If you are keen for your dog to join in all the fun of Christmas in a way that they will truly enjoy, then look no further!
Here are five easy activities to try with your dog over the festive season to bring a little extra sparkle to their Christmas.
Festive forage box
Forage boxes are so simple to set up and great fun for dogs. All you need is:
- An empty box that your dog can reach over the top of and get their head into
- Discarded Christmas wrapping paper
- Some tasty treats
Place the box on the floor and fill it up with scrunched up pieces of wrapping paper. Sprinkle the treats in amongst the paper, then let your dog have at it!
We love forage boxes because they tap into dogs’ natural foraging instincts, and encourage them to use their nose and brain to sniff out the treats hidden amongst the other items. What better way to use old paper and packaging before it goes in the recycling?
Presents to open
Everyone else in the family will have presents to open on Christmas day, so why not let your dog join in the fun? You will need:
- A toy, chew, or treat
- Some wrapping paper
Loosely wrap the toy or treat in paper (no need for Sellotape) and then let your dog enjoy unwrapping it. Many dogs really like the process of tearing and shredding, and this simple activity gives them a safe outlet.
Christmas dinner treasure hunt
Treasure hunts aren’t just for Easter – we think they’re perfect for Christmas too, and any other time of year for that matter!
All you need for this activity are plenty of dog-safe, festive treats. The Coast and Country Canines dogs are partial to carrot peelings, turkey meat (no bones), and cooked Brussel sprouts, but choose whatever your dog likes best. If you are not sure what foods are safe for dogs, the Blue Cross have some helpful guidance on their website.
Start by asking your dog to sit and wait, or let a friend hold their lead while you hide the treats. The first few times you play, make it nice and easy and let your dog watch you.
Once you’re finished, tell your dog to ‘find it’ and let them explore. As they start to understand the game, you can make it harder by not letting them watch you, or by doing some ‘fake drops’, where you pretend to place a treat but don’t actually do so.
If you don’t have much time, or a way to keep your dog in a ‘wait’, you can simply scatter some treats and let your dog enjoy snuffling them up.
Treat your dog to a winter walk at their favourite place
Your Christmas gift to your dog could be treating them to a winter walk at their favourite place. You could make it extra special for them by throwing in some fun games or enrichment activities, like tug, ‘find it’, or some DIY agility. Visit the ‘engagement games’ page on our website for more ideas.
Christmas day can be a very busy time, so your dog will love spending an hour or so being the centre of attention, doing their favourite things with their favourite person.
If your dog’s favourite place is the beach, be sure to look out for birdlife while you’re there. Many vulnerable species migrate from as far as Siberia to spend the winter on the Solent coast, so it’s essential that we give them plenty of space to rest and feed in peace.
The Christmas cracker game
This game is a fun, dog-friendly spin on the tradition of pulling Christmas crackers. All you need are some treats and your dog’s favourite tug toy.
The idea is that every time your dog wins the game and pulls the toy out of your hand, they get a treat – just like they would if they won a cracker pulling contest.
With tug it’s important to choose a tooth safe toy, move side to side not up and down (to protect your dog’s neck and spine) and stop if it gets too rough! We also recommend teaching appropriate cues like in this great video from the Blue cross.
