Your Pets Daily - Christmas Markets

8 Ways to Spoil Your Dog This Christmas Without Breaking the Bank!

Jessica Curtis — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

With the festive season just around the corner, many pet owners love the opportunity to spoil their dogs just as much as the rest of the family.

In fact, a recent study revealed that dog owners around the UK are planning to spend an average of £55.72 on Christmas gifts for their furry friends this year, totalling a whopping £3 billion across the UK.

But with many pinching their pennies this time of year, due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, the team at tails.com, have rounded up eight ways you can still spoil your dog this Christmas, without breaking the bank:

1. Bake a dog-friendly tasty treat

If you're considering treating your dog this Christmas, why not bake a homemade festive treat using ingredients you already have in your cupboards? Sadly, most of the delicious goodies we indulge in over the festive season aren't suitable for dogs.

However, with just a few simple ingredients you can whip up a batch of delicious Apple and Gingerbread Biscuits that are completely dog-friendly. If you're looking to do something extra special this Christmas for your four-legged friend you can't go wrong with baking.

2. Plan a festive walk

Christmas is the perfect time to wrap up warm, throw on some wellies and go for a walk in the crisp winter air with your furry friend in tow. Whether you're looking for a beach to blow the cobwebs out, or a woodland area to discover creatures and nature that come to life in winter, your dog will love a festive walk this Christmas. This time of year is truly breathtaking!

Be extra cautious when walking your dog during autumn and winter, as the cold temperatures, and dark nights can pose a threat to you and your beloved pet.

3. Snuggle down for a movie marathon

If the weather has taken a turn for the worse, a movie night with your four-legged friend is a great way to celebrate the festive season. Grab your dog's favourite toy, blankets and perhaps some special treats so they can snuggle down with you to watch a film.

To make it extra special for your dog, put on a movie that your furry friend is guaranteed to love, like Santa Paws, Secret Life of Pets or 101 Dalmatians.

4. Prepare a dog-friendly dinner

There's nothing better than sitting down to enjoy a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings - and we're not the only ones who love this festive tradition. There are plenty of delicious festive foods that our four-legged friends can enjoy safely.

But while we tuck into our delicious turkey dinners and selection boxes, it's important to remind ourselves that not every Christmas treat is designed to be suitable for our dogs. Some human treats can cause digestive upset in our canine companions, like chocolate, mince pies, Christmas pudding, onions, garlic, nuts, leeks, meat skin and bones.

5. A trip to the Christmas markets

The UK's Christmas markets have officially opened for 2023, filling cities with the sound of Christmas music and the smell of delicious festive food and drinks. Some of the best markets are dog-friendly, so treat yourself to a weekend of festive fun with your dog by your side.

Remember that the Christmas markets can get crowded, so it's important to keep your dog safe. Avoid the markets during the busier periods, keep them close to you and be careful when walking around that they don't eat anything dangerous from the floor.

6. Spend time together

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can feel overwhelming, especially for our pups. From holiday parties to Christmas shopping and visits to see family, you may find yourself out of the house and away from your pet more than usual.

One way to ensure your dog has a great Christmas is to spend one-on-one time with them - block out time in your busy festive calendar to be at home with your furry friend.

7. Do something extra special

Why not treat your canine companion with their very own gift that's bursting with fun and flavour? Make their day extra special by finding them the ultimate gift to match their personality, from personalised treats to toys or a cosy new bed.

The Jack Brussel Sprout toy from tails.com's 2023 Christmas Range will also provide hours of fun this Christmas!

8. Take a stroll on the beach

At this time of year, most UK beaches have lifted the restrictions for dogs, meaning you can head down to your favourite spot, or travel a little further to a new destination for a stroll along the seafront. The beach provides plenty of opportunities to chase after balls, splash in the water or take a relaxing walk across the sand.

It's important to be extra cautious when taking your dog to the beach during winter as the water will be much colder than usual, so keep your dog on a long lead.

