Five ways to make sure your dog has a happy holiday season

Photo / Supplied.

They call it the silly season for a reason – but that doesn’t mean you should be so silly as to forget about your dog’s health and safety during the holidays. Here’s some tips on keeping your dog smiling over the summer break.

Think about taking your dog away with you…
There are a number of hotels, resorts, campgrounds and baches that are pet-friendly. If you're travelling within New Zealand these holidays, why not plan to take your pet with you? Check out Pets Can Come Too for some ideas on where to head with your beloved pet.

…and if not, make sure they have somewhere safe to stay
Going away for the holidays? Make sure you enlist a trustworthy house-sitter to look after your pet, or find a kind, professional kennel to house your pooch while you're away. If you choose to send your dog to a kennel, visit beforehand to check out the facilities. After all, you want it to be a vacation for your dog too.

Don't get too relaxed with food
Ahh, Christmas. It's a time for family, friends and most of all – feasting. It's always tempting to let the dog in on the festivities, but remember not to feed them anything that could potentially cause health problems, no matter how small or serious. Instead, think about some special holiday treats, so they join the fun in a happy, healthy way.

Stay cool
The last two summers in New Zealand have been the hottest on record, with 2017-18 summer predicted to surpass those figures. In such blistering conditions (for New Zealand anyway), it's important to make sure your pets are comfortable, cool and have plenty of access to shade and water.

Be prepared for fireworks
Who doesn't love fireworks on New Year's Eve? Not dogs – that's for sure. If you think there might be fireworks in your vicinity during the holiday season, keep your dog indoors, preferably with (human) company. If your dog is outdoors during this time, make sure they're wearing ID tags – it's not uncommon for dogs to bolt when they hear the noise in the sky.