The holiday season is exciting – new visitors, new smells, busy schedules and plenty of festive distractions. For puppies and adult dogs, this can be overwhelming. With positive, reward-based training and expert support, you can help your pet stay calm, confident and well-mannered throughout Christmas, summer gatherings and festive celebrations.
First Christmas puppy training essentials
Setting boundaries: The secret to a stress-free Christmas
Christmas brings a lot of stimulation: visitors, wrapping paper, dropped food, kids playing, and constant activity. Without structure, puppies can become overexcited, anxious or overstimulated.
Training strategies that help
- Teach settle and place behaviours before the holiday rush
- Begin polite greetings early
- Practise crate time or quiet-time routines
- Reward calm behaviour around visitors
- Introduce decorations and noise gradually
For more veterinary-backed guidance on preventing common behaviour problems, you can explore resources at PetMD’s dog behaviour library for expert-reviewed dog behaviour advice.
A confident puppy is less likely to jump on guests, steal food, bark excessively or become overwhelmed. Start Puppy Preschool.
Vaccination requirements for social success
Before attending Christmas events or having visitors interact closely with your puppy, ensure they have received their first vaccination. This protects them in new environments and supports positive socialisation. Learn more about vaccination requirements for puppies.
Your Puppy Preschool enrolment requires vaccination, helping keep all puppies safe. Learn more about Puppy Preschool requirements.
Desexing, behaviour and the need for training
Many hormone-driven behaviours, such as marking, mounting, roaming or competitive behaviour, can start appearing around the Christmas period as puppies mature.
For a deeper look at positive training and behaviour modification, see the ASPCA’s dog training tips backed by animal welfare experts.
Desexing can help reduce some unwanted behaviours, but training remains essential for:
- Manners around other dogs
- Impulse control (food, toys, visitors)
- Preventing jumping and overwhelm
- Reducing anxiety from busy holiday environments
Our trainers can guide you on behaviour support both before and after desexing.
Our dog training programs
Puppy preschool: 5-week classes
A structured, supportive program designed to help young puppies develop confidence and Christmas-ready manners.
Includes socialisation, obedience basics, and behaviour foundations.
Learn more about Puppy Preschool.
One-on-one training
Some dogs experience stress during busy summer holidays, especially anxious dogs or those still settling into a new home.
One-on-one training can be helpful for:
- Fearful behaviour around guests
- Overexcitement
- Resource guarding
- Separation anxiety
- Difficulty settling during festivities
Phone consultations and remote support
If you’re outside Melbourne or need advice quickly, our phone consultations offer professional support wherever you are.
Perfect for pre-Christmas behaviour planning.
Call us to learn about phone consultations.
Training benefits for you and your dog
Building confidence and obedience
Training teaches your dog predictable, safe behaviours even when the holiday environment gets busy.
Skills include: sit, stay, calm greetings, recall and self-regulation.
Socialisation and behaviour skills
Christmas often means visiting new homes, meeting new people or playing with unfamiliar dogs. Socialisation prepares your dog to stay relaxed and confident in these situations.
Strengthening the human–animal bond
Training brings clarity, communication and trust. A strong bond helps your dog look to you for guidance when things become exciting or confusing – including festive chaos.
What you will learn
Basic obedience skills
Sit, drop, stay, come, polite greetings and loose-lead walking.
Impulse control and socialisation
Learning calm behaviour around food, guests, children and decorations.
Confidence building exercises
Helping your dog remain relaxed with new experiences such as lights, music, gifts, visitors and new pets.
Why choose Lort Smith dog training
Accredited Trainers (NDTF)
Our trainers are National Dog Trainers Federation accredited and specialise in humane, science-based behaviour support.
Positive, reward-based methods
We never use forceful, punitive or dominance-based methods. Our dog training approach ensures your pet learn safely and joyfully.
Supporting the Adoption Centre
All training profits support Lort Smith’s Adoption Centre, helping animals receive veterinary care, behaviour support and second chances.
FAQs
We offer Puppy Preschool, one-on-one private training, and phone consultations.
Puppies should be 8–16 weeks old and have had their first vaccination.
We use positive, reward-based training only – never punitive or force-based methods.
Yes. All trainers are NDTF accredited.
Yes. Private sessions are ideal for specific behaviour challenges or festive-season overwhelm.
Training profits fund veterinary care and rehabilitation for animals needing rehoming.
Yes – phone consultations are available across Victoria.
Prices vary depending on program type. Contact us or visit our program pages for current fees.
Puppy Preschool includes five structured sessions.
Desexing can reduce hormone-driven behaviours, but training is essential for long-term behaviour success.
Ready to prepare your dog for the festive season?
Call 03 9287 6433
Email our team
Download training program conditions