As the holidays ramp up, many people are choosing gifts for their loved ones. Of course, many people also have their young ones homeschooling this year. Our canine patients are absolutely thrilled about this. Why not have the kids make Fido’s things? A local vet offers some suggestions in this article.

Treats

If there’s one thing that is appropriate for pups of all shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s snacks. Have the kids do some holiday baking! This doesn’t have to be complicated. You can make some simple dog biscuits by combining a half cup of oats, 2 cups of pureed pumpkin or sweet potato, one egg, half a cup of natural PB, and three cups of whole-wheat flour. Roll the dough out, and use a cute bone-shaped cookie cutter. About 20 minutes at 350F should do it, but add more time for crunchier treats.

Toys

Toys are very fun for Fido. However, they’re also good for our canine pals, both physically and mentally. Here’s one easy option: cut an old towel or tee shirt into thin strips. You can use a few different-colored ones if you like. Braid the strips together, and then, just braid those braids together. When you have a decent-sized rope toy, tie the end off in a big knot. You can also make different variations of this, by incorporating things like tennis balls or sweet potato jerky, or forming different shapes.

Bedding

It’s very important for your canine buddy to be able to sleep comfortably. To go easy with this one, and have the kids sew and stuff a blanket. Or, if you want something a bit more involved, have them upcycle a piece of furniture. For example, you can turn a coffee table upside down, repurpose a hard-shell suitcase, or even make Fido a pallet bed. Paint and stain will make the bed look nice .Just make sure that there are no sharp edges.

Treat Jar

Another cute option is to have the kids decorate a treat jar for Fido. You can start with any simple ceramic jar or vase. A plain cookie jar will do just fine. They can then use paint, stencils, or other mediums to decorate it and make it look nice.

Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your local vet clinic, if there is ever anything we can do for you. We are here to help!