In the hustle and bustle of holiday festivities, your puppy may keep getting pushed down the priority list. Instead of seeing your puppy as one more thing to handle during this busy season, try and flip your mindset despite the stress the season can bring. The holidays are a perfect time to strengthen your bond with your puppy. You don’t have to come up with ideas yourself, though. We’ve got some great suggestions to make this the best holiday season yet.
Celebrate the Holidays With Your Puppy Doing These 10 Activities
If this is the first year celebrating the holidays with your furry friend, you might not have thought about holiday traditions to start with your puppy. From pet portrait painting parties to taking in beautiful light displays, here are 10 fun and unique ways to celebrate the holidays with your puppy.
1. Buy fancy new holiday outfits & accessories
For some of you, we won’t have to tell you twice! If you love shopping for your puppy, chances are you’ve got a few holiday outfits and accessories for dogs (ahem, maybe more clothes than you own)!
Don’t leave out your puppy when planning holiday dog outfits, especially for family holiday card photos. Seeing Santa’s Little Helper will make spirits bright and spread holiday cheer. From headbands to bandanas to full-fledged outfits, there’s a holiday accessory and outfit for every shape and size dog, from 5-lb. Yorkshire Terriers to giant Great Danes. You could go with something as a simple decorative collar to an entire elf costume – we’re here for it!
Be sure to take measurements to provide the right size so the outfit isn’t too restricting or loose. Monitor your puppy so they don’t chew off parts of the costume, and always choose non-toxic, pet-safe accessories. Don’t force your puppy to tolerate the outfit or accessory if they are distraught – it should be fun and not frustrating.
2. Give back
Is there an organization near and dear to you involving animals? You can see if a local shelter or rescue organization has a wishlist. You may even have some contents of their wishlist they accept already in your house, such as gently used items like old towels and sheets, toys your puppy never plays with, or dog crates and harnesses they have outgrown. Take your puppy to a pet-friendly store to go shopping for new items to donate as well. You could even organize a supply drive with a local youth organization or your neighborhood to spread even more holiday cheer to pets less fortunate.
3. Attend a dog-friendly holiday event
Whether you attend a dog breed-specific meetup, a holiday pop-up market, or a paw–ty at the dog park, your pooch will have a great time participating in special events and getting some delicious treats and pats on the head. Some events may have giveaways, raffles, costume contests, crafts, and more. These dog-friendly pawliday events are a great way to take a break from wrapping presents and planning menus to have a relaxed experience focused on your dog that’s also fun for humans. Check out local businesses or events on social media to find dog-friendly happenings near you.
Michelle at Love Mischka demonstrates how to make DIY salt dough paw print ornaments
4. Make a DIY dog print ornament
Making salt dough dog print ornaments is a fun and fantastic way to commemorate your pet each holiday. You can track their growth from a puppy to a full-grown best friend by displaying them in your holiday decor. With a few ingredients already in your cabinet, you can make a keepsake memento to cherish for future holidays to come.
To make the dough for DIY dog print ornaments, you’ll need flour, salt, and water – that’s it! Michelle at Love Misckha has instructions help with tips, supplies, and baking instructions to get you in the kitchen, paws at the ready.
5. Go on a cold-weather adventure
Baby, it’s cold outside! Don’t let colder temperatures stop you from having a blast outside this winter. If you live in a colder climate or have a cold-weather dog breed, getting outside to explore nature is a great way to spend time together and stay active to work off those holiday sweets. You’ll need to take a few extra steps of preparation when walking in a winter wonderland. Make sure your puppy is warm enough, either wearing a double coat au natural or a purchased coat for thinner-skinned dogs. Practice proper dog paw care to avoid scrapes from ice or chemical irritation. Check the weather forecast, bundle up, and have a great time watching your puppy try to catch snowballs and dive into snow banks.
