5 creative ways to celebrate the holidays with your pet

Get your pet their own advent calendar

Advent calendars have been around since the early 1900s, which means it’s about time dogs and cats get their own. Available in Pet Valu stores, pet advent calendars have become a hot commodity and will almost for sure sell out.

If you aren’t able to buy one in time for the holidays, you can consider making your own advent calendar for your favourite furball. Gather up small boxes or containers (raid the recycling bin for cardboard, yogurt cups, takeout sauce containers, jam jars, etc.) and decorate them with tissue paper, yarn, or paint in festive colours.

Then all that’s left to do is number them, fill them with treats or small toys, and start a new tradition with your BFF this year.

Have your pet sit for a holiday portrait

There is no need to get overly formal with this one.

A pet portrait can be a short sitting with an animal-friendly Santa that you frame, or have printed onto holiday cards to send to friends and family.

Or it can be a picture of you in your ugly holiday sweater and your pet in their fashionable, festive knitwear, snapped with a selfie stick.

If you’re feeling really creative, try your hand at sketching or painting a portrait of your pet posed in front of the tree or fireplace. No, they won’t sit still while you’re drawing, which is why we suggest working from a photo instead.

Any of these options can be printed on magnets, cards, calendars, or even ornaments.

Get your pet its own stocking

Handy with a needle and thread, a sewing machine, or a hot glue gun? Then you’ve got what it takes to make your pet’s very own stocking, to fill with treats and toys this holiday season. For non-sewers, felt is a good option that works well with glue or you can find a second-hand stocking and simply customize it for your pet.

If you are handy with a thimble, get creative with fabric scraps or repurposed items from around the house. Make yourself a paper pattern based on a stocking you already have and go from there.

Don’t worry if it isn't perfect, your pet will love it anyway — they know it’s what’s inside that counts.

Add pet-friendly treats to your holiday baking schedule

Baking cookies or treats for your pet is just plain fun.

For the dogs, go with pumpkin, sweet potato, or apple to keep it seasonal. Be sure to find a trusted source for your recipes and always avoid ingredients that are dangerous to animal health (avoid chocolate, artificial sweeteners, macadamia nuts, and high-fat foods).

Get crafty with some pet-themed holiday decor

Nothing brings on the holiday vibes like decorating your space for the season.

Draw on inspiration from your pets and include them in decking the halls with animal-safe items that make the home you share feel festive.

We love DIY projects like a wreath made from poop bags that can be disassembled and put to practical use post-holiday, or simple ornaments made with your pet's photo that only require a printer, a pair of scissors, and some string — making them the perfect project for kids to do while they’re out of school.