With all the dog toys and special dog food, it is easy for pets to get confused at this time of year.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has said that with all the excitement of relatives visiting and gifts, it can be easy for a dog to become aggressive, so owners should take the necessary steps to ensure their animals remain calm.
Ali Taylor, head of canine welfare training at the charity, said: "A dog can get confused by all the unusual comings and goings around its home and sometimes people of all ages, but especially young children, don't really know how to behave around dogs or how to read a dog’s body language.
"Any dog has the ability to get confused and become aggressive if provoked."
Battersea says there are a number of things not to do to a dog, including sneaking up on it, staring it in the eye and disturbing it when it's sleeping or eating.
The charity says that if you are frightened by a dog, you should stand still with your arms folded across your chest and look at the sky or floor, but not the dog.
