Oh Christmas, it's that wonderful time of year again! Tis the season of joy and merriment made up of one part turkey sandwiches, one part living your fest-life to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas’, and one part family games and fun. Despite all the highs and (very few) lows that come with the snowy season, the most important thing is to share Christmas with those closest to your heart, and there’s nobody closer to your heart than your little pooch. Here at Woofingdales, we’re all geared up for our favourite time of the year and have created a handy guide on how to make this festive season extra special for you and your Christmas pup-ing
Visiting Family & Friends
The festive season gives us a chance to eat, drink and be merry with family and friends, but your pup might not be used to seeing so many new faces simultaneously. As much as dogs love meeting new people it can also become stressful or overstimulating; the worst thing you would want is for your precious pup to feel anxious at Christmas time. We advise crafting them a safe space away from it all - think of it as their own Christmas Grotto! Just find a peaceful little haven, add a few treats to nibble on, some water and a mountain of blankets to lure them in. Your pup will be feeling back to their old selves in no time - after all, four-legged friends have a social battery too!
What’s on the menu?
What’s going to be on this year’s Christmas menu is as important a question for dogs as it is for humans. Now is the time to consider what your special little pup will be having. As tempting as it is to give in to those puppy dog eyes and give them some table scraps, be aware that the food we eat tends to be saltier than a dog can cope with and many human festive favourites contain ingredients that are not so good and can sometimes be toxic for a dogs stomach!
An upset tummy is the last thing your four-legged friend wants during the festive period so it is helpful to be aware that many Christmas foods can be toxic or poisonous - including some common festive treats like chocolates, grapes, sultanas and raisins (which can be hidden in Christmas puddings and mince pies). It’s always tempting to give your furry friends scraps of chicken or turkey but watch out as these may contain tiny bones which can be a choking hazard to smaller pups and also dangerously upset their digestive tract owing to the risk of splintering and internal damage. We recommend that you always check the meat thoroughly before feeding it to your dog and that way you can watch your best friend enjoy a furry-friendly festive feast!
Christmas Activities
The festive season brings up lots of opportunities for fun and of course, your pooch will want to get involved in all the goings on.. Here’s our list of tips to consider that will hopefully help to make this Christmas season one to remember for you and your dog.
- Dress to the nines! - Get your glad rags on and get celebrating! And your dog can too! A festive outfit is always the perfect way to give your pup that extra special something to make them feel even more festive and loved. If you’re wondering what might look most smart on them, might we suggest one of our amazing festive-themed dog harnesses
- Homemade Pet Treats - One of the joys of Christmas is to get those sleeves rolled up and get stuck in with making all those festive treats. Your pet pooch would be more than happy to receive a treat specially made by you so get creative and see what you can come up with!
- Festive Dog Walk - A snowy walk is always a fun thing to do at this time of year, it may not be warm but it’s always idyllic. Consider going somewhere off the beaten path or somewhere new and soaking in all the Christmas spirit that is on offer. We have lots of leads and harnesses available to make the walk not only festive but stylish too. If you want to make your dog walkies extra festive we have a range of festive-themed dog walking accessories as part of our Christmas Collection
- Photos - This should always be a given but remember to take lots of photos!!! This is the most special time of year and always have lots of photos to look back on to remember just how magical it truly is to spend the Christmas season with your favourite furry friends.
As the festivities await us and the year feels like it’s coming to a wonderfully joyous close, we here at Woofingdales are reflecting on the past year and the opportunity to provide you with products for you and your pup to feel like you can enjoy the holiday season with products that are designed with make life easier and enjoyable for you and pup. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support and from everyone at Woofingdales we would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.