Pet parents are convinced that their pooches know when Santa is on his way – with 28% believing that their dogs even know what he looks like.

And when Father Christmas visits this year – he will be dropping off a staggering £17m worth of pet presents, according to new research by ManyPets.

 As many as 84% of owners admit they love spoiling their companions and almost half (48%) will even wrap a gift ready to opened along with the rest of the family.

Over a third (41%) insist their pets enjoy the festive season more than they do and 55% notice a positive change in their behaviour.

The poll of 2,000 pet owners found that 60% believe their pooch is visibly excited over Christmas – with tails wagging more in as many as 78% of pet households in London, 68% in Leeds and the same in Cardiff.

Meaty smells from the kitchen are said to be the reason for 55%, while having the attention of extra guests was the top reason for 49% – with the opportunity to play with wrapping paper behind the excitement for 42%.

Taking pleasure from seeing their pets so happy, 91% said it actually enhanced their own Christmas experience.

In a heart-warming twist, three quarters (75%) claim that their pet loves Christmas so much because it is a time when all the family typically come together, as 78% of pet owners ensure their pooches aren’t left out over the festive period by getting their pet involved in the family traditions.

Over half (55%) will even whip up a dog friendly Christmas dinner.

But, mince pes, chocolate and Christmas pudding are strictly off limits and 66% of owners agree that they need to be extra vigilant because of tempting treats that could make their animals ill. Loud noises from Christmas crackers is also a worry for 44%.

Despite being a wonderful time of year, 70% of owners agree that it’s also a period where extra caution should be taken to ensure the safety of our dogs.

To prove just how much our beloved pets love the festive season, ManyPets has teamed up with expert dog behaviourist Leon Towers to delve deeper into why Christmas is the most wonderful time of year for our pooches. From the festive smells to the family time spent together…

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Relatives Return

Relatives returning home for the festive season can be an extremely exciting time for our furry friends, as it’s a period they can receive even more cuddles than usual from those who love and adore them! The option of spending time with loved ones they are comfortable with makes your dog feel loved and secure, creating a strong state of calm and happiness around the house.

Deck the Halls

Festive decorations can be stimulating and attractive to dogs, especially the shapes and fun characters (Santa! Snowmen! Elves!) so expect them to be curious about the new pals that have sprung up overnight. Dogs are visual creatures and are hyper aware of their surroundings so anything out of the ordinary like baubles hanging on the tree or a garland swinging from a normally clear surface is likely to pique their interest.

Silent Light

This time of year also sees festive lights appear on every surface. Dogs’ vision is different to ours meaning they can see better in the dark, have better motion visibility than we do, and see a reduced range of colours – blue, yellow, and greys. They don’t see red, purple and orange like humans. Most dogs prefer soft, low lighting to stark, bright lights as they create a more relaxing mood which is often found in lowly-lit, glistening Christmas fairy lights – perfect for creating a relaxing environment for your dog.

Dog’s Dinner

The smell of the turkey roasting in the oven doesn’t just get our taste buds going, your pet’s mouth will also be watering. A dogs’ sense of smell is up to 10,000-100,000 times stronger than a humans’, while their sense of taste is just a fraction of ours. Dogs can smell when a food is ‘high value’ and something that’s going to set them drooling so don’t be surprised if you see tails a’ wagging when the turkey is being prepped.

Santa Paws

Dogs love present unwrapping, even if the presents aren’t for them. The noise of the ripping, the scrunching of paper into balls, the squeals of excitement as you unwrap something you really wanted. Dogs are sensory creatures – driven primarily by sight, smell, and sound – and love exploring the different textures of ribbon, card, and paper. Maybe their present is a squeaky ball that they can hear through the wrapping or a treat they can smell through the gift bag.

Festive Walkies

Regular winter dog walks are often rushed affairs limited to one or two family members shuffling around in the rain and cold, but Christmas Day sees your whole pack leave the house and your dog is the centre of attention. No wonder it’s their favourite walk of the year. While there’s no ideal length of dog walk (because every dog is different) a suitable festive walk allows them to release all their festive energy and get plenty of sniffs to decrease any stress levels and stimulate them mentally and physically.

For more information from ManyPets resident vet Dr Kirsten Ronngren on how to keep your pets safe this Christmas, please click HERE to read further advice. 

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