KiKi Kane at Rover offers 5 dog Christmas treat recipes that make beautiful gifts
6. Bake some homemade Christmas treats
Those who celebrate Christmas know that Christmas cookies are one of the best parts of the festive season! Don’t leave your puppy out of this delicious aspect of Christmas. Put on your apron once more to create DIY Christmas dog treats made from human foods safe for dogs.
Many people know peanut butter and chicken are great for dogs in moderation, but you may be surprised at some food ingredients that are a great supplement to a dog’s diet every once and a while. Ingredients like oats, cranberries, and spinach create a natural celebration of Christmas colors as well as pet-safe food dyes. Check out Kiki Kane’s 5 Dog Christmas Treat Recipes to whip up some delicious dog treats featuring coconut shortbread, gingerbread, cranberries, spinach, applesauce, and oatmeal. Present a beautiful spread for a holiday dog party, gifts for other dog lovers in your life, or simply a special treat given in moderation for your puppy.
7. Take in the lights
“It’s a beaut, Clark! It’s a beaut!”
If your puppy loves going on car rides or walking around your neighborhood, they’ll love checking out the lights! It’s a great family or roommate activity to pile into cars and go to drive-thru light displays and equally fun to bundle up and go caroling while admiring people’s electrical handiwork.
Just like any time you leave the house with your puppy, you should be prepared when taking your puppy out to look at the lights. If you’re in the car, make sure to use proper car restraints for dogs to keep your puppy safe. If you’re on foot, use the right harness and leash for your puppy, and remember they might not appreciate blow-up displays. Take cues from your puppy to know when to head home.
8. Paint your puppy’s portrait
Signing up for a new experience is always fun, especially when it involves artwork of your puppy. A trendy activity accessible to all levels of artists (yes, even the ones who don’t think they’re artsy) is to paint a pet portrait of your puppy. These popular pet portrait painting events are a fantastic way to receive guidance from an art instructor no matter your experience level. You can attend by yourself or gather a group of dog lovers for some camaraderie. Some workshops offer portraits on canvas, while others have participants paint an ornament. No matter your finished product, you’ll make memories with other attendees and leave with a cherished piece of puppy art.
9. Photograph your pet
The greatest way to make memories with your puppy is to capture the moment by getting their picture taken. Whether you do a fun photoshoot at home or pay for professional pictures, a photo of your pet or even with the whole family will provide a snapshot of the cuteness you may take for granted that you’ll cherish years later.
If you choose to do a photoshoot with your canine companion as the star, here are some dog photography tips for taking great photos of your puppy:
- Enlist someone’s help! They can keep your puppy distracted while you focus on the perfect shot.
- Use festive backgrounds. Even something as simple as wrapping paper styled as a backdrop can look great.
- Be careful if you use string lights or other props to ensure your puppy does not chew on them.
- Learn how to use the best features of your camera, even if it’s on your phone. Check out some photography apps that make the photo editing process simple.
- Have patience! It may not go as you planned, especially when a puppy is involved!
10. Visit Santa Paws
Has your puppy been naughty or nice, or a little bit of both? The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Santa Paws! Places to look for him would be dog-friendly local businesses, organizations, Christmas tree stands and farms, and events. Some may charge a small fee or ask for donations where the proceeds go to a good cause, and others are free. Be sure to check out the news, local online sites, and social media accounts for upcoming dog-friendly Santa Paws opportunities.
Find a Little Helper For Santa Paws at Pawrade
Celebrating the holidays with your canine companion can be a fulfilling way to spread good tidings of great joy. However, you need a Santa’s Little Furry Helper of your own first! That’s where Pawrade comes in.
Unfortunately, the holidays are a perfect storm for puppy scammers to take advantage of people wanting to gift a puppy to a loved one. They know the special date is approaching and you’re looking for the first available “bargain” to come your way. However, without paying attention to the red flags, you may be getting a lump of coal instead of a wiggly puppy for a gift.
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Join happy pawrents who have trusted Pawrade to provide a smooth concierge service when considering adopting puppies for sale. Check out our reviews from happy customers, and we can’t wait to see how you celebrate the holidays with your new four-legged best friend!
