4 gift ideas for a dog's Christmas stocking
Don't show up for Christmas parties without a holiday treat for the dog
The Thanksgiving leftovers are devoured, frozen, or you’re so tired of eating them that the garbage disposal was tagged in. Now it’s time to start plotting on Christmas shopping and holiday planning. Shopping for humans is a task on its own, but you’ll wrestle through that one like you do every year.
But what about the dogs who live in your family’s and friends’ households? Do you show up empty-handed for those dogs during Christmas holiday parties? And what about your own pet? Can you face your four-legged security guard and fitness trainer without a holiday gift? No! Not if you want to maintain that 365-day bond.
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Sure, you know how to make homemade dog treats, but your dog (and those dogs) gets those all year round. What surprises will these pups get on December 25? (Yes, dogs may not be savvy enough to know the calendar date, but there’s nobody in a pet owner’s household who knows exactly what time it is each day like a dog who wants to be fed or walked. Wall clocks be damned.)
Plus, they’ll recognize the yard decor changed from creepy dolls, skeletons, graveyards and pumpkins to a well-fed man, a white snow head with a carrot on top that’s too high to eat, and colder paws during your daily walks. Dogs can smell, see and hear that something has changed around this season — and not just that they’re forced to leave sticks outside but you brought an entire tree into the living room.
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The good news is dogs (unless they have sensitive stomachs) are easy to please. A Christmas dog stocking will do the trick every single time. Don’t bother getting too fancy with heavy chewers because that crocheted Christmas stocking is at risk of becoming a clump of yarn (again). A quick trip to a dollar-value store is fine. As long as it’s decent quality, it’ll end up in the Christmas bin to be used again next year. Save the decorative add-ons for windows, furniture, front yards and Christmas dinner.
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But what should you put in a dog’s Christmas stocking? Here are some ideas.
1. Christmas Dog Treat
You already know what treat (or food) makes your dog the most excited when it comes out of the shopping bag. If you want to make the treat more holiday-centric, you can either buy a themed bone or make homemade dog Christmas cookies, which are similar to homemade dog treats. Here’s what you’ll need.
Leftover chopped bacon or another unseasoned, cooked meat (optional)
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (no artificial sweeteners like xylitol)
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
3/4 cup of (distilled) water
1 tablespoon of unsweetened fresh or dried cranberries (no added sugar or artificial sweeteners like xylitol)
Christmas cookie cutter (ex. gingerbread, snowman, Santa)
Click here for baking instructions.
Keep in mind that homemade dog treats do not have the preservatives that can make them safe to eat for months. It is best to make these homemade Christmas dog treats at the start of Christmas week up until Christmas Eve. Refrigerate any leftovers immediately. In my experience, up to two jars of homemade dog treats last approximately two to three weeks.
2. New Toy (or Two)
For heavy chewers, find a long-lasting toy that will not become a choking hazard. There are already enough Christmas decorations to keep an eye on. Don’t add a sketchy toy to the list, such as a dog antler no matter how cute the Rudolph decor looks outside. Check any size and texture risks beforehand, and make sure the Christmas dog toy is suitable for your dog’s weight, height and (if need be) breed.
A Christmas dog ball is probably the easiest choice unless you have a dog (read: Junee) who spends more time rolling it under the couch than playing with it. Homemade dog toys are fairly easy to make, especially if you’re a household that regularly buys plastic water bottles.
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3. Practical Dog Supply Post-Holiday
As fun as holiday-themed dog toys like candy canes, reindeer or Christmas trees are, they don’t make sense in March. Consider something that’ll be useful in the new year, such as poop bags, an upgraded dog collar or new harness, a new ID tag, grooming tools, dog butt wipes, dog shampoo, dog paw moisturizer or dog ear cleaner. A paw balm is especially necessary during winter months when salt and cold pavement can dry or crack your dog’s paw pads. While you may already have these in your own home and your dog will think this Christmas dog gift is about as exciting as socks, other pet owners will be ecstatic to cross one of these off their grocery list.
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4. Holiday Snuggles
There is no blanket, plush toy, sweater or coat that will compete with your dog wanting to be petted. But you have a job to do and cannot pet your dog 24/7. A durable dog blanket or a new dog bed (including human-sized dog beds) may be a nice pet perk too. A light spritz of vanilla or lavender will be particularly enticing to dogs who love these scents.
Happy Holidays!
Shamontiel is a dog lover to her core: 666 completed walks with 102 dogs, eight dog house sittings and 10 dog boardings at the time of this publication.
Did you enjoy this post? You’re also welcome to check out my Substack columns “Black Girl In a Doggone World,” “BlackTechLogy,” “Homegrown Tales,” “I Do See Color,” “One Black Woman’s Vote” and “Window Shopping” too. Subscribe to this newsletter for the weekly posts every Wednesday. Thanks for reading!