15 Pet-Friendly Holiday Ideas for a Joyful Season

You’ve been busy decking the halls, baking the cookies and wrapping the presents. You also feel guilty because in all the hoopla of the holidays, your pet hasn’t been included in the festivities. Every time you fly through the family room on the way out the door, you tell yourself that you’ll find the time to take him for a walk or break out the catnip toys. Pets often do feel neglected during the rush of the holidays. Add to that the upheaval in schedules and lots of visits from people they may not know, and you have a recipe for a pet who acts out of frustration or is simply miserable. There is hope – there are lots of ways to include your pets in the holiday festivities and make the most of the time you have.

1. Christmas Tree Shopping
   

Choosing the perfect tree is usually a family affair, so grab the leash and bring your dog along with you. A Christmas tree lot or tree farm will be a thrill for your dog – lots of new scents, people to watch, and that special giddiness most humans only share at Christmas! Just be sure to call ahead to make sure dogs are welcome and bring some cleanup supplies in case Fido decides to fertilize the farm himself.

2. Make a Holiday Pet Advent Calendar

These days Advent calendars feature everything from wine to gourmet cheeses. Why not create your own countdown to Christmas using a basic design website, Publisher or some other calendar creating template? For each date, upload a pic of your cat or dog, then cross the days off as Christmas draws closer. Of course, you give your sweet pet a treat of their own each day. Purchase a variety of flavors to make each day special. You could even print out or email copies of your calendar to close friends and family for their own countdown (and an opportunity to show them just how photogenic your cat is!)

3. Participate in Local Holiday Events

Most communities have a “Light Up Night” in their downtown with vendors, food trucks and lots to see and hear. Take your pet with you and let him or her sniff out all those wonderful holiday aromas. You can take a leisurely stroll with them and get some shopping done at the same time.

4. Enjoy the Lights While Including Your Pets in the Holiday Festivities

If you live in a neighborhood where friends and neighbors use lots of colored or twinkling lights, the evening stroll can be an exciting one for your pet. Take a different path each evening so your pet can see all the colorful displays and bark at the ones that move (if he’s into that). You’ll discover that a slow stroll through your neighborhood will also be refreshing for you. The beauty of twinkling lights on a snowy night can’t be duplicated.

Create fun, Christmas family portraits with your dog.

5. Create Goofy Pictures for Holiday Cards

Holiday cards featuring a family photo are popular, and many families include their pets. This year, skip the formality and use a candid photo instead of a studio portrait. Keep it light-hearted and fun. Encourage the kids to play with their pets and snap away. Alternatively, do something unexpected like putting antlers on everyone’s head or wearing matching ugly sweaters (we trust you to figure out how to get the sweater on the cat). You’ll end up with a priceless photo that will bring a chuckle to your family and friends while including your pets in the holiday festivities.

6. Give Your Pet Some Holiday Pampering

You’ve probably already scheduled your pet for a grooming a few days before your holiday festivities, but have you asked the groomer to give them some extra attention? Ask them to add a pet massage, manicure or some other service to make your pets feel extra special.

Include your pets in the holiday festivities. Make holiday pet treats together.

7. Don’t Forget to Include Your Pet in the Holiday Baking

Everyone has their favorite holiday cookie and you’ll probably be baking up a storm to make sure everyone gets their favorite. Don’t forget to make a batch of holiday treats for your pets. You can find lots of dog and cat friendly cookie and cupcake recipes on the Internet. You can even make up an extra batch or two for friends’ pets and help your pet deliver them!

8. Get Crafty

Visit your local craft shop or shop online and buy an inexpensive holiday ornament making kit that lets you personalize Christmas decorations with photos of your pet, a paw print, etc. Many of these are easy enough for even young children to help you create keepsakes you’ll use year after year.

9. Include Your Pet in the Gift Opening Madness

Before wrapping your dog’s or cat’s gift in shiny paper, scent it so your pets will know instantly which gift is theirs. You could tape a few dog treats to the box or include a catnip mouse in the gift bag to entice your pet to rip open their gifts with enthusiasm. Just don’t put it under the tree until right before the gift exchange is supposed to start, or they’ll be done unwrapping their gifts before anyone else starts!

10. Hang Your Pets’ Stockings by the Chimney with Care

Why shouldn’t your pets have their own stockings? You’ll be amazed by the variety of stockings available for pets of all shapes and sizes. You can even personalize them with names. Christmas morning, they’ll love to stick their noses into their stocking and pull out little stuffed toys, treats and whatever else is tucked inside.

11. Take Your Pet with You on Holiday Visits

Whether it’s a quick stop at a neighbor’s house to have coffee or a family get-together at Grandma’s, take your pets with you so that they can soak up some of that Christmas spirit. They’ll feel more like family if they can come along when you’re making the rounds. Of course, always call first to make sure that the company of your pets will be welcome.

12. Give Yourself Both Some Respite

    

    Include your pets in the holiday festivities – including cat naps when needed!

When you’ve been rushing here and there for days or weeks at a time preparing for the holidays, a nice, long nap is a welcome way to recharge your batteries. When you decide to lay down and get some much-needed sleep, invite your dog or cat to cuddle up with you. They’ll love having you all to themselves for a few minutes or hours, and snoozing together is a wonderful way to strengthen your bond. Studies show that sleeping with your pets can lower your blood pressure, a bonus for you.

13. Visit a Shelter Together

Many pet shelters and humane societies allow families and their pets visit during specified hours. It will give your dog or cat any opportunity to help socialize any new animals. Take some donations such as dog or cat food, blankets, cleaning wipes and towels. Shelters and humane societies are perpetually low on these crucial items, particularly at the holidays. Make sure to check with any place you want to visit and arrange a time that is convenient for the staff and the animals.

14. Throw a Holiday Party for Your Pets’ Friends

When you include your pets in the holiday festivities, you can include their friends as well. Christmas and Hanukkah are both winter holidays, when the nights are long, and the weather is often miserable. Many dogs and cats are tired of being stuck inside and have excess energy to burn. The solution? Throw a little holiday party for your pets’ best friends. Invite their dog park buddies, neighboring pets and litter mates to your place for some dog treats (home-baked!), some play time and lots of belly rubs. If your house is too small to accommodate the group, consider using your garage for the day. If the temperatures are bitter, a few space heaters can do the trick (always supervised, of course!).

15. Visit Santa

    

    Visiting Santa is one way to include your pets in the holiday festivities.

Every good dog (and aren’t they all good dogs?) and cat dreams about getting a new chew toy, a spiffy collar and some treats for Christmas. Take your pets to see Santa Claus so they can let the big guy know what they really, really want. There’s no better way to include your pets in the holiday festivities. As a bonus, you can get a great picture of your pets with Santa to proudly display. Check with local pet supply stores, charities and other organizations to find out which ones allow dogs and cats to pose with Santa. The resulting photo just might end up going out in your holiday cards!