It’s that time of year again. The holidays are just around the corner and everyone wants a picture-perfect home, stress-free gatherings and a well-behaved dog that greets guests politely. But even the most obedient dogs can find holiday chaos overwhelming.

If you’ve ever hosted a festive party, you know the scene: the doorbell rings, the oven timer beeps and your guests step inside while your dog greets them with excited barking, jumping and licking. Everyone laughs and assumes your dog is happy—but is that really the case? Many dog owners misread their pet’s behavior, assuming frantic greetings are pure joy. But in reality, these behaviors can be signs of stress, over-arousal, or anxiety. That’s why to have a dog-friendly gathering this holiday season, it’s therefore important to give your dog room to breathe and permission to opt out of the chaos before it’s too late.

To find out the #1 mistake dog owners make when hosting holiday guests, according to a professional dog trainer, keep reading—you might be surprised! The good news? I’ll break down exactly how you can avoid this common holiday pitfall, keeping both your dog and your guests safe, happy and stress-free. Check out some of my holiday hosting tips for pet parents if your dog gets stressed during holidays, below!

Related: The #1 Safety Mistake Pet Parents Make Over the Holidays, According to Petsense’s Pet Expert

Why Do Dog Gets Stressed During the Holidays?

So what makes hosting holiday parties stressful for dogs and causes them to act up out of nowhere? Actually, there are many factors at play. A dog’s daily routines vanish suddenly in thin air, furniture is moved about, the doorbell rings repeatedly and a steady stream of guests enter your home.

While all the above sounds joyful and fun to us humans, from our dogs’ perspective their lives have suddenly turned topsy turvy. It’s as if you have accidentally built the world’s worst stress test in your living room. Because of this, your dog’s stress hormones therefore rarely get a break. At some point, the combination of high arousal levels, exhaustion and overstimulation, may trigger a phenomenon known as trigger stacking.

In a nutshell, when your dog is exposed to a lot of stimulation, their stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline) never get a chance to stand down. Event over event have a cumulative effect, with each new disruption adding another layer of arousal until the dog’s nervous system starts waving a white flag. Trigger stacking is therefore a pile-up of stressors that, on their own, might be tolerable but together, they can push a dog from thinking “I’m fine” to “I’m absolutely not fine.” This makes it harder for pets to remain calm during holiday gatherings.

The #1 Mistake Dog Owners Make When Hosting Holiday Guests

The single biggest mistake dog owners make when hosting holiday guests is assuming every interaction your dog has with people will be a good interaction. We forget that “friendly” doesn’t mean “always available for petting.”

The truth is, most dogs aren’t looking for a meet-and-greet marathon lasting several minutes or even hours on end, especially after all the commotion, doorbells, perfume and squealing greetings have pushed their social batteries to critically low. So, when a well-meaning guest swoops in for an unsolicited head pat or prolonged eye contact, your dog’s stress meter may jump from “I can tolerate this” to “May I please be excused?”

It’s therefore important that holiday hosts keep in mind just one simple thing: Not every dog wants to be the life of the party and even dogs who do enjoy company may reach a point where they’ve simply had enough. So, something imperative when it comes to dogs and holidays, is monitoring your dog’s body language carefully and understanding that, just because a dog goes silent, doesn’t mean they are doing fine. Remember that dog’s have a different way of communicating, so a polite, still dog isn’t necessarily calm and relaxed. They may be just coping, and when the coping reservoir runs dry, it’ll trigger a reaction possibly under the form of a growl, snap, or bite, which can be out of character for them.

The holidays are therefore a prime time for trigger stacking, and without space, structure, and an opportunity to decompress, even the sweetest dog can reach their threshold and do something like bite or growl at a guest, which will leave you shocked and saying, “He’s never done that before!”

So, where’s where science that backs that up? A study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavioral Science has found that the most common context for dog bites isn’t some weird rage episode, but it’s humans interacting or attempting to interact with a dog when the dog is feeling overwhelmed or stressed. the truth is, not all dogs are built for hospitality and even those who are, may reach a limit when it comes to tolerance.

Related: 10 Things You Can Do That Make Your Dog Feel Safe

How to Keep Your Dog Calm During Holiday Gatherings

As you can see, many dogs struggle during the holidays due to the high levels of stress, anxiety and overstimulation. Fortunately, there are several effective strategies and dog training tips that can help calm your pet, reduce holiday stress, and keep gatherings safe. Below are some practical holiday dog safety tips every pet parent should know. Read on to see my trainer advice for pet parents during holidays:

Manage Your Entryways

Using baby gates, leashes, or crates during guest arrivals can help keep your dog calm and controlled. Doorways are high-arousal zones, and for dogs prone to hyperactivity, overstimulation, or holiday stress, it’s best to manage these greetings carefully. This strategy not only helps prevent jumping, barking, or anxious behavior, but also gives your dog time to learn impulse control and remain well-behaved during holiday parties.

Look for Early Signs of Stress

Dogs often give subtle warnings before reacting aggressively. When a dog growls, snaps, or bites, these are not the first signs of trouble, they’re typically the last resort after earlier, more subtle signals went unnoticed.

That’s why it’s crucial for dog owners and pet parents to recognize early signs of stress in dogs, like anxiety, or overstimulation. By spotting cues such as pacing, lip licking, yawning, or avoiding interaction, you can intervene before behavior escalates, keeping both your dog and holiday guests safe.

Give Your Dog a Place to Retreat

On a normal day, a dog who feels uncomfortable can simply walk away. During the holidays, however, crowded homes and constant guest interactions often prevent dogs from escaping overstimulation.

Providing a designated safe space, complete with comfy bedding, calming white noise and chew toys, allows your dog to rest, relax and decompress away from the chaos. This is an essential strategy for reducing holiday stress, preventing anxiety-related behaviors and keeping your dog calm and well-behaved during festive gatherings.

Advise Your Guests

Yes, really—setting expectations with guests is key to keeping your dog calm during the holidays. Ask visitors to follow one simple rule: ignore your dog until they seek attention. Bonus points if they avoid looming over your dog or making direct eye contact, as many dogs find this intimidating.

It’s also important to prevent toddlers or children from chasing, cornering, or disturbing your dog while he’s trying to find a quiet spot. By educating guests about safe dog interactions, you can reduce holiday stress, prevent anxiety or over-arousal, and keep both your dog and party attendees safe.

Preserve Your Dog’s Routine

Maintaining your dog’s regular schedule for feeding, walks and rest is essential during busy holiday gatherings. Predictable routines help dogs feel more secure and reassured, reducing holiday stress, anxiety and overstimulation. Even amid parties and visitors, keeping your dog on a consistent routine can help them remain calm, well-behaved and comfortable throughout the festivities.

Respect Their Growl

Remember: A growl is not a threat. Instead, it’s a plea that requires immediate attention. It’s as if the dog was saying something along the lines of “I need space, please help me before I make a mistake.”

Play it Safe

If you are not sure how your dog deals with guests, simply play it safe and keep them confined to a safe area where they can rest undisturbed. You can also consult with a dog behavior professional for guidance on how to address the issue.

References

James Andrew Oxley, Rob Christley, Carri Westgarth, Contexts and consequences of dog bite incidents, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Volume 23, 2018, Pages 33-39

This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.