Pet Pointers: 11 Ways to Include Your Dog in Christmas This Year

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Don’t leave your furry friends out of the celebration this Christmas. As a member of your family, they want to be included in all the festivities, from special treats to gift-giving. These unique gift and activity ideas can help you spoil your fur baby this holiday season.

1. Get Them a Treat Stocking

When you are hanging your family’s stockings on the mantel this year, don’t forget one for your four-legged family members. Personalized Christmas stockings for pets make a great place to hide your pup’s favorite treats and toys. 

You can match your dog’s stocking to the rest of the family with their name embroidered on it, or choose one with your dog’s picture and favorite words in a word cloud. 

2. Add Them to Your Christmas Tree

Personalized pet ornaments are a great addition to any family Christmas tree, whether you memorialize a pet no longer with you or commemorate your first Christmas with a new pet.

Engrave your pet’s name on a glass ornament, add their photo to an ornament or make an air-dry clay paw print with their name painted on it. You can even find personalized dog ornaments for specific breeds to make your pet feel extra special.  

3. Spice Up Their Wardrobe with a Festive Bandana

Take your dog for a walk in style with a dog bone personalized pet bandana. The red and black plaid makes this the best outfit for a Christmas morning walk or Christmas card photo with the kids in matching outfits. Or choose an adorable Santa’s Little Helper bandana for a more festive vibe while keeping your fur baby warm this winter.

4. Keep Them Warm with a Throw Blanket

Tired of your dog stealing your blankets on those chilly winter nights? Get them their own for Christmas. A micro plush pet embroidered throw is so comfortable they’ll bring it with them everywhere. Choose one in a hue to match their coat or in a bold shade to add a pop of color to their dog bed. A plush blanket is perfect for nights around the fire chewing a bone.

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5. Upgrade Their Bling with a New Pet Tag

For a little holiday fun, why not update your pup’s collar with dog tags that feature sports teams or pop culture themes? Pick out a personal dog tag that fits your dog’s style and have it engraved. While your dog will look great, you’ll know that your dog has a tag with your name and contact information if they join one of approximately 10 million pets who get lost each year.

6. Provide 5-Star Service with Personalized Food and Water Bowls

Show your dog how important they are to you by having their name and favorite things painted on the outside. If you have multiple pets, make it easier to keep track of whose bowl is whose and the personalizations make a sometimes bland dog accessory stylish and fun for your home. 

For extra fun on Christmas morning, put food in it before putting it in a gift bag and watch your dog have a blast unwrapping it.

7. Include Them in Family Walks

It seems like almost every tradition at Christmas involves food — cookies, candy, a multi-course ham dinner and candy canes. So, you’ll need to take a walk with your pup to work up an appetite or work off all the calories you just ingested. 

Make sure his paws are protected from the salt used to melt snow with his own adorable snow booties, and if he doesn’t have a thick fur coat, he’ll need a jacket to keep him warm.

8. Stage a Snowball Fight

If you have an active dog, keeping them cooped up indoors during the chilly holiday season can leave them feeling agitated, and you may notice some negative behaviors, like chewing on furniture or excessive barking. Help release some of that pent up energy and enjoy the festive season with a snowball fight. 

Make sure the snowballs are small and not too tightly packed to avoid hurting your pup, and don't stay out in the cold too long to prevent your pooch from getting dry paw pads. For dogs with a short coat, a vest can help keep them warm while you play. 

9. Take Your Dog to See Santa

Local shelters often host pet photoshoots with Santa as a holiday fundraiser. Get your dog groomed so she looks her absolute best, throw on a bow tie or reindeer antlers and pack a few extra treats to encourage good behavior. 

Make sure you start looking for these events earlier in the holiday season so you have time to turn the print into a Christmas card or get it framed to add to the fireplace mantel for your guests to enjoy.

10. Cook Them Their Own Christmas Dinner

If your pup is used to a diet of canned food and kibble, treat them to a festive feast with the rest of the family on Christmas Day. Make sure to tailor the meal to your dog's taste and avoid any ingredients which could cause digestive issues. 

Roast turkey and mashed potatoes are suitable in small quantities, but avoid any gravy or sauces and remove any small bones that could get stuck in their throat. Winter vegetables like parsnips, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are excellent for your dog’s health, but ensure you rinse off any butter or dressing. 

11. Visit a Local Shelter with Donations

If you adopted your dog from a local shelter, you may want to see how you can volunteer over the holidays. Bring donations of pet food and toys or offer to clean cages and take dogs on walks. If the shelter allows it, bring your dog with you so he can visit with the volunteers who helped care for him before he found his forever home with you.

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This Christmas, Keep Your Pets Festive

Your dog brings you so much joy throughout the year, and Christmas can be a hectic time with many changes to routine. Make them feel loved and a part of the excitement this Christmas by including them in photos for the family Christmas card, finding time to snuggle and giving them a heartfelt gift on Christmas morning.