How to make your own dog advent calendar
As we all know, anticipation is half the fun—so why not make the most of the festive season with your beloved pet this year? If you enjoy spending this special time preparing surprises for your loved ones, perhaps you've already thought about making your own dog advent calendar? We think it's an excellent idea! We'll show you how to give your four-legged friend (and yourself) 24 reasons to be merry.
Our tip: Are you more in the “dog advent calendar yes – DIY no” camp? Then we have an alternative for you in our range: the pre-filled dog advent calendar with 24 tasty treats.
DIY dog advent calendar – what you need
There are no limits to how you can design your dog advent calendar! First, however, you need 24 ways to store treats and other items in your Christmas calendar. It makes sense to think about the size of the containers you will need beforehand: it is best to match them to the contents.
Here are a few ideas:
Candy made from toilet paper rolls, decoratively wrapped in paper
Small cardboard boxes, e.g., wrapped in packing paper
Paper bags, e.g., bread bags
Small bags tied with ribbon
Our tip: Combine several of these options to create a particularly colorful calendar that can be made as a last-minute Advent calendar for dogs even shortly before the start of Advent—after all, very few people have 24 toilet paper rolls available at short notice!
What you need:
You will also need the following items:
- String
- Scissors
- Clothespins
- Adhesive tape
- Gift ribbon
Making a dog advent calendar – our instructions
1. Get the contents:
You should allow yourself some time to get 24 little surprises that will delight your furry friend. Below you will find our suggestions for 24 “doors”[1].
2. Wrap the gifts:
It's almost a ritual – wrapping gifts is as much a part of Christmas as your furry friend is to you! Fill the boxes, toilet paper rolls, or paper bags with your surprises, seal them, and wrap them up nicely with wrapping paper and ribbon.
3. Hang up the Advent calendar:
Now you can hang your homemade gifts and candies on a ribbon with clothespins (preferably out of reach of your pet). Or do you have a sturdy branch from your last walk handy? Packages attached to it and dangling merrily make a great Christmas decoration, especially in combination with a string of lights.
Our tip: Have you seen Paula's Christmas tips? Our colleague Nicole's dog shares her tips on how to keep the Christmas season relaxed for our furry friends. Take a look!
Fill your own dog advent calendar: 24 creative ideas
Our team has gathered some great suggestions and come up with 24 exciting and varied ideas to sweeten the advent season for you and your four-legged friend!
Treats – the classic
Grain-free, sugar-free, and free from other additives – natural treats and snacks are a hit with every furry friend and, once purchased, can be conveniently divided into several packets.
Our delicious recommendations for 10 “doors”:
XY from the We Love HUNTER team:
“yx has a real nose for truffles and loves search games more than anything! We often hide treats for him/her in our apartment—it's ideal for keeping his/her mind active and, especially in December, it's great for playing indoors!”
Dog toys – for the whole year
From balls to cuddly toys – versatile toys for your dog are also among the most popular items in dog advent calendars!
Find 3 more calendar ideas for extra fun here:
Creative DIY fillings
If you want to buy fewer ready-made fillings, you can of course make your own – here are 4 DIY ideas for your dog's Christmas calendar:
- Make your own snuffle mat
- Make your own food game for dogs
- Bake your own dog biscuits
- DIY intelligence game for your four-legged friend
A different kind of Advent calendar: activities for dogs
How about spending some quality time together with your beloved pet for a change? After all, the pre-Christmas period can be quite hectic.
So, here are 5 feel-good tips for you and your furry friend instead of the usual Advent calendar treats:
- Work up a sweat together in the fresh air and then curl up on the sofa: why not try dog frisbee?
- Have you heard of yoga with dogs? “yoga” promotes balance and serenity.
- Need a little relaxation? We have tips for dog wellness.
- Double the fun: your pet can unwrap gifts and then enjoy the contents.
- Dog owners are allowed to treat themselves too: how about a mulled wine on your walk? The colder it is outside, the better this winter classic tastes.
Conclusion: So many possibilities! It's almost a shame that Advent only has 24 surprises in store. But – as a small consolation – luckily, it's “the same thing every year!” What you couldn't fit in this year might be a great idea for your homemade dog Advent calendar next year! Or maybe you still need a great St. Nicholas Day or Christmas present for your dog? Tell us how you do it: does your furry friend get a homemade Advent calendar?