parent guard down and enjoy.

Bringing your puppy with your to your family’s house? Take their crate! Your pup will benefit from having their familiar space in a different environment, especially if they need a break from the other dogs and small children that may be running around!

4. Be Aware of Your Puppy’s Safety

If you are hosting Thanksgiving and are expecting guests, chances are some of them may not be so puppy-mindful as you are.

Forgetting to shut doors, feeding food from the table and leaving dangerous items (ie. alcoholic beverages, chocolate desserts, sharp utensils, etc.) within puppy-reach can all lead to an accident waiting to happen.

Tethering your puppy to you with their leash and utilizing their playpen and crate will help keep your pup out of harm’s way.

For more puppy safety tips for Thanksgiving, watch our short video:

5. Don’t Pause on your Puppy Training!

Puppy training shouldn't take a break for Thanksgiving! This is a quick way for puppies to regress and start picking up bad habits. Instead, use it as a great opportunity to reinforce your pup's good manners by enlisting your guests to help. For example, have your guests greet your puppy when they're (both!) in a calmer state, and remind them to only pet your pup when all four paws are on the floor to discourage jumping up. Giving attention and affection while your puppy is jumping all over your guests will only encourage more of that behavior, and make training more difficult, even if it's just for one day!

6. No Table Scraps!

Another important situation to watch out for is family and friends sneaking your puppy some Thanksgiving goodies from the table. Of course, we want our puppies to celebrate along with us, but it’s important to remember that their tummies are sensitive. AND feeding from the table sets up a terrible habit of begging that can be difficult to reverse! Richly seasoned foods can cause them to get upset, but more so, they could accidentally ingest food that is not safe for them and can be harmful to their health. The last thing you want is to make an emergency vet visit on Thanksgiving! Make sure to save the infographic with safe and not safe Thanksgiving Day foods for your puppy, and put your puppy in the crate while you’re at the table to eat.

7. Clean Up Before Your Puppy Does it for You!

Puppies can be opportunists so the best way to prevent them from getting into leftovers, table scraps, and fallen food pieces on the floor is keeping your pup away from the dining table and cleaning up right away! Utilize barriers like puppy gates or a playpen if they’re out of their crate, or keep them in a different area away from Thanksgiving dinner if necessary!

8. End Thanksgiving on a Calm Note

With so much happening on Thanksgiving, let your puppy unwind by giving them their favorite chew toy to enjoy, taking a short walk together, or doing a little calm-down training session to help get them settle for the evening. Ending the day with a low-intensity exercise can help your puppy relax from the overstimulation of the day’s events that they’re not accustomed to, so you can all sleep well tonight!

Have more questions about Thanksgiving safety and tips for your puppy? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during the Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel!

Become a Puppy Academy VIP (Very Important Puppy) to get our latest puppy training tips direct to your inbox, for free, each week!

From our family of pups to yours, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Halloween Pet Safety: 7 Tips to Protect Your Puppy!

The spookiest time of the year is upon us! Are you prepped for your new puppy’s first Halloween?

Halloween is a fun time for the whole family but it does present some unique hazards for our pups that we need to prepare for! Costumes, chocolate, candy, decorations, plus an influx of strangers stopping by -- there are plenty of opportunities for young puppies to get into some trouble.

In this blog, we’re covering the top Halloween safety tips for puppies along with Halloween dangers for pets to be on alert for!

1. Paws Off the Treats: Protect Your Pup from Halloween Sweets

An unattended or low, easy-to-access bowl of candy whether it is outside or in your entryway, is a possible target for curious and eager pups! During Halloween pet poison hotline reported over one thousand cases of pet poisoning due to ingesting chocolate, 98% of those cases were dog specific!

Aside from chocolate, hard candy, gum, chocolate-covered raisins, certain nuts, and other sugary treats can be toxic for puppies. And young pups especially will get up to all sorts of tricks (i.e. counter-surfing!) to get their paws on unsupervised candy bowls. Keep your treats well out of their reach, preferably stored in a puppy-proof container, to avoid your pup potentially getting sick from ingesting things they shouldn’t eat. 

And don’t forget to throw away any candy and chocolate wrappers! Cellophane and tin foil are two of the most common wrappers for candy and chocolate, and they’re irresistible to puppies! If ingested they can create a blockage in your pup’s airways or digestive tract and be lethal. If you do suspect that your puppy has ingested something harmful, reach out to your veterinarian immediately or Animal Poison Control Center.

2. Halloween Hazards: Decorations Can Pose a Threat to Your Pup

Part of Halloween festivities includes getting the house prepped with frightful decorations, but these items can pose particular harm to our pups. Since most Halloween activities occur at night, you may be utilizing electrical cords, batteries, and candles around the house. Curious pups can easily chew on an exposed wire or sniff too close to candle flames resulting in burns. And an excited wagging tail could easily knock down lit candles and pose a fire risk. Make sure to secure all cords and restrict access to areas that may increase the chance of your pup getting into something they shouldn't!

Another item that easily can be forgotten but is prevalent especially during an outdoor walk are glow sticks. While the fluorescent liquid is not toxic, it has a bitter taste that can put your puppy in distress and even make them vomit. Be mindful of glow sticks in your house, keep them away from your puppy, and store them somewhere your puppy can’t get to them. 

