THE popularity of sharing Christmas joy with dogs has soared this year, but one organisation is warning owners over their pet health.

With half a million posts on Instagram bearing the #Christmasdogsofinstagram, #dogsofChristmas or #Christmasdog hashtag, Christmas 2019 appears to have reached "peak dog" – with owners embracing their dog’s inner reindeer and ensuring their four-legged friends are truly a part of all of the festivities.

It’s not Christmas without a Christmas jumper, and over 20 mainstream high street shops, from Joules to New Look, are selling matching human and dog Christmas jumpers.

Elsewhere Sainsbury’s, John Lewis and Tesco are all counting down to a canine crazy Christmas with dog-friendly advent calendars.

But the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, the Kennel Club, is warning owners that dogs do not always enjoy the same seasonal things as their two-legged counterparts.

Bill Lambert, Senior Health and Welfare Manager at the Kennel Club, said: “For dogs, Christmas is a time of year when unusual and exciting things are happening around the home – often it means there are lots of new people to meet and greet, exciting things to smell and lick, and unusual festive curiosities, making it a very tempting time for them to get up to all sorts of mischief, or feel anxious or even lonely.

“Dogs are a part of the family and of course can be involved in the celebrations, but our four-legged friends don’t always enjoy the same festivities as humans do.

"We want to make sure that all of the nation’s much-loved dogs have a happy, stress-free and safe Christmas.”

To share a stress-free and safe Christmas with your dog, the Kennel Club has released some tips.

The organisation is telling owners to not force their dogs to have "fun".

It can be overwhelming so avoid forcing festive fun by making sure their routine isn’t disrupted – take them out on their usual walks and keep dinner time the same – and make sure they still have their usual space and bed so they can retreat and settle in their usual spot if and when they want to.

Don’t forget about your four-legged friend or leave them alone for more than four hours.

Owners should be wary of feeding dogs Christmas dinner leftovers, as traditional turkey, goose and chicken bones can easily splinter, particularly when cooked, causing an obstruction and possibly even piercing your dog’s tummy.

Be careful with certain festive plants - poinsettia, holly, mistletoe and ivy can cause varying degrees of stomach upset if eaten by a curious dog.

Be aware of your dog snaffling gifts that aren’t for them from under the tree.

Electronic gifts and toys often contain batteries, which if chewed or swallowed by a dog can be dangerous.

Care should be taken when using antifreeze products that contain chemicals which can be lethal when ingested by dogs.

The sweet taste of antifreeze makes it tempting for dogs, so products should be stored in secure containers away from pets.