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10 Ways to Celebrate Christmas With Your Dog

Britt
by Britt
Updated:  December 13th, 2022 Published:  November 28th, 2022

The holiday season is a time to celebrate with friends and family. But, what about your canine best friend?

LightField Studios/Shutterstock

If you have a special pup in your life, you obviously want them to be part of the festivities! We’ve got you covered! Here are 10 ways to celebrate Christmas with your dog ranging from easy, budget-friendly plans to more elaborate ways to celebrate. There’s something for everyone!


Take Holiday Pictures


Whether you’re taking pictures just to share online or printing custom holiday cards, holiday pictures are a fun way to incorporate your dog in your celebrations. Try purchasing a set of matching Christmas pajamas for a cozy picture indoors or bundle up for a fun winter wonderland photo shoot.


Bake Christmas Cookies


Holiday baking is a part of the season for many people, so why not include your dog? Bake some festive dog treats with seasonal flavors like our Peppermint Holidog Christmas Dog Treats. You can even use your favorite holiday cookie cutters and make some dog-friendly icing to decorate like you would your own holiday goodies.


Visit Your Local Tree Farm


Get out and adventure with your dog this holiday season. Many Christmas tree farms are dog-friendly, allowing your best friend to join in on all the festivities. Just make sure to check that your dog is welcome before making the trip.


Enjoy a Holiday Movie Marathon


Is your dog a cuddler? Pull out your cozy blankets and so dog-friendly snacks, curl up on the couch and put on your favorite holiday movies. This is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas with your dog if bad weather is forcing you to stay inside. Plus, who doesn’t love puppy cuddles?


Set Up a Doggy Advent Calendar


Advent calendars are a great way to count down to Christmas. Many dog treat and toy manufacturers offer fun and festive dog-focused advent calendars with a new surprise for your pup every day. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, consider making your own advent calendar. All you need is several empty bags or boxes, numbered labels, and a special surprise for each day.


Go for a Walk to Check Out the Christmas Lights


One of the best parts about the days leading up to Christmas is the colorful lights and creative decorations that will start to pop up everywhere. Whether you’re just taking a walk around the block or heading out to view the holiday display at your local park, this is a simple way to get exercise and celebrate the season.


Build a Snow Fort


Not all dogs are made for ice and snow. But, if your best friend loves spending time outdoors even when the temperatures drop, there are many fun outdoor activities to enjoy. Make a snow fort, toss around some snowballs, build a snowman, or make snow angels together. Warm up after with some snuggles by the fireplace.


Decorate Your Dog’s Space


Does your dog have a specific place in your home that is all theirs? If so, you can give it a fun and festive touch with some Christmas decorations. Add a holiday-themed blanket or throw pillow to their bedding, hang some decorations on the walls around their crate, or set up a small dog-friendly Christmas tree next to their favorite place to hang out. You can even take your dog shopping to help pick out the decorations if you want to go all out. 


Pictures with Santa


Kids everywhere look forward to sitting on Santa’s lap and sharing their wish list, but what about your dog? Many pet stores will invite Santa to take a break from his workshop and come share some quality time with the local pets. You can do some holiday shopping and get adorable holiday pictures to share with your family at the same time.


Get Crafty with DIY Christmas Ornaments


Plan some Christmas arts and crafts time that includes your pup. You can make festive decorations featuring your dog’s paw print, create custom holiday cards, or craft treat-filled Christmas ornaments to enjoy throughout the holiday season. The best part about crafting with your dog is that you are creating lasting memories. 

WOW
Britt
Britt

Britt Kascjak is a proud pet mom, sharing her heart (and her home) with her “pack” which includes her husband John, their 2 dogs – Indiana and Lucifer – and their 2 cats – Pippen and Jinx. She has been active in the animal rescue community for over 15 years, volunteering, fostering and advocating for organizations across Canada and the US. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the country camping, hiking, and canoeing with her pets.

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Should My Cat Sleep in My Bed?

