Wishing You and Your Family a Pawsome Holiday Season
Make Christmas fun for the whole fluffing family with these fun holiday tips.
Christmas is just around the corner, and that means fun for the whole family–yes, the whole family, including the dogs! Making sure that your dog has an incredible Christmas is easy when you look for the right ways to spend time with them. With a little love and fun, you can easily enjoy Christmas with your dog.
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Outdoor Activities with My Dog on Christmas
Every family has their own traditions when it comes to passing time on Christmas–and pet parents have their pick of options too! You can do a lot of different activities with your dog on Christmas. Let’s explore a few!
Pick Out the Best Christmas Gifts for Your Dog
Sure, Christmas isn’t all about gifts, but it is a fun part of the holiday for a lot of us. Chances are that you really enjoy getting gifts on Christmas Day, and your pup will enjoy it too! Every year, be sure to wrap up a few presents for your favorite dog, so they have something to look forward to too.
Popular Christmas Gifts Include:
- Dog Treats
- Stuffed Toys
- Chews
- Adorable Outfits
- Cozy Blankets or Bedding
Explore Local Dog-Friendly Winter Events and Dog-Friendly Christmas Events
Sometimes, the best way to pass time with your dog isn’t an event of your own making. Already, countless people around the United States are hosting exciting dog-friendly events all winter long that come with a fun Christmas theme.
Exciting Events Include:
- Road Dog Toy Run (Colorado)
- Santa Claus with a Cause 5K/10K (California)
- Bryant Park Winter Village (New York)
- Jingle Bell Run (Florida)
- Holiday Stroll 5K (Texas)
- Jingle Bell Walk & Fun Run 5K (Arizona)
Get Outdoors
Christmastime can make the temperature drop quite a bit, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get outside. If the weather permits it, consider starting your holiday with a brisk morning walk with your pup–or maybe even expand it to a hike. On Christmas, most people stay indoors, which means that heading outside can give you a great chance to bond with your dog in a peaceful environment. It’s a great day to get some fresh air.
Build a Snowman in the Backyard
If you live in the kind of area where snow falls, you can take place in a wonderful Christmas tradition and make a snowman. This is a great chance to head outside for some fresh air and fun–and you won’t believe how much your dog will enjoy it! Dogs love running around in the snow, following their humans as they collect their snowman parts, and relaxing while you do all the hard work. Of course, if you have a dog that is sensitive to the cold, be sure to take some time to find them some warm winter clothes.
Play Fetch with Snowballs
Do you have a pup that is always down for a good game of fetch? Good news–this is one fun Christmas activity that they will love. Making a snowball and tossing it for your dog is a fun and stimulating activity that often leads to them hunting down the snowball in a sea of snow. It is a ton of fun to watch them explore and try to find the snowball–especially when they go to chomp it, and it just falls apart.
For Safety Reasons, Consider the Following:
- Be certain that the snowball is only snow. Be wary of rocks or chunks of ice that might have gotten forced into the snowball.
- Don’t play too long in the snow unless your pet has boots to protect their paws from the cold.
- Avoid throwing snowballs directly at your dog to avoid potential injuries (though it can be fun to splash them with some powder or fluffy snow–but be sure to avoid their eyes.)
Teach Your Dog How to Pull a Sleigh
As far as dogs go, few have accomplished more than the amazing Max in How the Grinch Stole Christmas when he pulled the sleigh. For years, dogs have looked at huskies like the incredible sled-pulling athletes that some of them are, and this year, you can give your dog that same feeling of accomplishment. Since most dogs can’t pull a real sleigh on their own, you might want to opt for a toy sleigh or even a small sled. Give your pup a lightweight passenger, like their favorite stuffed toy, and teach them how to pull a sleigh all around the yard. This is a great way to get Christmas videos that you will want to share every single year.
Staying Indoors with My Dog on Christmas
Throw Holiday Parties for Dogs in Your Family
For far too long, Christmas has been primarily built around human children–and the dogs are ready to take their time in the spotlight. This holiday season with your dog, why not make your home the ultimate haven for dogs in the family? Just like you had fun hanging out with your cousins as a kid, your pup can enjoy that too. A good doggy holiday party can be fun and great for relatives that have pets that they can’t leave alone. Make your home the dog zone and watch your pup have fun.
Have Your Dog Open All the Gifts
Teaching a dog to open presents is one of the most adorable and one of the most dangerous things that you can do as a pet owner. Many pet parents have taught their pets how to safely open presents (make sure your dog doesn’t try to eat any wrapping paper!). Still, giving a pup this kind of power can be…well, risky.
If you are one of the many people who want to teach their pets how to open presents, it is important to know that your presents may never be safe again. All too many families have awoken to find that their beloved canine companion tore open everyone’s gifts throughout the night–or even in the weeks leading up to Christmas. However, it can be a fun anecdotal thing that the family enjoys if you are careful. Remember, if you do give your furbaby this talent, it means that you can never leave any edible or dangerous presents where they might be able to get into them.
