Deck the halls! The holiday season is a time of celebration and most of us want to include our pets in the festivities. From dressing up to family photos to gift giving, our pets are part of the family and we want to share our holiday joy with them.

It takes a little thought and planning, but the family pets can join in the fun with the rest of the household.

Deck your pet?
Should you buy special holiday attire for your pet? There are lots of fun and festive costumes available - from fancy velvet collars to yarmulkes to angel wings. If you want to deck out your pet for the holidays, a few precautions can make it fun for both of you.

First, choose attire that doesn't restrict your pet's movement in any way and won't cover his eyes. Also, choose attire that won't interfere when your pet needs to relieve himself.

Introduce his holiday finery gradually. Make a fuss over how great he looks and allow him to get accustomed to wearing it a little at a time before the big day.

Finally, if Buddy is really unhappy in holiday finery, don't make him wear it.

The family portrait
It's fun to include the family pet in your holiday remembrance photographs?

Like other members of the family, your pet may need to be cajoled into standing still long enough for you to snap the picture. The easiest way to do this is with some treats. In fact, if you want two animals to "snuggle" together, try rubbing some favorite food behind the ear of one - just be prepared to shoot quickly!

If you are photographing the pet with other family members, get everyone else in place first, then add the pet to the shot (animals get bored and fidgety faster that people).

Have an assortment of noise-making toys within easy reach. Shake or squeak a toy at the same time you tell your human subjects to smile. That way everyone - pets and people - will be looking at the camera at the same time.

Gifts for all
According to national surveys, more than 75% of us give holiday gifts to the family dog or cat. So you aren't alone if you decide to have a special gift or two on hand for your best friends.

Favorite gifts include a new toy or two and a supply of your pets' favorite treats. Other popular gift ideas include: a warm fleece coat or sweater to protect against the cold or a plush new bed with your best friend's name embroidered on the side.

Having gifts on hand for our pets can help solve a holiday problem, too. A new toy or treat is a great distraction that will keep your pet out of trouble while everyone else is unwrapping gifts!

Coping with holiday stress
Just as the holiday period can be stressful for people, disruptions to the usual household schedule can be hard on some pets.

Guest comings and goings, changing mealtimes and extra treats can cause stress, resulting in a break in housetraining. The best way to avoid soiling accidents in the house is to keep your pet on his regular feeding schedule, regardless of when the rest of the family is eating. If your pet does have an accident, be sure to clean it up quickly and treat the area with a pet odor-remover.

The holiday excitement may also cause even the best-trained dog to forget his manners and jump up on household guests. Before the busy holiday period begins is a good time to give your pet a refresher course in good manners. For tips on how to stop jumping up, see Dealing with Jumping Up.

Prepare your guests
Be sure your holiday guests are aware that your pet is at home. Let them know if your dog or cat are indoor pets only, so they won't unwittingly let them out the back door.

You may want to consider isolating your pet for an hour or two, if a special guest suffers from allergies or brings along young children who don't know how to play with a pet.

Keep in mind, though, that it's your pet's home, too, and Fluffy will want to join in some fun after his nap. That might be a good time to break out one of those special holiday toys or treats you purchased just for him!