4 Fun Things to Do With Your Pets This Holiday Season
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1. Into the Woods: Decorate with Nature
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This year, why not use reclaimed, recycled, and natural materials to decorate for the holidays? Dubbed “Homespun Holiday” by style spotters, it’s the perfect excuse to go for a long walk in the woods with your pet.
Grab a basket or canvas bag and hit the trail (here are some dog-approved places to go), picking up the natural treasures you find along the way. How “right” would a bowl of perfectly-imperfect pinecones that you gathered on a stroll with your dog feel about now? Your attention is the best gift you can give your pet (and you can both burn some calories, too).
Use your bounty to create this foraged wreath.
2. Oh Snap! Capture the Christmas Cuteness
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Picture this: You and your pet-kids in matching Christmas sweaters. Need we say more?
This year, go there and create a holiday fur-family photo for the ages. Whether it’s a full-on costume, a colorful sweater, or just adding antlers to your dog’s head or strapping a Santa hat on your cat, dressing up your oh-so-photogenic pets for holiday snaps—to feature on cards and ornaments, in videos, or just adding quirky cheer to your IG feed—is a perfect way to share their cuteness.
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3. Get Your Bake On: Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange
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Cookie exchanges are a fun way to get a real taste of the holiday without having to bake 10 different types of treats—and getting your pets involved makes it even more of blast.
Here’s how it works: Choose your favorite cookie recipe for yourself and another for your pets, bake a batch of each (about two dozen cookies total) and invite a few of your friends to each make a human and pet cookie of their choosing. (Typically, you want to stick to 4-6 bakers in total.) Then host a party to sample all the goodies.
Your pet will not be allowed to try every cookie that day (you don’t want any tummy aches), but with this collaborative effort, you both will have treats on hand for the next week.
Need some pet-safe treat inspo? Try:
4. Snuggle and Stream: Have a Holiday Movie Bingefest
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Take some time out of all the bustle and glitz of the season to just spend quiet time in your own home with your pets. Create a cozy scene, pour something delish for you and your pet—may we suggest a dog-friendly PSL for your canine viewing companions (get the recipe here)—and screen a Christmas classic or two.
Two movies on our must-watch list? “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (the Grinch’s dog Max is a total scene stealer), and of course, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” featuring everyone’s favorite Beagle, Snoopy. If the cat purrs and dog snores get too loud, well, then your work here is done!
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