Advent calendars are one of the loveliest parts of the run-up to Christmas: opening a little door each day and enjoying a new surprise. You can easily make a dog advent calendar yourself, too. It’s a wonderful way to sweeten the wait for the big day for your four-legged family member. You’ll find step-by-step instructions and some lovely filling ideas here.
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Would you like to make the run-up to Christmas extra special for your furry friend? It’s easy to create your own Advent calendar for dogs.
Advent means the excitement of Christmas approaching, candlelight, gingerbread and mulled wine. Of course, an advent calendar is a must – ideally one you’ve made yourself.
So why not make a dog advent calendar yourself? Instead of chocolate, your pet’s calendar can be filled with tasty treats or exciting dog toys.
It’s not just your own furry friend who’ll be delighted when you make a dog advent calendar. A DIY advent calendar also makes a wonderful gift for dog-loving friends.
Discover our range of Christmas offers for dogs at zooplus.
The “doors” of our dog advent calendar are 24 festive paper bags filled with different small gifts for your dog.
Homemade dog biscuits or other dog treats are perfect for filling them. Your pet will also be thrilled with the odd new dog toy.
You’ll need the following materials to make a dog advent calendar:
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Fabric pouches are a great alternative to paper bags. Instead of ribbon, you can also use small wooden pegs to attach the gifts to the cord. Of course, you could hang the advent calendar from a decorative branch, too.
As another alternative to paper bags, you can use empty kitchen roll or toilet roll tubes to make a dog advent calendar. Simply fold in one end of the cardboard tube, fill it with treats and then close the other end.
When shopping for your dog advent calendar, make sure the paper bags are large enough to fit items such as a chew bone or a bigger toy.
It’s best to buy the contents first and then choose the bags. You can find paper bags in different sizes and designs in stationery shops, chemists or online retailers.
There are countless ways to fill the 24 paper bags of your homemade dog advent calendar. It’s a good idea to alternate between edible treats and toys. Make sure the treats will keep for a while.
Here are a few suggestions:
For St Nicholas’ Day or on 24 December, you could pop something extra special into the bag. How about treating your four-legged friend to a stylish new collar? Or perhaps a warm dog coat or dog overalls? A health & GPS tracker or a light-up collar are also practical dog gadgets.
Reading tip: Christmas Presents for Dogs
Once you’ve finished making the dog advent calendar, you can open a “door” together with your dog each day by handing them a bag.
It’s even more fun if you turn giving the gifts into a game. For example, you could hide the bag and let your dog search for it. Your pet will probably also love unwrapping their present themselves.
Reading tip: Christmas with Your Dog: Tips for a Safe and Happy Festive Season
Finally, one more note: if your dog is prone to being overweight, you should deduct the treats from the homemade dog advent calendar from their usual daily food allowance.
We hope you have lots of fun crafting and wish you a wonderfully festive Christmas with your pet!
You might also like this DIY idea for dogs: How to Build a Dog House
The zooplus editorial team consists of a dedicated team of experts with many years of experience in the field of animal husbandry: Luisa with her White Swiss Shepherd Elyos, Laura, Julio, and Florian. Together with a large network of animal experts, we work to make the zooplus magazine a trusted source of information for all animal owners and lovers. Our goal is to provide exciting animal knowledge and relevant information on the proper care of pets.
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