• By Lana Hallowes

Christmas is all about family, so of course this includes your dog! Here are 7 easy ways to bring festive joy to our four-legged babies.

1) Get a photo with Santa

Heaps of photography companies are going pet-friendly these days, which means your dog can get in on the annual family Christmas pic with Santa. Here are a few which we know about on the North Shore and Northern Beaches:.

• Santas Downunder – Collaroy beach various dates and Manly Wharf (December 11 and 18 only). Get a pic with Santa Aus-style at the beach with Santas Downunder. Fun and festive, your dog is more than welcome to be in the pic. Book via website.
• Salty Santa Christmas Photos – Harbord Hotel December 18 – 23. Santa’s coming to Freshie. Grab your family, including the dog, and book in for a Salty Santa photo at the Hardboard Hotel.
• Westfield pet-friendly sessions. Head down to Westfield Chatswood on a Sunday morning for a pet-friendly photo session with Santa (ends December 21). Prebook here. Westfield Hornsby also has doggie Santa photo shoots up until December 13 (which need to be prebooked).
• Santa on the Beach Pics – Various seaside locations. Go Aussie with a Santa pic by the sea. Although their website says 2023 sessions are fully booked, there is a waitlist, so you might be lucky!
• PetO Christmas photos – Snap a pic of your dog at Christmas time at PetO. A Christmas scene will be set up in stores including Lane Cove, Chatswood, Mona Vale, Brookvale and Hornsby on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December. No bookings needed, just turn up with your dog!
• Santa Paws Day – POSTPONED (DUE TO EXTREAM HEAT) Park House Hotel Mona Vale December 9 (NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED). Bring your doggo to the Park House between 12-3pm for a photo op with the man in the red suit.

2) Indulge them in a dog treat advent calendar

Filled with an assortment of mouthwatering treats, you’re doggo can count down the days until Christmas with this advent calendar just for them! Imagine the butt-wagging excitement each morning as they anticipate their daily treat.

3) Check out the Christmas lights together

It’s not just us humans who get excited by twinkling lights! Bring your doggo along for an evening walk of your neighbourhood. Let them have a good sniff and see all the houses lit up. Sitting up in the car seat, paws on the window as you cruise the streets, is also a lovely thing to do at this time of year.

4) Get them their own Christmas tree decoration

A tree decoration with their name inscribed on it is a lovely way to include your furry friend at Christmas. Personalised baubles can usually be picked up at most shopping centres or you can order a decoration with their name on it online. A keepsake for years to come.

5) Let them go crazy with a gift under the tree

It’s so much fun to watch your dog ‘unwrap’ a Christmas gift! You can buy a new toy or just wrap an old favourite in Christmas paper. Treats they can sniff out are always a hit. Whatever present you choose, make sure you catch the moment of your dog going nuts with the wrapping on your phone! (and share them with us in our FB group!)

6) Turn them into a reindeer

OK, not ALL dogs will like this but it makes such a cute photo. Put some reindeer antlers (Coles and Woolworths sell them) on his or her back or head. Suddenly your dog is a reindeer! Turn this into your annual Christmas card or post it on social media to give friends and family a giggle.

7) Give them a Christmas bowl

When your whole family is sitting around the table enjoying a Christmas feast, chances are your doggo will be at your feet with begging eyes. But not all Christmas food is safe for dogs – things like stuffing with onion, Christmas ham, mince tarts and chocolate. For this reason, you can put out a dog-safe bowl for them which includes a few of their favourite foods when you serve the main fare.

If your dog is going to be alone on Christmas and you would like it to have some company, you can always book a lovely local sitter through North Shore and Beaches Dogs directory.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE – WOOF! 

Lana + Toffee, Jacki + Duke x