How to Take the Perfect Pet Christmas Photo: Desensitise Your Dog to Santa!

We all love getting cute holiday cards from our friends with four-legged family members; nothing is cuter than a dog on Santa’s lap! Unless that dog looks totally stressed and freaked out, then it’s almost impossible to get a cute, Christmas-card-worthy photo. Make sure that doesn’t happen this year! Get your dog ready for the perfect pet Christmas photo by desensitising your dog to Santa.

Why are Dogs Scared of Santa?

It may seem weird to you, but think about how many kids scream and cry when their parents try to put them on Santa’s lap – it’s not just dog’s that think he’s a bit scary.

Besides being a complete stranger whose lap you just plopped them on to, Santa’s face is almost completely covered by a huge beard and a hat pulled low. This makes it very hard for dogs to read his facial expressions, which can make a lot of dogs anxious.

In addition, if your Santa is wearing a fake beard and wig, it definitely smells different to a dog than what a human’s hair should smell like. Pair that with a faux fur suit and white gloves, and most dogs just don’t want anything to do with him!

Get Your Dog Over His Fear of Santa

To get your dog over his fear of Santa, start early! Don’t wait until the day before you are going for photos to work on this.

Break it down for your dog. Work on your dog being comfortable with the different components before putting it altogether as “Santa.” This will make it easier for your dog.

For all of these, you are going to use the same training sequence. Once your dog knows the “game” you should be able to move through the steps quicker, because they learn that strange things mean rewards! Here are the basic steps:

1. Start at a distance and reward your dog for calmly looking at whatever the scary element is.

2. As long as your dog is showing no signs of stress – such as whites of the eye, tucked tail/body posture, trying to leave, panting, whining, inability to eat, pacing – you can move closer a step at a time, rewarding your dog for any calm interest/interaction.

Strangers. If you have a dog that you know does not like strangers, you are going to have to work on that first. Start taking your dog out on walks. Bring treats with you and ask strangers to give them treats. At first, they may have to toss them from a distance. Or you may have to give them to your dog while they are looking at strangers. It all depends on your dog’s comfort level. Start at the level where your dog is showing no signs of stress – listed above.

I know a dog whose owner did this and now he runs up to every new person when before he would hide behind her, because people mean treats!

IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT DO THIS WITH DOGS THAT HAVE ANY HISTORY OF BITING, GROWLING or LUNGING! If your dog has serious stranger issues, skip the Santa photo and get help from a professional positive reinforcement trainer.

Beards. After your dog is more accepting to new people, it’s time to add the beard! Find people with beards or, if you know your Santa is going to have a fake beard, get a fake one to have people wear. Start at a distance and reward your dog for calmly looking at the person with a beard. Repeat this exercise until your dog calmly walks up to people with beards.

Once they are doing that, ask the people with beards to give your dog treats! Soon, your dog will be excited to see people in beards!

Santa Hat. For some dogs, the hat really is scary. So, follow the same steps for people with Santa hats on. Depending on your dog, may have to start with just getting them used to the hat, not on a person, first.

White Gloves. Next, do the same thing with gloves on people.

The Suit. Depending on how stressed your dog is about Santa, you may decide you need to rent a suit. Then you can work on him being used to you in the suit, and then friends. Follow the same steps above.

SANTA! Now it’s time to put it altogether. If you do rent a suit, you can have someone you know dress up as Santa. This is best, because you can control the situation and you can have your friend take off things if needed to make your dog more comfortable.

It’s also better to introduce Santa in a quiet environment first, if at all possible, then heading out to a public place, which may also cause your dog to be anxious.

You can follow the same steps as above – start from a distance, treating your dog for remaining calm while looking at Santa and gradually move closer as long as your dog stays relaxed.

No suit? Head out to dog friendly areas where you know they are doing Santa photos and hang out in the background. This is harder because your dog may be more anxious with all the noise and kids. You may also not be able to get as close as you like.

Getting a Good Christmas Photo with Your Dog

Picture day! Bring along your dog’s favourite treats and if you know he is not a fan of big crowds, get their early so you don’t have to wait in line long.

Treat your dog for being calm and looking at Santa. Your hard work should pay off and your dog should be looking forward to seeing Santa – bringer of cookies! If not, you may need to leave and try another day.

When it’s your turn. Give Santa some of your dog’s treats to give to him. Let your dog decide where he is most comfortable. Might be on his lap, might be next to him. The best picture will be when your dog is comfortable, so don’t force him on Santa’s lap if he is more comfortable next to him instead.

A little bit of training and prep work can give you a lasting holiday memory that you and your family can cherish forever.

Happy Christmas!