Dog Behaviourist expert gives her top tips on how to keep your pup safe at the Christmas markets

Jessica Curtis — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

As Christmas is all about spending time as a family, no one should miss out - including our furry friends, so with searches for dog friendly Christmas markets up by 114%, expert holiday letting agents Canine Cottages have shared their picks on the UK's top 6 dog friendly Christmas markets.

Additionally, Canine Cottages has teamed up with Clinical Animal Behaviourist Rachel Rodgers MCs to advise the best ways to keep your pooch safe when visiting the markets this year.

For the most part, the idea of taking your beloved pooch to the Christmas market is a fun activity, it can be a really overwhelming experience for your dog and for yourself. But that doesn't mean you and your pooch have to miss out on the festive fun; rather, it's valuable to understand how to ensure your dog's happiness in a bustling environment.

Clinical Animal Behaviourist Rachel Rodgers has listed her top tips for a happy pooch:

Prepare your pooch

Dogs can find it difficult to adapt to certain environments. Rachel explains that "If you normally walk them in the quiet countryside then a busy City Centre Christmas market is a big leap! They should be familiar and comfortable being around unfamiliar people and ideally going to unfamiliar places."

"You could even try using some of the sounds from Dogs Trust on SoundCloud to prepare them for people chatting, beeping of any lorries reversing."

Use the right equipment

Ensuring that your pup is comfortable is crucial to the experience you have at the Christmas market - as they're likely to be busy.

Rachel suggests "a flexi lead, or a long lead that you may use in the park is not the lead for this outing. Your dog could get themselves into all sorts of mischief sneaking behind the stalls and stealing food they shouldn't have -your flexilead could also trip someone up and injure them" Instead, "just avoid them- take your dog to the markets on a Y shape harness and a fixed normal length lead 3 ft /2 meters is ample."

Know when your pup is comfortable

It's important to pay attention to your dog, Rachel advises to "give them comfort breaks- take them over to patches of grass, to go to the toilet. Give them treats when you encounter weird and wacky things and most of all, be prepared to leave – I know it may not be what you want to hear / read but your dog's enjoyment and safety really should come first".

Look out for any signs of discomfort such as " their tail tucked between their legs, their ears back and maybe really subtle signs like them licking their lips then be prepared to continue your festive fun at home".

Remember that busy social events are not for every dog. Some will be scared by the big crowds, noise and bright lights.

Pay attention to potential dangers

There are a few hazards that could endanger your dog whilst you're at the Christmas markets. It's important to look out for them so you can have an enjoyable experience.

Rachel mentions that Alcohol, Chocolate, Onions and Grit can put your dog in harm! "Alcohol – this is toxic to dogs. Christmas drinks like mulled wine make it very tempting for them to take a sip. Make sure you keep them away and take a bottle of water so you can keep them hydrated."

Rachel adds that it's specific but beware of onions "the bratwurst stand always has lots of chopped up onions for the hot dogs." Onions are not good for your dog. Perhaps visit the markets in the daylight so you stand a better chance of spotting some of these dangers.

Grit! "While this is obviously helpful it's dangerous for your dogs. Make sure you wash their paws when you get back from your trip so that there's no chance of them licking the grit"

Here are some dog friendly Christmas markets to visit this year:

Edinburgh Christmas Market - 17th of November to 6th of January 2024

Manchester Christmas Market -10th of November to 21st of December 2023

Sheffield Christmas Market - 10th of November to 24th of December 2023

Bath Christmas Market - 23rd of November to the 10th of December 2023

Kensington Christmas Markets - not as overwhelming for dogs as Winter Wonderland - 16th of November to the 31st of December 2023

Oxford Christmas Market - 30th of November to the 23rd of December 2023

Your Pets Daily - Christmas Markets

8 Ways to Spoil Your Dog This Christmas Without Breaking the Bank!

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Dog Behaviourist expert gives her top tips on how to keep your pup safe at the Christmas markets

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