TL;DR
The holidays disrupt pet routines in ways that can cause real stress — new visitors, changed schedules, unfamiliar sights and sounds, and owner absences all take a toll. The most effective strategies include protecting daily routines as much as possible, creating a quiet retreat for pets to decompress, and being thoughtful about guest interactions. Doggy daycare is one of the most underutilized tools for holiday pet stress — a consistent daycare day gives dogs a reliable routine and meaningful physical and mental outlet even when everything at home feels unpredictable. Stone Mountain Pet Lodge’s daycare in Blaine and Champlin Park is available Monday through Saturday, with both group and Custom Daycare options. Boarding is worth considering for travel periods, and the retail stores carry calming supplements, enrichment toys, and treat options to support anxious pets at home.
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The oncoming holiday season is one of the most exciting and wonderful times of the year — for most of us. For our pets? Well, it can tell a very different story.
Between the houseguests and the late nights, the disrupted routines and the decorated trees, the unfamiliar smells and the doorbell ringing every twenty minutes, the holidays can introduce a steady stream of changes that can genuinely unsettle even the most easygoing dog or cat. For pets who are already prone to anxiety? The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s can be among the most stressful of the year.
But good news! With a little awareness and the right approach, Twin Cities pet parents can make a significant difference and help their dogs and cats stay calm, comfortable, and happy throughout the holiday season.
Why the Holidays Are Sometimes Tricky for Pets
Pets are creatures of routine. They thrive on predictability — consistent feeding times, familiar faces, regular walks, and quiet evenings at home. The holidays have a way of turning all of that on its head.
Common holiday stressors for pets include:
- A revolving door of houseguests and unfamiliar visitors
- Increased noise and activity levels indoors
- Changes in the family’s schedule and availability
- Disrupted feeding, walking, and sleep routines
- Holiday decorations, candles, and new scents in the home
- Travel — whether being left behind or being taken along
Signs that your pet may be feeling the strain can include increased hiding or clinginess, changes in appetite, accidents indoors, excessive barking or vocalization, destructive behavior, or unusual aggression. These aren’t behavioral problems — they’re the ways your pet is trying to tell you something feels off.
1. Protect Their Routine as Much as Possible
The single most effective thing a pet parent can do for a stressed pet during the holidays is to protect their daily routine. Feed them at the same time. Walk them at the same time. Keep bedtime as consistent as you can. Even small anchors of predictability offer a calming effect when everything else around them feels out of sorts.
This is easier said than done during a season that tends to upend everyone’s schedule — but it’s worth prioritizing, especially for pets who are already anxious or sensitive to change.
2. Create a Safe Retreat
When the house is full of people and activity, pets need somewhere they can go to unwind. Consider setting up a quiet room, a crate with familiar bedding, or a low-traffic corner of the house where your pet can retreat when things feel overwhelming. Make it comfortable, accessible, and free from the noise and chaos of holiday gatherings.
This is particularly important when you’re hosting. Not every guest will instinctively understand that your pet might need space — especially children. Giving your pet somewhere to decompress removes the pressure and helps prevent stress from building to a breaking point.
3. Be Thoughtful About Guests and Introductions
For dogs and cats who are shy or not well socialized, a house filled with new people can be genuinely overwhelming. Never force interactions — let your pet approach guests on their own terms. If your dog is easily overstimulated, consider keeping them in a quieter part of the house during the peak of activity rather than dropping them into the middle of it.
Brief your guests, too. A quick “please let her come to you” goes a long way toward making a holiday gathering less stressful for everyone — including the pet.
4. Keep the Holiday Hazards in Check
The holidays introduce a surprising number of physical hazards for pets alongside the emotional ones. Tinsel, ribbon, and wrapping materials can cause serious internal issues if ingested. Many holiday plants — including poinsettias, holly, and mistletoe — are also toxic to dogs and cats. Rich holiday foods, bones, and alcohol can all cause harm, as well.
Keeping pets away from the tree, the table, and the gift pile isn’t just good manners — it’s good safety practice. A pet who gets into something they shouldn’t have can add a vet visit to an already hectic season.
5. Make Quality Daycare as a Routine Anchor
One of the most underutilized tools for managing pet stress during the holidays is doggy daycare — and it’s particularly effective precisely because the holidays are a lot to handle.
When a dog’s home environment becomes unpredictable, the consistency of daycare gives them something reliable to look forward to. The same facility, the same familiar caregivers, the same structured play and enrichment — it functions as a stabilizing routine even when everything else is shifting around them.
At Stone Mountain Pet Lodge, doggy daycare in Blaine and Champlin Park offers dogs far more than just a place to pass the time. Spacious indoor and outdoor play yards, beautifully manicured nature trails, custom-designed playgrounds, splash pools, and attentive caregivers keep dogs physically active, mentally engaged, and emotionally satisfied throughout the day.
Daycare is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., making it a workable option even during the busiest weeks of the season.
