The Weekly Woof

The Weekly Woof 🐕‍🦺 December 13, 2025

Howdy, South OC dog lovers—Tommy Stark here. Week-before-Christmas mode is ON, so this one’s all about presents safety (and sanity).

🗓️ Schedule Note: No Group Classes Next Week
We’re pausing clinics for holiday family time and last-minute runs. Beginner Obedience resumes Jan 10 at Dee Dog Park.

🐕‍🦺 Pack Walk
No December pack walk. New Year kickoff in early January at Laguna Niguel Regional Park (details next week).

🎁 Holiday Headliner: “But…we let him play with Amazon boxes!”
Some of you who thought letting the dog shred shipping boxes “wouldn’t be a big deal” are about to find out that Christmas presents look—and smell—exactly like that same game. If box-ripping has been entertainment at your house, set your pup up for success: create clear, kind boundaries for gifts so your dog isn’t tempted. Think of it as present-proofing, not punishment.

1) Make a “Gift Zone”

• Use a baby gate or an exercise pen around the tree or gift pile.
   
• Park wrapped gifts on a low table inside that pen or on an elevated trunk/bench.
   
• If space is tight, dedicate one room or corner and close the door when you can.
   

2) Reduce the “sniff magnet”

• Flag any gifts that contain food (snack tins, jerky, fruit baskets), scented bath items, or candles.
   
• Store those high, closed, or in a closet until it’s time to open. Ask family to label or hand those to you early.
   

3) Wrapping choices that help

• Skip ribbons/raffia/strings (instant tug toys).
   
• Avoid edible-scented paper or gift bags that recently held food.
   
• Use sturdy paper and remove bows after photos.
   

4) Pre-pay good behavior

• Before presents go out, give your dog a long-lasting chew or frozen food toy away from the tree.
   
• Short sniff-walk first; a calm brain makes better choices.
   

5) Christmas Morning Game Plan

• Keep your dog on a light house line or hands-free leash so you can guide without grabbing.
   
• Stage a lidded trash can right next to the action; toss paper in quickly so ripping “doesn’t win.”
   
• Rotate a couple of chew breaks between opening rounds.
   

6) If they grab a gift

• Don’t chase (that turns it into keep-away).
   
• Go neutral voice, trade for something better, then move the gifts farther from the dog’s path.
   
• Tighten management (gate/pen) and resume the chew.
   

7) House rules cheat sheet

• No unattended gifts on the floor outside the “Gift Zone.”
   
• Food gifts are treated like groceries—stored out of reach.
   
• Clean as you go; paper piles = party invitations.
   

🧰 Gear Picks (holiday helpers)

• Exercise pen to ring your tree or gift corner.
   
• Magnetic treat pouch for quick trades when curiosity spikes.
   
• Hands-free waist leash for supervising without juggling.
   

⚠️ Quick Safety Reminders

• Theobromine (the cocoa compound) & caffeine: Risk tracks with cocoa content and dose. Dark/baking chocolate = higher risk; standard milk chocolate is much lower; white chocolate is typically negligible in theobromine. Keep any cocoa items out of reach, and if there’s a snack raid, note your dog’s weight and what type/how much was eaten before you call the vet.
   
• Xylitol (sugar-free candies/gum), grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, cooked bones, alcohol = no-go. Keep trash secured and food gifts elevated.
   

That’s your bite-sized Woof—short on words, big on wins. Want me to tailor a present-proofing layout to your living room? Tell me your tree setup (corner/center, space width), and I’ll map a simple plan.

Stay steady,
Tommy Stark — The Dog Director | iSpeakDog!
DogTrainerOC.com | IG: @ocdogtrainer