Christmas and the New Year is just around the corner, and Chinese New Year is approaching in a few weeks. It’s the time of the year when we’ll be expecting guests over for social gatherings and dinner parties. While these occasions bring warmth, food, and family time, they can also create a whirlwind of excitement and can be overwhelming for our dogs.

Some pups thrive on the extra attention and stimulation, while others struggle to cope with unfamiliar faces, noisy environments, doorbells ringing, or excited young children. And even the friendliest dogs can forget their manners when the house is filled with delicious smells and new distractions.

Prepping them ahead of time can make the festive season much smoother for everyone. Here’s a comprehensive guide to helping your dog stay calm, feel safe, and behave politely when guests come over.  

Why Dogs React Differently Around Visitors

Every dog has a unique temperament, and the arrival of guests can trigger different emotional responses:

• The Social Butterfly: gets overexcited, jumps, nudges, or pesters visitors for attention.
• The Anxious Dog: prefers to disappear, hide in another room, or avoid interaction altogether.
• The Barking Sentinel: treats every doorbell ring as a national emergency.
• The Food Enthusiast: makes it their mission to inspect every plate and hover around the dinner table.

Understanding your dog’s natural tendencies is the first step toward building a management plan that works. 

Stage 1: Preparation Before Guests Arrive

A calm dog starts with thoughtful preparation days before your gathering.

1. Practise Calm Greetings 

In the days leading up to the event, practise door greetings with family members. Ring the doorbell, reward your dog for staying calm, and teach behaviours like sit, place, or stay. And, if your dog struggles with anxiety, consider introducing calming aids (supplement) beforehand. Take note that some of these supplements may start working as fast as within 30 minutes, while others may take a few days to show signs of effectiveness. Ingredients like L-theanine and melatonin work quickly and are best for acute stress, while herbal formulas like Australian pet organics (Calm Support) Certified Organic Dog Treats will usually take a few days to start working. 

2. Create a Safe Space

Make sure your dog has a designated area to retreat to if they feel overwhelmed. A crate, pen, or quiet room works wonders. You can make it extra cosy with a FuzzYard LIFE Premium Lounge Pet Bed - made with 100% cotton outer bed that’s extremely comfortable.

3. Give Them Adequate Exercise

A tired dog is far more likely to behave calmly. Before your guests arrive, take your dog out for a long walk, play an extended fetch session, or engage in some mental enrichment such as scent games or puzzle toys.

To help burn off mental and physical energy during the event, you can use enrichment tools such as:

• Pawzler Innovative Modular Dog Puzzles (Smarty Set With Base). To switch things up, you can replace some of the puzzle pieces with the Terra Lickmat (https://gooddogpeople.com/collections/pawzler/products/pawzler-innovative-modular-dog-puzzles-terra-lickmat) and spread wet food, peanut butter or yogurt on the mat. Licking is a great way to get anxious dogs relaxed. 
• KONG Classic – fill it with wet food, peanut butter, or treats to encourage calm licking and mental stimulation.
• Ruffwear Gnawt-a-Rock™ Natural Rubber Treat Dispenser Throw Dog Toy. Fill it with treats and let your dog nose it around for interactive treat-dispensing to stimulate their mind and keep him occupied.

Stage 2: When Guests Arrive

Arrivals are often the most chaotic part of the visit with the doorbells, greetings, loud voices, and multiple people entering at once. This is where planning pays off.

1. Keep Your Dog Secure at First 

Before the doorbell rings, have your dog safely leashed or in their crate. This prevents frantic running to the door, jumping, or barking episodes. 

2. Stay Calm Yourself

Dogs read our energy. If you tense up in anticipation of chaos, your dog will too. Take a deep breath and keep your tone upbeat and relaxed. 

3. Allow Gradual Introductions

If your dog is friendly but excitable, allow them to greet guests only after they’ve calmed down. Reward quiet behaviour and keep greetings short and controlled. For shy or anxious dogs, don’t force interaction. Allow them to come out at their own pace.

Stage 3: During the Visit

This stage requires the most active management and what you do depends on your dog’s behaviour and comfort level.

1. Use Management Tools 

If your dog becomes overstimulated, jumps on children, or begs for food, it’s perfectly fine to use management strategies such as: 

• Keeping them on a leash indoors
• Placing them in a crate or playpen for short periods
• Using baby gates to prevent access to dining areas
• Offering chew items or enrichment toys to redirect their attention 

2. Consider Your Guests’ Comfort

Not everyone is comfortable with dogs even if you assume they are. Some children may feel nervous. Some parents might not appreciate their kids being jumped on or licked. And some adults may not understand dog body language or boundaries.

Your role is to advocate for both your dog and your guests by supervising actively and managing interactions thoughtfully. 

3. Encourage Calm Manners

If your dog settles well after the initial excitement, and you’re able to actively supervise, allow them to roam freely. This is a great opportunity to reinforce manners like:

• Settling on a mat
• Not begging at the table
• Respecting guests’ personal space

Reward your dog for calm behaviour. The more positive reinforcement they receive, the better they’ll do in future gatherings. 

4. If Needed, Arrange Off-Site Care

If you know your dog struggles severely with crowds or chaos, it may be kinder to arrange for a friend, pet sitter, or family member to care for them for a few hours. This reduces stress for everyone, including the dog.

Stage 4: After the Guests Leave

Once the house is quiet again, take a moment to decompress and reflect.

1. Evaluate How It Went 

Ask yourself:

• What did my dog handle well?
• What behaviours still need training?
• What would I do differently next time?

This helps you improve the process for future gatherings. 

2. Clean Up Food Scraps Safely

Make sure the floor is free from harmful foods such as bones, chocolate, grapes, or skewers. 

3. Give Them a Calm, Comfortable End to the Day

Offer a soothing chew, a cuddle, or a quiet walk to help your dog return to their normal routine.

Keeping your dog calm around visitors is achievable with preparations, patience, positive reinforcement, and a few helpful tools. Remember, every dog is different, so finding what works best for your pet might take some time. Whether your dog is anxious, excitable, or somewhere in between, the key is understanding their needs and personalities, planning ahead, and creating an environment where they feel safe and supported.

KATHERINE KHOO

Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.