The holiday season is around the corner, and there's nothing more important this period than spending time with our friends and loved ones. We are guessing you have a furry friend, and we can guarantee your pet would absolutely love to spend this holiday season with you.
Holiday Activities To Enjoy With Your Pets.
There are a lot of ways to indulge in some holiday fun with your pets this busy Christmas season. You can participate in fun activities like local holiday pet events, make a donation in your pet's name, or even better, invite pet-loving family for a play session! The possibilities are endless. So without further ado, here are 14 fun ways to celebrate the holidays with your pets.
1) Participate in Local Holiday Pet Events
Local pet-focused businesses often put on some special events during this season to commemorate the holiday spirit, such as scavenger hunts, a Christmas pet party, animal shelter fundraising fun walks, and more! You can scan social media to find out if there are local pet events near you. Such events are great opportunities to spend some quality time with local friends and family while having fun with your furry friend.
2) Organize a Christmas themed play session
A rigorous play session with your pet is a great idea to burn excess energy this season. And what's more, you can do it right in the comfort of your own home, or participate in outdoor activities if the weather allows it. You might even decide to host a themed pet dog party, such as an Elf Paws Party or Puppy Wonderland!
Both you and your pet will have so much fun playing in the snow and doing other fun things that the holiday stress which comes with Christmas will instantly fade away! Also, your friends' pets are likely to enjoy it as well, so invite them - remember, when the guests arrive it's going to be one big pet party.
Note: If you're taking the fun outside, ensure you wear comfortable clothes. We suggest some ugly Christmas sweaters from grandma and a warm dog sweater for your dog. This will help keep you and your pets safe from the winter cold.
3. Make a Donation in Your Pet's Name
This is a wonderful gesture and the best way to give back this season. You can donate toys, delicious dinner foods, or even money and help out an organization that will use it for pets who are less fortunate than ours.
As you know, most shelters would be bursting at the seams with homeless dogs and cats during Christmas, and many of these pets are often overlooked by potential adopters. You can help make a difference this Christmas by donating in your pet's name to an animal shelter! You might even receive some fun pet gifts as well, so it will be like giving back twice! Sounds like a great idea, doesn't it?
4. Make a list of Sweet treats your pet enjoys
It's the American tradition to serve Christmas animal treats during the holidays, so why not serve some delicious homemade goodies to your dog? If you have time this season, try baking up some yummy dog-friendly cookies or snacks. Don't forget that chocolate is toxic for dogs!
If you don't have time to make any treats, you can always buy some at the local pet store or supermarket. There are many brands that create delicious dog-friendly goodies. Just be sure not to give your pup too many sugary sweets!
5. Have a holiday-themed photoshoot
Another way to celebrate the holidays with your pet is by taking some festive photos. You can take pictures of them wearing Santa hats or elf ears, baking up Christmas cookies in their tiny oven mitts!
The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating these special memories for you and your pets this Christmas. You can even create a photo album with all these pictures and give it to your friends or family as a gift! These photos can also serve as Christmas card pictures.
6. Have a Holiday Pet Costume Party
If you've ever attended a Halloween party with your pet, then you know how fun it can be. Why not celebrate the holidays by hosting a Christmas-themed pet costume party? This will elevate the Christmas spirit in everyone and is sure to put even Santa's elves in the mood!
You could also consider having a shorter play session with your friends and their pets while dressed in their delightful costumes. Don't forget to capture all of your pet's special moments with a camera so you can cherish them forever!
7. Host a pet-friendly holiday movie night
Here's another fun idea; why not host a special pet-friendly holiday movie night with your furry friend? There are so many wonderful movies out there that feature lovely Christmas animals. So what better way to spend time with your dog this holiday than by cuddling up together on the couch and checking out some classic holiday movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas or A Christmas Story? Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the winter holidays to us!
8. Shop at a pet store
Another way to celebrate the holidays with your pet is by taking them shopping! There are so many fun stores and outdoor markets around this time of year which features all types of festive goodies for your dog or cat. You can even go out together and pick out their presents before you do yours! Sounds like a fun activity we'd love to do this Christmas!
You could also get them some safe toys and colorful lights. This is a also great way to keep your pet busy and active throughout the holidays.
9. Get creative with your pet
One of the main reasons we love spending time with our pets is because they are always excited to spend time with us. This means that if you want some company, all you have to do is get out a pencil and paper! While this does not guarantee that your dog will be able to draw anything extraordinary, it is a great way to encourage physical and mental stimulation. Of course, if your pet does decide they want to give drawing a whirl, just remember that practice makes perfect! If they don't feel very artistic this Christmas, maybe you can find a DIY fun hobby for them to take up in the new year!
10. Plan a fun-filled Christmas dinner
You can also plan some festive dinners that your pet would love. Most pets are picky eaters, so spend time finding out what your dog or cat might like. Once you find out, prepare a holiday meal that they'll never forget. Just make sure that you keep an eye on them while they are sampling these new foods to see whether or not they start experiencing any allergic reactions.
11. Play Festive Music
Music is an important part of the Christmas holidays and listening with your pets can be fun! Why not play some special holiday songs that they enjoy? Just make sure they won't feel overwhelmed by the noise levels. Remember, playing music for your dog does not necessarily mean it needs to be loud, but rather fun and lively songs which will lift everyone's spirits during the holidays!
12. Create a festive collar
If your pet enjoys wearing collars you could create a Christmas-themed one this holiday.
There are many ways that you could adorn your pet's collar with cute ribbons and bows. However, if you want something even more simple, you could always attach some lovely poinsettia flowers to the side of the collar as a nice little decoration. Then, you can take pictures of your pet wearing their new festive accessory for some special holiday photos to remember this time by!
13. Find a Christmas tree
While it is not too late to buy a new Christmas tree and decorate your house with lovely lights and all sorts of other different holiday gifts, why not let your dog help you pick out the perfect one?
This will ensure that everyone is happy with the way it looks and that they like the scent of the leaves as well! Your pet will also enjoy having such an active role in choosing where all of these wonderful decorations go around your home.
14. Play holiday-themed games with your pet
Lastly, don't forget to get some pet-friendly games for your pets this Christmas! Not only will this give them something fun to do, but it can also encourage mental stimulation and even help with training! For instance, you could purchase some food puzzles or even some shiny new dog bones!
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different ways to celebrate the holidays with your pets! Whether they enjoy getting gifts during December or helping you pick out decorations for your home, they will have a lot of fun. Spending time with your pet this holiday season is one of the best ways to show them how much they mean to you and that you appreciate all of their love and affection throughout the rest of the year.