Most homemade pet treats are pretty easy to make (some don’t even require baking), and you probably already have the ingredients. Whip up some treats, put them in a festive tin and you’re good to go. Just be careful to read ingredient labels first. For example, some peanut butter manufacturers have recently added xylitol, which is toxic to pets.
No-Sew Fleece Blanket
Dogs love soft blankets and these are the easiest to make. Just buy a yard or two of fabric (depending on dog size), fringe the edges, and tie! You can use two pieces tied together for a thicker blanket.
Rag Tug
Have old shirts, towels or sweatshirts? Then you can make a rag tug! Simply cut whatever you have into strips, and then place a series of knots through the strips. You can ties strips together, braid them, whatever you can think of, there is no “wrong way” to make this toy. For an extra festive touch, use old Christmas shirts!
Stuffed Stocking
Take your dog’s stocking, buy some Velcro (sew-in is stronger, but you can also use the sticky kind if you are not a sewer) and put the Velcro on the opening. Fill it with his favourite treats, close it, and let him figure out how to rip open the stop to get the treats. Be sure this is supervised to ensure no pieces of cloth are ingested.
Ice Cube Treats
Most dogs love ice cubes. This last minute gift is a cinch! Just pour some chicken or beef broth into your ice cube tray, add some diced carrot, apple pieces, or whatever your dog likes and freeze overnight. He will have a nice treat on Christmas Morning.
Shirt Blanket
If you sew, you can use your old t-shirts to make your dog a blanket. Simply cut into squares, sew the blocks together and sew onto a piece of fleece or other fabric you have lying around. If you have enough old shirts, you could use them for both sides. Your dog will love that it smells like you.
Crinkle Sock
Take a long sock that has lost its mate or is old, put a bottle inside it, tie, and presto, instant dog toy. Make it a Christmas sock to make it special.
Tennis ball Treat Dispenser
This is a great way to make your own treat dispensing toy. Just make a small slice in a tennis ball and fill with treats; couldn’t be easier. This should be supervised to ensure the ball doesn’t get stuck in your dog’s mouth or the small hairs get caught around teeth.
Love and Attention
Most dogs are pretty happy with a long walk, a good belly rub and being told they are a good dog. Unconditional love is the best thing any pet can get for Christmas.
Written by: Lyndsay McShane, RVT
