First Christmas
Marking the first Christmas with a new dog home
Updated
A dog's first Christmas goes best kept small: a photo by the tree, an ornament with the dog's name, one present opened on the floor, and the usual walks at the usual times. Our December box carries a Christmas theme, which gives a subscriber's dog a holiday box of its own.
How do you mark a dog's first Christmas at home?
Pick two or three small markers, the kind you can pull out of a drawer years from now. A photo by the tree is the obvious one. An ornament with the dog's name on it is another, and it comes out of the box every December after this.
You can add a walk on Christmas morning, or a stocking hung with the dog's name where the others hang. None of it needs to be elaborate. The frame around the day is the dog's normal routine, so keep the meals, the walks and the bedtime where they usually sit and let the rest fit around them.
The markers are for you and the people who share the house, so choose the ones that suit your own household. If the dog came from a rescue or a shelter, the same markers work, and the day you brought the dog home is a good thing to write on the back of the photo.
What do you give your own dog for its first Christmas?
One present is plenty. A toy works, and so does a new collar tag or a bag of treats from the dog's own box. Pick the one you would be happy to photograph.
Our December box has a Christmas theme, and that is all we say about it. Contents change by month, and we do not describe what any month holds ahead of time. How themes work in general is on our page about the dog subscription box themes.
No subscription is needed to mark the day. Any small present does the job, and wrapping it is optional.
How do you include a new dog on Christmas morning?
Treat the morning like a pit stop: a short plan, a quick job each, then back out on the road. Here is one way to run it.
- Let the dog sniff the wrapped present before anyone opens it.
- Open it together on the floor, at the dog's level.
- Hand over one treat at a time, so you are the one who sets the pace.
- Gather the paper as you go, so the floor stays clear.
- Take a walk before anyone arrives, or before the family settles in.
That list is about tidiness and timing, nothing more. The dog's own routine stays the anchor all morning.
How do you keep treat time steady through the holidays?
Keep one bag open at a time and the rest sealed. The dog's skip list holds for every visitor, so ask guests to use only the dog's own treats and give them a few to hand out. If you want the host's side of this, see our page on guests feeding your dog.
Treats are occasional, an extra beside the dog's regular meals and not a stand-in for them. A busy holiday does not change that.
If you want a steady supply through the season, the dog box page shows how a Modified Monthly subscription works. Skips are set when ordering, and a message to us changes them later. A box ships within the US only. Because it is a subscription, the terms sit beside the start button, and they are worth reading before you order.
For more on everyday life with a dog, browse the guides hub.
Questions
Is a puppy too young for Christmas treats?
Ask your veterinarian about treats for a young puppy. We do not give feeding advice, so that call belongs with the person who knows your puppy's age and needs. Until you hear back, a photo by the tree and a long cuddle make a fine first holiday.
What should a dog's first Christmas ornament say?
The dog's name, the words "first Christmas" and the year are the usual three. Keep it plain enough that you can still read it from across the room on the tree.
What if the dog came home only days before Christmas?
Keep the day small and the routine the same. Our guide titled treats for a newly adopted dog goes through the first weeks. For the holiday itself, a photo and a walk are plenty, and the rest can wait.
Does a dog need its own Christmas stocking?
No, but a stocking with its name on it makes a nice marker. One present inside is enough, and a bag of the dog's own treats is an easy choice. Hang it where you hang the others and move on.
What if the dog cares more about the wrapping paper than the present?
Let the dog have the moment, take the photo, and gather the paper as you go. Then hand over the present itself. It makes a good story for the family, and the paper goes out with the rest of the morning's tidying.
Should visiting family bring presents for the new dog?
Ask them to check with you first. Tell them to hand out only the dog's own treats, so the skip list holds no matter who is holding the bag. A friendly text a day or two ahead is easier than a conversation at the door.