Let’s face it, everyone loves celebrating the holidays in special ways. The sights, the sounds, the smells of the season are not only exciting for us to experience, but may represent a whole new world for your dog – especially the smells!
We understand that you want to include your dog in all of your holiday festivities, but you must also be aware of their health and safety. While it may be tempting to share your mom’s special cookies with your best friend, you may end up with one sick puppy. By making holiday dog treats just for them, you can include them in the celebrations safely.
Safe Holiday Dog Treats
First, let’s discuss what you should never share with your dog. Chocolate, which is generally very accessible over the holidays, is exceptionally dangerous to canines. Chocolate can cause urinary, circulatory, digestive and nervous system damage, and in same cases can even prove fatal.
Unfortunately, dogs find chocolate just as delicious as we do, so be sure to keep all chocolate away from your pets. Other potentially harmful holiday treats include fatty or greasy table scraps, and alcohol, coffee and tea.
With that out of the way, here are three ideas to include your dog in all the family fun and festivity of the season. .
Holiday Family Dinner
While everyone is gathered around the table and your pooch is begging for a taste, you can satiate his desire to share your meal with veterinarian-approved meals which look and smell like their human’s food. From Turkey & Rice to Savory Vegetable Stew, these recipes are sure to capture your dog’s attention, and allow him to participate in very special holiday meals with the rest of the family.
Christmas Cookies & Ornaments
Homemade cookies are a staple of holiday celebrations, and the season just wouldn’t be the same without them. Create a platter of cookies for your pups with ingredients they already love, such as peanut butter, yogurt, flour and water – but cut them into festive shapes. Make them with a hole in the top, and hang from the bottom boughs of your Christmas tree within easy reach – but be sure to then keep all other ornaments up high! It may be tempting to wrap your dogs treats for them to tear open, but wrapping paper can be toxic, and tape can choke them so proceed with extreme caution.
Decadent Treats
We all have that one favorite recipe which symbolize the holiday season – for some, it just isn’t Christmas Eve without eggnog or fruitcake! Create holiday memories and doggy traditions by bringing out that one “over-the-top treat” for your best friend during the holidays (might we suggest bacon and peanut butter?)
While we understand that your dog wants to party right along with you this holiday, remember that they depend on you to keep them safe. Keep food and drinks that may tempt them up and out of their reach, and realize that your delicious plate of food may make them quite sick. However, there are many recipes which will allow you to indulge your pet while keeping their attention away from items which may harm them.
This holiday start holiday traditions that will last a doggy lifetime – and if you are looking for a great gift for the dog owner in your life, call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training of Sarasota and Bradenton. After all, the greatest gift for a dog owner is a well-behaved and loving canine companion.
