Read time: 3 mins
28 Nov 2023
As the jingle bells start ringing and festive spirit fills the air, it's time to wag those tails and dive into some Christmas cheer. We’ve decorated this article with a guide to celebrating Christmas with your pooch, including 9 different activities from cosy movie nights to creative crafts, guaranteed to make sure that they enjoy the day as much as you.
Get the blankets out, fluff up those cushions, and cosy down for a bark-tastic Christmas movie marathon. Our squad recommendations include:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Santa Buddies
Lady and the Tramp
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Rip, shred, playtime ahead. Don’t forget your pooch when it comes to filling the stockings. Need inspiration? We recommend our Bestsellers Bundle, along with a licki-mat, a tub of dog-friendly peanut butter and a Rudy the Reindeer toy. Did someone say spoiled rotten?
Sniff, snuff, woof it up! Engage your dog's natural instinct to sniff and explore by introducing a snuffle mat. This interactive toy encourages mental stimulation, providing a fun challenge for them to go on a treat-seeking mission. If you want to embrace the festive season as much as possible, you could even opt for a Christmas-themed snuffle mat, like this Christmas pudding one. Let the snuffling begin for a tasty treasure hunt.
For a literal rendition of walking in a Winter wonderland, arrange to meet up with some friends or other local pooch parents for a jolly group walk. Bonus points for festive cheer if the dogs and humans have matching jumpers.
What's Christmas without excessive amounts of baking? Whip up some delightful homemade treats specifically for your pooch. Ensure to use safe and dog-friendly ingredients such as pumpkin, peanut butter, or apple slices. We would advise against giving your dog any of the ‘human’ treats, as these often contain toxic ingredients such as onions and raisins.
This one might be our favourite Christmas activity idea, it really doesn’t get much cuter than this. Does your Christmas tree look like it’s lacking something? The final missing touch? This paw print tree ornament kit is the perfect Christmas day activity for your family. You can even choose the ribbon and paint colour if your Christmas tree has a non-negotiable colour scheme.
Hide treats for a merry treasure hunt, encouraging your pup to sniff out the hidden surprises around the house.
Create an obstacle course using household items, such as mops and cushions. This is also a golden opportunity to reuse the excess cardboard boxes and mountains of wrapping paper that you’re likely to have Post-present opening. Guide your pup through the hurdles, rewarding their pawsome efforts with praise and treats along the way.
Dress your dog in their favourite cosy Christmas jumper or costume and get ready to strike a pose. Capture adorable moments of your pup moments against festive backdrops, such as the Christmas tree.
As persuasive as their begging eyes may be, we strongly discourage giving your dog any scraps of Christmas dinner. Ingredients such as onions, garlic and raisins can wreak havoc on your dog's digestive system and can even be toxic.
Instead, opt for a specialist dog food that has created a Christmas recipe, like Butternut Box's Festive Feast. If you're already a Butternut Box customer, make sure to look out for this free pouch in your upcoming box.
