Christmas Treats for Your Dog

Celebrate the twelve days of Christmas with your beloved canine companion.

If you find yourself with a spare moment in the kitchen, why not whip up some homemade treats for your beloved pooch? Super quick and easy, you can shape these biscuits into all sorts of festive characters. They also make great little doggy gifts or slot perfectly into Christmas dog stockings.

Short on time? Not to worry, we have fabulous dog treats that are filled with healthy vitamins and nutrients. If your pup has been especially good this year, go all out with a festive Lovejoys dog Christmas hamper!

It can be tricky to know what’s safe to feed to your pup off of the Christmas table, so having some delicious, healthy treats on hand will prevent you from giving into their puppy dog eyes one too many times.

We’ve made sure to list healthier hypoallergenic and grain-free choices, so there’s something for even the choosiest canine.

Read on to enjoy some festive kitchen fun in honour of your pup with these twelve scrumptious recipes.

Gingerbread Dog Biscuits

For a traditional Christmas recipe with a canine twist, Pretty Fluffy's delightful gingerbread biscuits are the perfect addition to your pup's treat collection. This recipe includes molasses (contains calcium, helping to maintain healthy bones) and ginger (relieves digestive problems and nausea). Use cookie cutters to shape the dough into festive gingerbread men and roll off-cuts into decorative little buttons.

Source: Pretty Fluffy.

Almond Oatmeal Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

We've waxed lyrical on the benefits of hypoallergenic dog food, which steers free from conventional allergens and nasty chemicals, so it makes sense that our list includes a hypoallergenic treat too. DogVills' nut-based tasty treats are made from oatmeal (an excellent source of fibre and wheat alternative) and almond butter (beats peanut butter for higher levels of calcium and manganese). Cut into little heart shapes for a sweet festive treat.

Source: DogVills.

Vegan & Gluten-Free Dog Treats

If you've got very little time on your hands (we know how busy the end of year can be!) then this three-ingredient recipe will not only please your pup but require hardly any prep. The Plant Philosophy's dog treats are made from all natural, plant-based ingredients like banana, which contains potassium, manganese and vitamins B6 and C. For even healthier snacks, toss in superfoods like ground flax, chia and hemp seed. Nutritious and delicious!

Source: The Plant Philosophy.

Sweet Potato Holiday Dog Biscuits

The perfect healthy treats for your pup this Christmas, these homemade treats will get their tails wagging. Lemons & Basil's festive-shaped canine cookies also make a fantastic gift for any lucky pooch. Filled with wholesome ingredients like sweet potato (low in fat, high in fibre) and oats (for high quality protein), this nutritious recipe can make up to a massive 45 seasonal treats.

Source: Lemons & Basil.

Cranberry, Apple & Mint Dog Treats

These red and green decorated yummy dog biscuits are undeniably festive. Bark & Biscuits' nourishing treats are packed full of healthy ingredients, including celery (promotes heart health and contains vitamin A, B and C), apples (superb source fibre) and mint (aids digestion and freshens breath). Shaped into sweet little bones, these colourful cookies would also look wonderful in ribbon-tied mason jar.

Source: Bark & Biscuits.

5 Ingredient Grain-Free Dog Treats

Keep pups as merry as the rest of the family during the festivities with Lexi's Clean Kitchen's easy to make dog-friendly biscuits. These crispy bone treats contain peanut butter (canine favourite filled with healthy fats and vitamins), organic eggs (for the protein boost) and coconut flour (overlooked grain-free substitute that's great for the immune system). Give your pup a superfood treat this Christmas.

Source: Lexi’s Clean Kitchen. 

Coconut Oil Paw Treats

These incredibly simple, super nutritious dog treats are utterly adorable. Shaped into the cutest paw prints, this is one recipe we cannot resist. 12 Tomatoes' fuss-free recipe includes hypoallergenic ingredients like coconut oil (benefits skin conditions and lessens allergic reactions) and cinnamon (works against yeast infections and helps treats last longer). Pop the mixture into a festive silicone ice cube tray and you'll have sweet treats in no time.

Source: 12 Tomatoes.

Carob Chip Dog Biscuits

How do you make chocolate chip cookies for dogs that are safe to eat? Use the magic ingredient: carob chips. This naturally sweet chocolate substitute contains no theobromine, while also harbouring three times as much calcium, making it much healthier too. As a bonus, Downtown Native’s recipe is wheat-free and grain-free, perfect for even the pickiest pups. Wind a festive ribbon around a jar and pop them under the tree for a Christmas surprise.

Source: Downtown Native.

Snickerdoodle Dog Biscuits

Treat your pup to some festive biscuits with Two of a Kind Cooks’ dog-friendly snickerdoodles recipe. These tasty biscuits are packed with healthy ingredients like honey, which can boost energy levels, help with problematic digestion and alleviate allergies. This recipe also includes oat and brown rice flour, being rich in antioxidants and helping to maintain healthy hearts. Shape these biscuits into teddy bears to add to the festive fun.

Source: Two of a Kind Cooks.

Healthy Whole Wheat Dog Treats

Looking for a nutritious recipe to pamper your dog with healthy treats? Wholefully's homemade biscuits have got you covered. These balanced bites are made from nourishing whole grains and packed with fibre-filled pumpkin, beta-carotene antioxidants, protein-boosting eggs and ground flax seed's omega-3s. Tasty and wholesome, these treats are ideal as gifts or dog christmas stocking fillers.

Source: Wholefully.

Apple Cinnamon Dog Donut Cookies

This unconventional festive treat fits perfectly amongst your Christmas spread. Proud Dog Mom's round iced cookies are appropriately snow-topped with a mixture of Greek yoghurt (full of healthy probiotics) and honey (eases coughs, allergies and digestive issues). The biscuits themselves contain balanced oats (great source of fibre) and crunchy apples (packed with vitamins A and C). The perfect Christmas dog treat!

Source: Proud Dog Mom.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Made from ingredients you're likely to already have in your cupboard, these dog-friendly treats can be cut into any festive shape. The Cookie Rookie's quick and easy recipe is undoubtedly tasty, with canine-approved peanut butter (contains vitamins B and E) as the star ingredient, as well as providing an excellent source of protein. Pamper your pooch with a pouch of these festive biscuits under the Christmas tree.

Source: The Cookie Rookie.

Spoil your pup this Christmas with some healthy and homemade dog treats. For an even more special surprise, indulge them with a tasty, fun and wholesomely good dog Christmas hamper, filled with tasty dog food, treats and a seasonal plush toy.

Because after all, they’re part of your family too, so get them involved in the festive celebrations this year!

Happy Feeding!

** These treat recipes are being shared for the purposes of fun, and can be used at the dog owners discretion and responsibility. Always check with your vet if you have any concerns about your pet's dietary requirements.