The holidays are all about spending time together—so here are some ideas to include your pup in the festivities! Your pet may not understand why there’s suddenly a tree in the house, but they will definitely feel the love and excitement! Whether you’ve just adopted a pet or want to make new memories with your dog, we’ve put together Christmas activities that the whole family will enjoy. These ideas will help you start new holiday traditions and make sweet memories. Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate your pet and show how much you love them!
Start a new reading tradition with your pet.
What’s better than enjoying a bedtime story? A cuddly storytime with your pet! Start a new holiday tradition and share a Christmas book with your pup. A children’s book is great fun to read together, but a personalized dog book like How My Dog Saved Christmas is even sweeter! You can personalize this book for one or two pets and read a hilarious and heartfelt story about how they save the family Christmas! Kids will love snuggling with their pet, and your dog will be soothed to sleep listening to a read-aloud.
Make holiday dog treats.
While you’re making Christmas cookies, add a batch of doggie treats that your pet can eat too! Here’s a cookie recipe that will have your pet howling for more!
Holiday Dog Treat Recipe
- 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- 1 cup peanut butter*
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons honey
* DO NOT USE any peanut butter containing xylitol. This ingredient is toxic to dogs.
Combine the flour and egg in a large bowl. Add the peanut butter, water, honey and stir (or mix with your hands) until you have a firm and sticky dough. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/2-inch thick and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. We recommend baking on parchment paper, so the bottoms don’t burn.
Frosting (optional):
Combine 2 tablespoons peanut butter and 1 tablespoon honey, and microwave for 15 second increments until melted. Add this mixture to 1/3-cup cornstarch and stir. Slowly add in 3-4 tablespoons of hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time (until you’ve reached the desired consistency). Then pipe your frosting onto the cookies.
Take family Christmas photos with your pet.
Dress your pet in holiday accessories like a festive collar, an adorable doggie sweater, and reindeer antlers. Capture this adorable moment in family photos, with your family members wearing matching Christmas pajamas. Not only will you have sweet family pictures to send to friends and family, but you’ll make your dog feel like a true member of the family!
Go for a walk to view holiday lights and decorations.
Take a festive evening stroll to view holiday lights and decorations in your neighborhood. Your doggo, who probably begs for walks daily, will love getting outside with the whole family for festive fun!
Make a dog ornament and decorate the tree.
Give your pet a special place on the family Christmas tree! For a handmade dog ornament, press your dog’s paw into polymer clay and bake it. Don’t forget to add a hole for hanging. You can also create a personalized dog ornament with your pet’s name and photo. A personalized Christmas ornament is a perfect way to decorate your tree with memories and memorialize your pet forever!
Bring your dog to a holiday market or festival.
Holiday events and festivals are everywhere in December! Find somewhere local and bring your dog for the outdoor festivities. Your kids and pet will love this activity. They can play outside, smell spice and pine in the air, and snack on festival treats.
Visit the dog park for a drool-worthy Christmas party.
Plan a Christmas party at the dog park for your pets! Invite your friends and their pets for a paw-some party with holiday tunes, doggie treats, and a dog toy gift exchange. All your troubles will be out of sight as you see your dog having a very merry Christmas!
Resources:
https://www.thecookierookie.com/pb-dog-treats/
