15 Homemade Dog Christmas Gifts to Make and Wrap
Holidays & Parties
A pair of thick holiday socks, a glue gun and twenty minutes will get you a gift your dog is thrilled to destroy. That is the appeal of homemade dog Christmas gifts. They cost close to nothing, they use what is already sitting in the craft drawer, and they land far better than something grabbed off a shelf on the 23rd.
Fifteen projects follow, sorted by what they are. Toys, edible gifts, tree decorations, things to wear, and a few for the person on the other end of the leash. Several take ten minutes.
DIY Dog Toys for Christmas Morning
A shop-bought plush lasts four minutes with a determined terrier. Homemade ones cost nothing to replace.
Holiday Doggy Donut Sock Toys
Two pairs of thick Christmas socks, rolled and knotted into a ring, make a squashy donut that crunches when a dog bites down through the layers. The holiday doggy donut toy tutorial covers the rolling and tying, and a pair comes together in about fifteen minutes.
Tie a ribbon on for the photo, then take it off before the toy is handed over.
Braided T-Shirt Tug Toy
An old cotton t-shirt cut into three long strips and braided tight becomes a tug rope for nothing. Keep the strips wide, roughly two inches, so the braid has some heft, and knot both ends hard. Cotton jersey is softer on teeth than synthetic rope, which makes this one kind to puppies and to seniors with worn-down molars.
Rolled Towel Snuffle Toy
Lay a hand towel flat, scatter kibble or crumbled biscuit along it, roll it up and tuck the end under. Ten seconds to build, ten minutes of nose work for the dog, which is the kind of tired that sticks. Supervise the first few rounds, since some dogs decide the towel is part of the snack.
Edible Dog Gifts and Homemade Christmas Treats
Baking solves two problems. The dog gets something worth waiting for, and so does every dog-owning neighbor on the list.
Christmas Dog Treats Baked in Batches
Gingerbread shapes, cranberry yogurt drops and no-bake carob bites all keep well enough to parcel out. These Christmas dog treat recipes handle the baking, including dog-safe swaps for the nutmeg and xylitol that turn up in the human versions of all three.
If baking is not happening this December, this guide to the best dog treats covers small-batch makers whose packaging already looks like a present.
Glitter Treat Jar for Homemade Biscuits
A plain glass jar, a gold-painted lid and a length of ribbon turn a batch of biscuits into something that reads as bought. The DIY treat jar tutorial has the painting and sealing steps.
Write the ingredients on the tag, peanut butter especially, since plenty of dogs have allergies. The free printable Happy Howlidays dog gift tags are sized for the job.
Santa's Little Helper Dog Treat Bags
For handing out two biscuits rather than a whole jar, these Santa's Little Helper treat bags fold and stamp in minutes, and a stack covers the whole dog park.
Dog Christmas Crafts for the Tree and Mantle
Almost everything hanging on a tree is off limits to a dog. These Christmas crafts for dogs are the exceptions, built to be touched. If the countdown matters as much as the morning itself, a homemade dog advent calendar spreads the whole thing across December.
Treat-Filled Christmas Baubles
Clear plastic baubles that open in two halves, packed with small dry treats and finished with a photo tag, look like decor until Christmas morning, when they get opened. The dog treat bauble tutorial runs ten minutes per ornament.
Pet-Safe Sparkle Ornaments
Shatterproof ornaments with a printed dog reindeer inside give you the sparkle without the swept-up glass that follows a wagging tail at branch height. This sparkly pet-friendly ornament project comes with the free printable.
Paw Print Keepsake Art
Blob pet-safe, water-based paint onto a canvas, tape a sheet of acetate over the top, smear peanut butter across the acetate and let the dog lick. The paint moves underneath and the dog never touches it. Peel the acetate off and let it dry.
For a simpler version, press a clean paw into washable ink and print it onto card stock. Framed with the date underneath, that is the gift the grandparents cry over.
No-Sew Dog Christmas Stockings
Fleece, hemming tape, a glue gun and sharp scissors make a stocking that looks boutique-bought. One pattern turns out a matching set for the whole household, dog included, which is where the no-sew dog stocking tutorial earns its keep.
Handmade Dog Collars, Bandanas and Leashes
Anything a dog wears photographs well, which is half the reason these get made.
No-Sew Dog Collar Sleeves
A fabric sleeve slides over the collar the dog already wears, dressing up a plain nylon strap for Christmas lunch and coming straight off after. The collar sleeve tutorial needs no stitching, and a quarter yard makes several.
Ironed No-Sew Dog Bandana
Same idea, bigger statement. Fabric, hemming tape and an iron produce a slip-on bandana in about fifteen minutes, and the no-sew dog bandana method folds the loop so it sits flat. Worth saying on the gift tag: hemmed rather than stitched means it will not survive a washing machine.
Dip-Dyed Ombre Rope Leash
Mix fabric dye in a bucket and lower a plain cotton rope leash in by stages, deepest end first. Pull it up a few inches every ten minutes and the color steps down into a gradient on its own. Rinse until the water runs clear and dry it fully before it goes anywhere near a dog.
DIY Gifts for Dog Lovers, Not Just Their Dogs
Homemade gifts for dog lovers are a harder brief than gifts for dogs, because the human notices the finish. These two hold up. For anything that needs buying rather than making, this Christmas gift guide for dog lovers runs to three dozen options.
Painted Dog Wine Stoppers
A plastic dog figurine, a cork, strong glue and a coat of metallic paint make a stopper that looks like a gift shop find. The dog wine stopper tutorial covers the painting, and matching the figurine to the recipient's actual breed is what sells it.
Matching Friendship Collar and Bracelet
Braid paracord in two lengths from the same spool, one for a wrist and one for a collar, and you have a set. Measure the dog's neck and add two fingers of room. Seal the cut ends with a lighter flame so they do not fray, then let them cool completely.
It is a sweet one for a new puppy owner, and it costs about the same as a coffee.
Dog-Safe Craft Materials and What to Skip
Homemade dog gifts are safe when the materials are. Stick to cotton, fleece, felt and food-grade fillings. Keep small parts like pom poms, buttons, beads and googly eyes off anything a dog will hold in their mouth, and cut ribbon and tags off before a toy is handed over. Salt dough ornaments are the one popular dog craft to skip entirely, since the salt in a single baked ornament is enough to make a dog seriously unwell.
A few more things worth checking before the glue gun comes out:
- Paint and ink: look for the ACMI seal on anything that might touch a paw or a tongue. The AP mark means non-toxic.
- Craft sticks and colored pencils: real trouble if swallowed, and a pencil can lodge in the intestines.
- Old ornaments: salt dough from previous years is still salt dough. Store it high or bin it.
- Glitter: messy rather than dangerous, and generally not a concern if a little gets licked up.
The ASPCA's guidance on pet safety during holiday arts and crafts is a quick read before a crafting afternoon with pets in the room.
Start with the stockings. They take the longest, and everything else can be stuffed inside them. If the glue gun never leaves the drawer, this Christmas gift guide for dogs covers the shop-bought route.
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I loved this post!
And…speaking of holiday.. I’m obsessed with fall. Call me crazy but I change my iPhone background each season! Being that Christmas season is almost upon us, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite holiday backgrounds! Enjoy!
I love the ombre leash, its beautiful!