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Rising Pet Care Costs Lead to More Surrenders

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Study Finds Link Between Having a Dog and Girls' Physical Activity

A new study finds that having a furry companion at home could help promote healthy physical activity in children, especially young girls. According to research from the Telethon Kids Institute in Australia, getting a new dog or losing a furry companion is linked with a child’s level of physical activity. This new research shows that having a dog could help promote healthy movement behavior in children. The study's lead researcher, Emma Adams, highlights the positive influence of dog ownership on children’s activity levels, pointing to potential benefits that start from early childhood.“We saw a significant jump in daily physical activity in children whose families acquired a dog over the study period, while those whose families experienced the loss of a dog recorded a steep drop-off in activity,” added Adams.The research teams from Telethon Institute and the University of Western Australia followed 600 children aged between two and seven years old, over a three-year period to determine the impact dog ownership (or loss) has on physical activity levels.The results showed that getting a dog or losing a family companion is associated with significant changes in children’s activity levels. Surprisingly, young girls showed the most significant response.“The results were particularly noticeable in girls, with girls who acquired a dog increasing their light intensity activity and games by almost an hour a day (52 minutes).”“On the flipside, there was a marked drop in light intensity activity and games in girls who experienced the loss of a dog, with their activity dropping by 62 minutes a day,” said Adams according to Independant. Children wore accelerometers during waking hours for seven days at a time to measure sedentary time, screen time, and physical activity. Parents were also asked about their childrens’ activity levels. Half of the children participating in the study didn’t own a dog at any point during the study period, 204 children had a dog for the entire three years, 58 got a dog during the study period, and 31 children lost their furry companion during the course of the study.Data showed that girls who got a dog increased their light intensity activities and games by almost an hour a day (52 minutes). At the same time, girls who lost a dog experienced a decrease of 62 minutes a day in the same activities. Researchers observed that unstructured physical activity, such as walking with the dog or playing in the garden saw an increase for both boys and girls who got a dog during the study. “If we excluded dog walking and playing, there were no changes in the unstructured physical activity, so we could see the changes in physical activity were actually from the addition of those dog-related activities,” said Adams. On the other hand, children who lost their dog decreased their unstructured physical activity by 10.2 sessions a week for girls and 7.7 sessions for boys. “Regular physical activity from an early age is essential for children’s physical and mental health development, but few children or adolescents are meeting recommended daily levels. Our findings indicate that having a dog in the family could help promote healthy movement behaviors in children and reduce their short- and long-term risk of chronic disease.”Although this study discovered a positive link between dog ownership and increased physical activity Adams stresses that it’s not a call for everyone to get a dog. “It’s important to note that we’re not telling families to just go out and get a dog - having a dog comes with many responsibilities and won’t be right for everyone.”Instead, this study encourages dog owners to use canine companionship to increase physical activity. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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No training needed when instincts kick in and your feline friend steps up to the plate.

Pet Obesity Study Shows Promise and Surprising Links With Humans

If you thought that your chubby doggo is incredibly cute, you might want to consider what’s hiding behind that adorable exterior.  Pet obesity is a real thing, and it is a major health hazard that many dogs experience in their lifetime. And, sadly, a lot of it is connected to improper care and diet. To show us just how big of a problem it has become, the latest study from the  Association for Pet Obesity Prevention revealed that in the U.S. alone, around 59% of dogs and 61% of cats were overweight or obese! However, recently conducted research shows that there might be a way to battle the obesity pandemic – with certain strains of probiotics that can help curb pet obesity, especially when dogs are in question. A research team from Seoul National University's Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, conducted a study investigating the effects of probiotics on canine obesity. They discovered two strains that appeared to have weight-reducing properties in obese dogs. To assess the probiotic potential of these strains, the researchers employed a lifespan analysis using Caenorhabditis elegans, a genetic model known for its simplicity in genetic manipulation and shorter lifespan compared to other animal models. Their findings were detailed in a  paper published in the Microbiology Spectrum journal.Thanks to the positive outcome of this research, a new hope was discovered for doggos struggling with excess weight. The use of Caenorhabditis Elegans offers “interventions aimed at enhancing metabolic health in various mammals”, according to the research team. What is more, the effects could be applied to cats, humans, and other mammals, since C. Elegans “serves as a human homolog model”. In general, this whole study could prove to be beneficial to several animal species, as well as humans, making its significance multifold. However, the exact way that bacteria affects weight is not entirely understood. Even though some studies show that certain strains will slow weight gain, researchers were still unable to find a connection between bacteria and weight.Nevertheless, the study is proving to be a major leap forward when pet obesity is considered. There is plenty of potential in this study, and further efforts could change the way dog obesity is experienced – or possibly even root it out for good! 

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