Guests, Gatherings & Good Behavior: How to Help Your Reactive Dog Stay Regulated During the Holidays
- Ruth Hegarty
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
December brings fun, connection, and a lot of unexpected chaos — especially for dogs who are reactive, anxious, or easily overwhelmed. Deliveries, guests, family gatherings, and holiday noise can turn even a well-managed dog into a stress-ball in seconds.
The good news? With some simple planning, you can protect your dog’s emotional safety and enjoy your holiday events.
Why Guests Are So Stressful for Reactive Dogs
Visitors shift the entire energy of your home. New scents, unfamiliar voices, unpredictable movement — it’s a sensory storm. Even friendly dogs can struggle, and sensitive dogs often move from “fine” to “over threshold” before you even realize it.
A little prep goes a long way.
1. Set Clear Expectations (for Humans) Before Guests Arrive
Before anyone steps through the door, let them know your dog needs space. This isn’t about manners — it’s about helping your dog feel safe and preventing avoidable stress.
A quick text like, “My dog gets overwhelmed easily, so please ignore them completely and give them space” can make a huge difference.
Or, “The doorbell really scares my dog, so please text when you arrive rather than ringing.”
2. Create a Predictable Guest Routine
Routines help regulate the nervous systems — for humans and dogs alike. Try building a simple plan your dog can rely on:
A decompression walk before people arrive
A quiet, cozy room prepared with calming enrichment
The same “go settle” or “safe space” cue each time guests come over
Predictability builds confidence. Of course, the best time to practice all this is long before the big holiday gathering!
3. Give Your Dog a Clear Job When People Enter
Many reactive dogs calm down when they know what to do instead of being expected to “just behave.” Some helpful options:
Going behind you
Following a treat trail to another room
Settling on a mat
Moving to their designated safe space
Simple, structured choices that you establish before the big day = safer greetings for gatherings.
Keeping Anxiety Low During Gatherings
Even if your dog is resting in another room, the noise and energy of visitors can still feel overwhelming or create FOMO. Try layering in these supports:
White noise or calming music
Pre-stuffed Kongs, Toppls, or long-lasting chews
Closed blinds or curtains to reduce motion triggers
Scent enrichment (like dried herbs or lavender outside the crate/room)
Predictable check-ins with the same phrase and same calm tone
Remember: your dog doesn’t need “more exposure” during the holidays. They need emotional safety. Even well adjusted, friendly dogs get overwhelmed by too much excitement.
All it takes is a bit of planning
This may seem like a lot but I’ll bet, since you have a reactive dog, that you already have a lot of this in place in one way or another. Take a look at where you can use existing routines and cues your dog already knows during the holiday chaos. A bit of planning and tweaking may be all you need.
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