We know Santa’s bringing toys to all the good children this christmas
… but what about the ones who are left out?
No, I’m not talking about the naughty list, I’m talking about my furry children (i.e. my pets). 🐶
Christmas, after all, is about joy and celebrating family time. Of COURSE I’m going to loop the 4 legged family members into the festivities. My favorite way to include my dogs in the holiday cheer is with a doggie advent calendar. If I have the time, I like to make my own DIY calendar (while taking tons of pics of course), but you can also buy a reusable one online. Here’s an example of one we’ve had for years!
There are a few different ways to create your own advent calendar (and by a few I mean millions... ever heard of pinterest?). I like to make use of things I have lying around the house or stuff that will be thrown away- this way it’s sustainable. Below there are a few of my favorite DIY calendars that will hopefully serve as inspiration.
Cardboard ChristmasCollect paper towel tubes, then cut and stack them to create cubbies. Hot glue to a cardboard base, fill with treats, and you are good to go!
Muffin Countdown
Make use of a mini muffin tin by filling with treats and covering with numbered post its. Decorate the post its with festive colors and stickers.
Christmas Card Calendar
Have extra envelopes for your Christmas cards? Fill them with treats and clip them onto a string. Remember to decorate and number!
Once you’re done creating the Calendar, it’s time to fill it with goodies. I like to do a mix of my dog’s favorite treats (Jiminy’s of course) and homemade coupons. These coupons are just scraps of paper that I write little things I know my dog will love. Examples include: a long belly rub, a puppy playdate, or a long walk to his favorite park.
I hope you feel inspired to celebrate this holiday season with your dogs! If you try any of these calendars with your dog please send us pics! We would love to see them.
Happy Holiday!
Anne Carlson (Jiminy’s CEO) 🐾