3. Dress to Impress: Finding the Perfect Halloween Costume for Your Puppy

The Puppy Academy student, Bear!

A puppy in a costume, who doesn’t love that?! As fun as it is to come up with ideas to dress up your puppy, some of the costumes out there can be restricting and have a few safety concerns. Full-body costumes could result in overheating and difficulty breathing if it’s constricting on their body or around their neck. Before you buy one at a store or click purchase, take some time to measure your pup and find something that’s comfortable and easy for them to move around in. If your puppy is young and you’re purchasing ahead of time, keep in mind to buy something that will fit them later on as they grow! 

Accessories on costumes like elastic bands, beads, sparkles, buttons, ribbons, or other dangling add-ons are immediate chew targets that could create a blockage in an airway or intestine if swallowed. As with many things related to growing pups, make sure to supervise them when they’re all dressed up! 

But looking out for hazardous puppy costumes isn’t the only thing to keep in mind. Pups don’t just naturally love costumes and much like harness training your puppy, it might take a few attempts before they feel comfortable in their costume! A few days before, start easing them into their costume, offering plenty of treats to make the experience a pleasant one. 

Of course, your puppy’s comfort and safety are the number one concern during Halloween! If your puppy really doesn’t take to wearing a costume, you can always opt for a cute collar or bandana that shows off their festive side without making them uncomfortable!

Check out our TikTok video on puppy costume Do’s and Don’ts! 

4. Prepping for Halloween: Familiarizing Your Puppy with the Spooky Season

If Halloween trick-or-treating is a popular activity in your area, the influx of visitors ringing or knocking on your door could be another stressor to puppies. Socializing your puppy with doorbell and knocking sounds, and teaching them that these are normal everyday occurrences before Halloween can help your puppy feel more comfortable. 

It can also be scary the first time they see someone dressed up and cause some unnecessary stress. That’s one of the reasons that we emphasize socializing your puppy to different people and even different outfits throughout your puppy’s early growing phases and throughout the first year of their life. It may seem silly but spending a few days beforehand dressing in different accessories for example can help your puppy learn that costumes aren’t scary at all!

We spend the month of October with our students at The Puppy Academy desensitizing them to door bells and door knocking, as well as Halloween sounds, masks and costumes to help prep them!

For more help with socializing your puppy and desensitizing them to noises for Halloween check out The Puppy Academy Online School for step-by-step training instructions, fun activities, and personalized advice from our trainers that you can practice at home right away! 

5. A Howl-o-ween to Remember: Ensuring Your Puppy's Safety on Trick-or-Treat Night

It’s easy for a young puppy to get spooked and make a run for it. If you know you may have trick-or-treaters coming by your home most of the night or if you’re hosting a Halloween get-together, secure the doors so your puppy doesn’t have the opportunity to run out. You might even consider keeping your puppy in another part of your home, place them in their crate or playpen, or have them on-leash with you.

Pro tip: Make sure that all of your puppy’s identification is up-to-date, and that your puppy has their tag or some form of ID secured to them.

If Halloween trick-or-treating is happening in your area this year and you plan to have your puppy tag along, think safety first especially on a dark street! Add a light-up collar or a reflective vest to your puppy’s costume to make sure that oncoming cars and cyclists can see them, and you!

Being out amongst dressed up strangers, tons of Halloween decorations, plus sweet-smelling food is highly stimulating and distracting for a puppy. Don’t expect that your puppy will be on their best behavior walking beside you with all these new elements! Keep your puppy on a leash and watch them to ensure they aren’t running up to decorations, or on unsuspecting trick-or-treaters, or munching on candy they found on the walk.

6. Tricks to Keep Your Pup Calm on Halloween: Safety and Relaxation Tips

If Halloween isn’t really your puppy’s thing, these extra measures can ensure they stay happy and safe. Make sure your pup gets some good exercise by walking them and practicing some training routines throughout the daytime when it's more calm. This way they can both physically and mentally release any excess energy, which can help them settle in at home during the Halloween activities happening later at night.

Create a space for them whether it’s a cozy room, their crate, or a playpen where they can relax. You can block out the lights and sounds from outside by drawing the shades or curtains, placing a blanket over their crate, or even playing white noise for your puppy. 

And most importantly, keep them company! Hanging with them, playing with them, or just being present around them can help keep your puppy be much more relaxed during Halloween. If you plan on going out with your kids or to a party, scheduling a puppy sitter to come for the evening is a great alternative.

7. Guardianship Guidelines: Why Supervision is Crucial on Halloween

Growing puppies are similar to young children that can get into all sorts of tricks! The key is not to leave them alone, especially when there are more irresistible treats and curious-looking decorations around the house. Whether you’re at home or out trick-or-treating this year, keep your puppy close and be on the lookout if they are getting into something that they shouldn’t. A little added attention during Halloween can ensure your pup is kept safe and that everyone enjoys the holiday to the fullest!

Safety Tips at A Glance:

Save and share with a puppy parent!

Have more questions about a puppy training schedule for your puppy? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel!

Become a Puppy Academy VIP (Very Important Puppy) to get our latest puppy training tips direct to your inbox, for free, each week!

Have a Happy Howl-o-ween! Tag us on your Instagram and TikTok posts @thepuppyacademy so we can see your adorable pups in their costumes!

Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more!

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Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: Dos and Don’ts of Exercising Your Puppy!