It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And with less than a month to go, many people are already adorning their households with festive decorations. Still, as a pet parent, you might be considering the best ways to include your pup in the holiday celebrations.
This time of year is filled with exciting and unusual events in and around the house, providing dogs with a wealth of new stimulation, including various smells, tastes, and Christmas curiosities.
Join us as we explore the best ways to make this Christmas day memorable for your furry friend, where they can join in with the festive spirit and truly feel like a part of the family.
Make a Christmas-themed dog lunch for them to enjoy alongside the family
Delicious (and decadent) food is such a large part of our Christmas traditions that your pup is bound to feel a little left out if he doesn’t receive a special treat. Including your pets in your Christmas and New Year festivities means providing them with some (dog-friendly) delicacies they can enjoy eating while you have Christmas lunch.
You can make your own baked treats using simple ingredients such as flour, egg white, and chicken broth. Or you can treat them to the trimmings, including:
- Unseasoned turkey breast
- Plain chicken breast
- Slices of carrot or apple
- Xylitol-free peanut butter
Remember to keep treats in moderation; many of us may be guilty of overindulging at Christmas, but if you allow your dog to overeat or exercise too soon after eating, they could develop bloat, which is life-threatening. To avoid a Christmas day disaster, consider your dog’s portion sizes and check the labels of any human foods you plan on feeding them. Avoid onions, garlic, milk, dairy, macadamia nuts, walnuts, stuffing, chocolate, Christmas pudding, and mince pies.
To save time and stress, order a Mad Paws Dinner Bowl for your dog that includes animal nutritionist-approved ingredients and caters to your dog’s tastes. Let your dog enjoy a special Christmas lunch alongside his family.
Make sure your family gathering includes outdoor time
Considering the vast amount of food we consume over Christmas, it wouldn’t hurt us to get up off the couch in the afternoon and enjoy a festive walk around the neighbourhood. Not only will it help you combat the calories, but your pup will really appreciate it too.
In addition, remember that dogs thrive on routine – their schedule might change a little over Christmas, but engaging in some regular activities (such as a daily walk) can help keep them calm and happy.
Your dog will no doubt love interacting with the family and having new humans to play with their favourite toys. Still, providing your dog with a safe space to retreat is equally important if things get too much for them. Ensure they have a quiet place where they won’t be disturbed and can go whenever they feel overwhelmed. If you’re taking your dog to another house on Christmas day, take something familiar such as their dog bed, to help them feel calm in these unusual surroundings.
Wrap presents for them to open on xmas morning
Gifts aren’t just for humans, they’re perfect for your furry friends too. Wrapping up a special gift for your dog and placing it with the rest of the presents under the tree will help them understand that they are also a part of the family. Plus, it will give them something to be excited about when everybody else opens their gifts on Christmas day.
Some gift ideas include:
- Treat balls
- Puzzle feeders
- Snuffle mats
- Interactive toys
- A new bed
- Kong toy
- Automatic ball launcher
- Burrowing toy
If you want something special for your pup, give them a variety of toys and treats via a Waggly box, the gift that keeps on giving. Allow Waggly to curate the perfectly crafted box for your dog based on breed, size, age, and personality for an exciting package of goodies that your dog can look forward to receiving each month.
Include them in the family games
No Christmas day is complete without a “friendly” argument over the correct rules of Monopoly. Try keeping it light by including some games that your furry friend can play alongside you. Good options include chase, hide-and-seek, or tug or war.
If you want something a little different, try Round Robin. This simple game teaches your dog to follow commands and rewards them with a treat they’ll love. Have all family members sit in a circle and hold one treat each. Call your dog’s name one by one, and when they come to you, reward them with a treat.
At the end of the day, when everyone’s tired from the day’s festivities, there’s nothing nicer than curling up in front of the TV to watch a good movie. This is another activity where it’s easy to include your dog. Allow them to curl up next to you and give them a fuss while you watch something together. For a special treat, let them watch some “dog TV,” a great way to keep them entertained.
Make memories with your furry friend
When we think back to our childhood, Christmases often stand out as a magical time filled with family and fun, and you can create the same magical memories with your pup.
Try starting a new family tradition: walk around a nearby neighbourhood that goes all out on its Christmas decorations. Plant a new tree or plant in your garden (your dog will love helping you to dig out the foundations). Bake special treat foods together. Hang up a sensory stocking that gives them something new to sniff and lick on Christmas morning. Teach them a new trick. Spend quality time with one another.
And while you’re enjoying the day’s festivities, capture some of your favourite moments on camera. Your pup will love being the centre of attention, and you could snap a new family photo for next year’s Christmas cards.