For dogs who prefer one-on-one attention over group play, Stone Mountain’s Custom Daycare program provides personalized enrichment including puzzle toys, scent work, nature walks, training practice, and more — all tailored to your dog’s individual personality and preferences. It’s a particularly good fit for dogs who are sensitive, reactive, or simply happier with a human companion than a playgroup.
The mental and physical outlet that daycare provides can meaningfully reduce the stress behaviors that often show up during the holidays — the restlessness, the destructive chewing, the barking, the general inability to settle. A well-exercised, mentally stimulated dog is simply a calmer dog. And during the holidays, calmer is exactly what everyone is looking for.
6. Consider Boarding for Travel Periods
If you’re traveling during the holiday season and your pet will be staying behind, boarding can be an early gift for you and your pet, particularly for those who struggle with the disruption of having a pet sitter come and go from an otherwise quiet house.
At Stone Mountain Pet Lodge, holiday boarding provides a calm, stable, professionally staffed environment throughout your trip. Private climate-controlled suites, consistent feeding and care routines, relaxing music in all lodging areas, and around-the-clock on-site staff give pets the structure and security they need while you’re away. Dogs can add customizable activity packages to their stay; cats settle into Whisker Ridge, Stone Mountain’s dedicated cattery, which operates completely separately from the dog areas.
The holiday season is one of the busiest boarding periods of the year — early reservations are strongly encouraged.
7. Stock Up on Calming Supports
For pets who need a little extra help during the holidays, our retail stores in Blaine and Champlin Park carry a range of products that can support calm behavior. Calming supplements formulated for dogs and cats, enrichment toys like KONGs and puzzle feeders, lick mats, and high-value treats all serve as practical tools for managing anxiety and keeping pets occupied during busy or stressful periods.
A lick mat during a holiday party or a puzzle feeder during a long family dinner can give your pet something positive to focus on while the house is full of activity. Stop in before the season ramps up to pick up what you need.
8. Give Them a Little Extra of You
Amid the shopping, the cooking, the entertaining, and the traveling, it’s easy to let quality time with your pet slip down the priority list. But for animals who are already feeling the disruption of the season, a little extra attention from their person goes a long way.
A longer walk. A quiet evening on the couch. A few extra minutes of play before bed. These small investments in your pet’s emotional well-being during the holidays are some of the most effective things you can do — and they cost nothing.
The Holidays Can Be Good for Pets, Too
With a little planning and the right support, the holiday season doesn’t have to be a source of stress for your pet. Protecting routines, providing a safe retreat, using daycare as a stabilizing anchor, and keeping a close eye on how your pet is responding to the season’s changes all add up to a genuinely better experience for everyone in the household — the two-legged and the four-legged alike.
Stone Mountain Pet Lodge is here to help throughout the holiday season, whether that means a regular daycare day to keep your dog grounded, a boarding stay while you travel, or a stop at the retail store to pick up a few calming essentials. Reach out to our team in Blaine or Champlin Park to learn more.
FAQs
Why do pets get stressed during the holidays?
The holidays disrupt the routines, environments, and social dynamics that pets depend on for a sense of security. Unfamiliar visitors, changed schedules, increased noise and activity, and owner travel all contribute to elevated stress levels in dogs and cats.
What are the signs my pet is stressed?
Common signs include hiding or clinginess, changes in appetite, accidents indoors, excessive barking or vocalization, destructive behavior, and unusual aggression or reactivity. These are your pet’s way of communicating that something doesn’t feel right.
How can I help my pet stay calm when we have guests?
Give your pet somewhere quiet to retreat, don’t force interactions with guests, and brief visitors on how to approach your pet. Let your dog or cat set the pace for any social interaction — forced greetings often backfire.
Can doggy daycare really help with holiday stress?
Yes — consistently. A regular daycare day gives dogs a predictable, familiar routine during a season when everything else is changing. The physical exercise and mental stimulation also reduce the stress behaviors that tend to surface when dogs are under stimulated or overstimulated at home.
What is Custom Daycare, and is it right for my dog?
Stone Mountain’s Custom Daycare is a one-on-one enrichment program that provides personalized activities including puzzle toys, scent work, nature walks, training practice, and more. It’s a great fit for dogs who prefer human company over group play, or who are sensitive, reactive, or easily overwhelmed.
What are Stone Mountain’s daycare hours during the holidays?
Daycare is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holiday hours may vary — contact Stone Mountain directly for specific holiday scheduling.
Should I board my pet if I’m traveling for the holidays?
Boarding is a strong option for pets who struggle with the unpredictability of a pet sitter coming and going, or for owners who want the peace of mind of knowing their pet is in a professionally staffed, structured environment. Book early — the holiday season fills quickly.
What retail products can help with pet holiday stress?
Stone Mountain’s retail stores carry calming supplements for dogs and cats, enrichment toys including KONGs and puzzle feeders, lick mats, and high-value treats — all useful tools for keeping anxious pets calm and occupied during busy holiday periods.