As the holidays approach, many people are busy picking out gifts for their loved ones. Of course, many people also have their young ones at home this year. Our canine patients are thrilled about this. Why not have the kids make something for Fido? A local vet offers some suggestions in this article.

Treats

If there’s one thing that is appropriate for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s snacks. Have the kids do a bit of holiday baking! This doesn’t have to be very complicated. You can make your pooch some simple dog biscuits by combining a half cup of oats, 2 cups of pureed pumpkin or sweet potato, an egg, a half cup of natural PB, and three cups of whole wheat flour. Roll the dough out, and use a cute bone-shaped cookie cutter. About 20 minutes at 350F should do it, but add more time for crunchier treats. We suspect Fido will approve.

Toys

Toys are very fun for dogs, but they are also good for our canine pals, both physically and mentally. Here’s an easy option: cut an old towel or tee shirt into thin strips. You can use a few different-colored ones if you like. Braid the strips together, and then braid those braids together. When you have a decent-sized rope toy, tie the end off in a big knot. You can also make variations of this, by incorporating things like tennis balls or different shapes. 

Bedding

It’s very important for your canine buddy to sleep comfortably. You can go easy with this one, and have the kids sew and stuff a blanket. Or, if you want something a bit more involved, have them upcycle a piece of furniture. You can turn a coffee table upside down, repurpose a hard-shell suitcase, or even make a pallet bed. Paint and stain will make it look nice .Just make sure there are no sharp edges. 

Treat Jar

Another option is to have the kids decorate a treat jar for Fido. You can start with any simple ceramic jar or vase. A plain cookie jar is fine. They can use paint, stencils, or other mediums to decorate it and make it look nice. 

Happy Holidays! Please reach out to us, your local vet clinic, if there is ever anything we can do for you. We are here to help!