Making a dog advent calendar at home has one big advantage: you know exactly what goes in it and you can tailor it to your dog's size, tastes and tolerances. If you start now, in October, you'll gather the 24 surprises without any rush, and on 1 December you'll have a calendar ready that will delight your dog and the whole household. Here you'll find the base, the steps, 24 ideas to fill it and the safety rules worth being clear on.
The base: four simple options
- Paper bags on a string: 24 kraft paper bags hung with wooden pegs from a cord or a branch. Cheap, quick and very decorative.
- Cardboard egg boxes: four half-dozen egg boxes give you exactly 24 compartments. Cover each one with tissue paper and number it. Perfect for small treats.
- Little sacks or socks: fabric sacks or odd socks hung from a string, ideal for slightly bigger toys.
- Wooden calendar with drawers: you buy it once and refill it every year.
Avoid glitter, tinsel and sticky tape, which your dog could swallow while unwrapping. Kraft paper, cotton string and wooden pegs are a better choice.
How to make a dog advent calendar in four steps
- Plan the mix. A calendar made up only of treats mostly just fills the stomach. A mix works better: roughly a third edible and the rest toys, useful everyday items and little outings.
- Count the calories. Anything edible in the calendar comes out of the daily ration. For small dogs, tiny portions are enough: even half a chew bone may be too much.
- Wrap and number. Fill the bags or compartments, close them with a peg or string and write the numbers nice and big. Anything homemade goes in shortly before its day.
- Hang it out of reach. A dog's nose will find a treat even when it's wrapped. Hang the calendar up high and open each door together, for example after the morning walk. If you like, turn it into a little ritual with a “sit” or their favourite trick.
24 ideas to fill your dog's advent calendar
Edible (7 doors)
- training treats in individual bags
- homemade dog biscuits (recipe below)
- rabbit ears or a small piece of bully stick
- dried fish snacks
- freeze-dried meat pieces
- dried chicken strips
- a coffee wood root chew
Toys and play (7 doors)
- a squeaky ball in the right size
- a knotted rope toy for tug games
- a lick mat with a little dog pâté
- a kibble-dispensing ball
- a small soft toy without button eyes
- a soft flying disc made of fabric or rubber
- a snuffle mat as the big surprise on 24 December
Care and everyday items (5 doors)
- a new neckerchief or bandana
- a roll of poo bags with a dispenser
- a collar light for walks after dark
- a soft brush
- a paw balm for winter
Vouchers and outings (5 doors)
- a voucher for an outing on a new route
- a treat hunt around the living room, like the ones in our article on how to keep a dog entertained indoors
- a playdate with their best canine friend
- an extra-long session of cuddles and brushing
- a photo shoot by the Christmas tree
For the vouchers, a slip of paper with a drawing is enough: your dog won't read it, but you'll keep your word.
Quick recipe: banana biscuits for dogs
Mash a ripe banana, mix it with an egg and add fine porridge oats (about 150 to 200 g) until you have a dough that's easy to handle. Roll it out, cut out small biscuits and bake them at 170 °C (conventional, top and bottom heat) for about 20 to 25 minutes. Leave them to dry out in the oven once it's switched off, and only store them when they're completely cold. It's best to bake them in two batches so they're still fresh on day 24.
Safety: what it must never contain
- Toxic foods: chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and anything containing xylitol are off limits for dogs. Mince pies and Christmas pudding have no place in their calendar either.
- Pieces that are too small: toys must be clearly bigger than anything your dog could swallow. A ball for small dogs is a hazard for a big one.
- Bits of wrapping: don't let your dog unwrap things unsupervised, and clear away paper, string and pegs straight away.
- New things, little by little: treats and chews your dog hasn't had before are best given one at a time and in small amounts. If your dog has an allergy or a health condition, check the treats with your vet.
A door for you
In December your dog spends the day on the sofa and on the blanket, and that's where the hair ends up. So an extra door for the human could be our self-cleaning pet hair remover: it works with static electricity, needs no batteries or sticky sheets and can be used on sofas, beds, blankets, clothes, rugs and car seats. The hair collects in a compartment that you empty straight into the bin. You'll find more ideas in our article on gifts for dog owners and in our shop.
This article is for information only and is not a substitute for advice from a vet.