Don't Let Holiday Stress Turn Into A Bite
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A high number of dog bites happen over Christmas, not because dogs suddenly become unpredictable, but because the holiday environment overwhelms them in ways that steadily erode their ability to cope. Busy homes, disrupted routines, extra people, and constant stimulation all challenge a dog’s ability to stay calm and regulated.
Table of contents
Sleep disruption
Sleep disruption is one of the biggest hidden risks. Dogs rely on multiple short naps throughout the day to keep their emotional regulation stable. When those naps are repeatedly interrupted by noise, movement or excitement, their tolerance shrinks. A tired dog reacts faster, becomes more sensitive to touch, and finds it harder to process what’s happening around them.
Touch
Touch is another major pressure point. At Christmas people naturally become more hands-on leaning over dogs, stroking as they pass, hugging, kissing, or assuming a dog “must love it” because they’re close by. In noisy, lively environments those subtle signals that the dog is uncomfortable are easily missed, and the dog may begin to feel trapped or pressured.
Disturbances
Approaching dogs when they’re sleeping or resting is one of the most common bite triggers. Many dogs’ beds are placed in corners or along walkways where there’s regular foot traffic, so they’re often disturbed or feel like they’re being approached from all sides. A resting dog is in a vulnerable state and may startle if touched unexpectedly a reflexive snap before they’re fully awake. Being woken repeatedly or constantly disturbed can leave them feeling pressured or cornered, and even with their loved humans, they may become snappy. Even when they look relaxed on their bed or sofa, they’re not asking for contact. Visitors often disturb them because they look cute, and over time this erodes the dog’s sense of safety. Without uninterrupted rest, their ability to cope deteriorates quickly.
Over-excitement
Overexcitement adds another layer of risk. Christmas brings a lot of fast, loud or intense play repeated ball throwing, quick-fire tug games, and guests who tease dogs with toys or get overly competitive causing frustration. The dog might look thrilled in the moment, but activities like these flood the system with adrenaline. When the adrenaline drops, the dog can be left overtired and far less tolerant of touch or sudden approaches. A dog in this state is quicker to react and slower to recover.
Resource guarding
Food and guarding are also major contributors at Christmas. Rich smells, dropped scraps, plates at dog height, guests offering treats, or people reaching toward the dog while they’re eating all create uncertainty.
Guarding isn’t “naughty”, it’s a natural instinct to protect a valuable resource. If someone approaches too quickly, tries to take something, or surprises the dog while food is involved, they may behave defensively. With so much food around and lots of hands moving unpredictably, misunderstandings are far more likely.
How to reduce the chances of a bite
Like us the dogs stress bucket fills and then can begin to overflow. Each disrupted nap, unexpected touch, sudden noise, playful teasing, fast movement, or tense moment around food adds a little more pressure.Individually, these stressors may not always trigger a bite, but together they increase the dog’s risk of reacting defensively. With no chances to release stress, the bucket fills. Once it overflows, behaviour can shift very suddenly. It isn’t deliberate misbehaviour; it’s the dog running out of coping strategies.
Dogs don’t escalate out of nowhere. They escalate when the environment doesn’t give them room to cope.
Simple ways to reduce bite risk
- Provide a human-free resting space where your dog can sleep undisturbed.
- Protect naps throughout the day.
- Ask visitors to avoid touching unless the dog chooses contact.
- Keep interactions calm and brief, stroking calmly with one hand avoiding their head; no leaning over or hugging.
- Never disturb a resting or sleeping dog.
- Avoid high-energy or competitive play and keep toys sensible and calm.
- Feed your dog away from guests and don’t allow people to offer food directly.
- Keep unsafe food out of reach and tidy up dropped scraps immediately.
- Watch for early stress signals and give your dog quiet space as soon as they show them.
Supporting your dog’s boundaries and comfort keeps everyone safe and helps the whole household enjoy a calmer, gentler festive season.
About the author
Jo
Jo Hinds – DipCABT
Jo is a COAPE-Certified Animal Behaviourist, an accredited Training Instructor with the APDT, and is one of their official assesors. You can often find her sharing her experience in our Very Important Dog Facebook group.