Spend Christmas Morning in Your Pajamas
Is there anything better than spending Christmas morning in your pajamas? Yeah, we don’t think so either–or in case you didn’t know, doggy pajamas are officially a thing. During this holiday season, consider opting for one of those incredible picture-perfect Christmas moments by getting the whole family–pets included–cute holiday pajamas for a morning full of relaxing. How you spend your morning is entirely up to you and your family, but the best mornings are cozy, comfy, and filled with the people you love.
Snuggle Up for a Christmas Movie Marathon
With Christmas comes the inevitable explosion of Christmas movies–and a ton of new ones get added every single year. You know who will never judge you for enjoying a silly, ridiculous, overly happy Christmas movie? Your pup! If anything, they will love seeing how happy it makes you–and be there to cuddle with you through the tearjerkers.
Create a Christmas Feast
One of the main things that makes holidays so great is the opportunity to make a delicious holiday meal. This year, try making a Christmas feast that is so big and so tasty that it would bring the ire of the Grinch himself–and make a little something tasty for your favorite furbaby too. Just remember–before you prepare a dazzling roast beast, make a portion that is unseasoned and safe for doggy consumption.
Bake Holiday-Themed Doggy Biscuits
Christmastime is known to bring out the hobby bakers among us in waves, and it can be amazing. If you’re the kind of person who loves to bake cookies for Christmas (or who has secretly always wanted to try), challenge yourself to make homemade treats for the whole house–including your pup! Homemade Christmas treats can look just like cookies (be careful to store them separately), which can be a pretty great thing. It is common for our dogs to have to watch us eat delicious food while they are stuck with kibble. This way, you and your dog can enjoy the “same” snacks, allowing them to feel even more included. Just be sure to order some fun themed cookie cutters if you can.
Howl Christmas Songs Together
Some dogs are natural-born singers, and Christmas is the time of year when everyone deserves to strut their stuff. If you have a dog that loves to howl along to the songs you listen to or sing, this can be a fun way to spend some of your time. Throw on your favorite Christmas songs, crank up the volume (but not too loud), and help your dog to get into the spirit!
Ask Your Dog’s Opinion on the Die Hard Debate
Every year, social media explodes into discord as people debate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Since this one has been plaguing humans for years with no clear end in sight, it is time to hand over the problem to the dogs. Ask your pup what they think about this famous film and then hop on social media to tell everyone that your pup has finally made the decision.
Play With Your Dog’s Gifts
For kids, Christmas often comes with a beautiful moment where they get to play with their new toys. Wouldn’t you say that it is time that dogs got this same treatment? Pet parents often give their pups plenty of goodies on Christmas with everyone else, so be sure to put aside some time to help them enjoy their presents. They will have a blast playing with their new toys–and you will too!
Make a Pawsitively Perfect Christmas Ornament
Families are always looking for ways to document the years and make meaningful keepsakes. This Christmas, it is time to pull the dogs right into the fun. Pet parents can use clay and other materials to make an adorable pawprint ornament that you can keep for years to come. Families often do this with children, and it is even better with dogs–especially if you can see how their paws change and grow throughout the years.
Have Your Dog Write the Family’s Thank-You Cards
Writing thank-you cards isn’t always fun–especially if you have a lot of people to thank. This year, why not get a little creative and let your dog handle it? One quick paw print and a few signatures can be just as sweet and thoughtful as a normal thank-you card. No matter what, it is guaranteed to give your friends and family a good laugh.
Hold a Christmas Photoshoot
Everyone knows that the best way to remember Christmas throughout the years is with some fun family photos. This year, you can make your Christmas one to remember with a full Christmas-themed photoshoot. Try to get as creative as possible while posing with the tree, the presents, and the snow outside too.
Take a Christmas Nap
Even though the holidays all have specific purposes, for many of us, they are one of the few times a year when we can really relax. If you’ve got a lazy pup that loves to snuggle, one great way to pass the time is with a delightful Christmas nap. It’s one tradition that can help you to feel well-rested before you head back to work or school.
Try Out Christmas Dog Outfits
Shine Bright
STAY COZY
Lovely ribbed knit sweater with peppermint stripes.
Nothing gets you into the Christmas spirit quite like a fun outfit. Don’t worry–there are plenty of amazing Christmas outfits available for your pup. We personally recommend our Striped Turtleneck and our Winter Beanie – two Christmas items that are cute, cozy, and warm too.
Must-Have Hat for the
WINTER COLD
Add an extra layer of warmth with this adorable knitted beanie.
The Takeaway
This Christmas has the potential to be the best year yet if you include your favorite canine companion or companions this holiday season. Be sure to get cozy, make lasting memories, and have a ton of fun while you do it. Make this the ultimate Christmas to remember with your dog!
Until next time, thank you for reading!
About the author: Gabrielle is the loving pawrent to adorable pups Willow and Dilla. Growing up surrounded by dogs, she always dreamt of having her own. Willow and Dilla came into her life and changed everything. Now, she's crazy about pampered pooches, and her perfect day involves dancing with her husband, dressing up her furbabies, and cuddling them to sleep. For Gabrielle, life is all about spreading love and joy with her adorable canine companions by her side.
