11 Best Dog-Themed Christmas Decorating Ideas

Want to know what makes the best time of year even better? Decking out your house with dog-themed decorations to set the mood. Get you – and your dog – in the holiday spirit with creative and festive canine-themed Christmas decorating ideas. If you’re a dog lover, there’s something for you on this list!

Indoor Dog-Themed Decorations

1. DIY Dog Advent Calendar

The days leading up to Christmas are some of the most fun during the holiday season! An Advent calendar is a way to let your dog join in on the fun of counting down the days until Christmas.

To make your own dog advent calendar, simply remove the chocolate out of a regular advent calendar and replace with dog treats.

Photo credit: All For the Memories

Or, if you want to get a little more elaborate, here’s a link to a super cute DIY Dog Advent Calendar made out of a wood sign and small drawstring bags.

2. DIY Dog Cookie Christmas Wreath

Along the same line as an advent calendar, a dog cookie wreath is fun to make and you can give your dog a treat each day. These also make a great gift for other dog lovers or your veterinarian.

Here’s one set of instructions but you can Google this topic to find many different styles of dog-themed wreaths.

3. Dog Christmas Tree Ornaments

There are many dog tree ornaments out on the market. Trendy Tree, Christmas Central and Old World Christmas offer a wide selection but there are many other places to find dog-themed Christmas tree ornaments.  Try doing a Google search if you have something specific in mind.

4. DIY Dog Tree Ornaments

As with purchasing dog-themed Christmas tree ornaments, there are many articles on the internet for ornaments you can make yourself. One of my favorites is the Paw Print Salt Dough Ornament. Other ones to try are DIY Dog Bone Holiday Ornament, Easy DIY Pet Ornament, DIY Silhouette Pet Ornaments, or Easy Snow Globe Photo Ornaments. Still not finding what you’re looking for? Try searching for child-related DIY Christmas ornaments and swap in a dog element.

5. Dog-Themed Tree Stand

This looks like it is a DIY project, but isn’t it adorable? Plus, it’s a nice way to keep your tree up and away from your dog, while allowing him or her to be right in the middle of the fray. Want to make your own dog-themed Christmas tree stand? Check out our DIY Dog Houses Pinterest Board for lots of dog house ideas you can build yourself.

6. Dog-Themed Christmas Tree

A dog-themed Christmas tree can be a lot of fun! Crystal Cane offers a great little tutorial for A Christmas Tree Just for Dogs. She offers great ideas you can use with a variety of products, such as dog-themed ribbon, ornament “picks”(she even has a video describing how she uses these), and stylish ideas for decorating.

7. Dog-Themed Stockings

Christmas decorating wouldn’t be complete without “stockings hung by the fire” or wherever you decide to hang them. You can buy these ready-made or make one yourself. There are lots of different types on the market, so shop around.

8. Dog-Themed Figurines

Figurines are always a fun way to add some Christmas spirit to your decorations, and they’re fun to collect. Christmas Central is a place to start looking, but there are endless shops and online stores that carry them. What type of figurine appeals to you?

Outdoor Dog-Themed Christmas Decorations

9. Christmas Yard Decorations

Home Depot, Lowes and Amazon carry some amazing outdoor dog-themed decorations. Have fun choosing and setting up your yard decorations!

Dog-Themed Christmas Cards

10. Dog-Themed Printed Christmas Cards

You can find dog-themed Christmas boxed cards or you can personalize cards for sending in the mail.  Most department stores carry boxed cards but you might have to pick through them to find dog-themed ones. Most businesses that offer personalized photo gifts will have beautiful dog-themed templates for you to choose from. Shutterfly, Vistaprint, Minted, Zazzle and even Walgreens all offer customizable Christmas card printing.

11. Dog-Themed eCards

Electronic cards (eCards) are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Totally customizable, fun to send and receive, and good for the environment, what’s not to love about an eCard?

Here are some eCard vendors who offer dog-themed Christmas cards for you to check out:

• Blue Mountain
• Sloppy Kiss Cards
• Smilebox
• Snapfish
• American Greetings
• Paperless Post

There’s no end to the dog-themed styling you can use when decorating for the holidays. You can:

• Try different color schemes
• Add dog-themed mini wreaths
• Keep it neutral
• Spray paint bone-shaped dog treats (try gold or silver) for an elegant touch
• Put up a dog-themed “letters to Santa” mailbox
• Choose a pattern theme, such as plaid, gingham, stripes, polka dots, etc.
• Use a minimalist vibe
• Get whimsical
• Add in some dog-themed throw pillows

This year let’s all enjoy being at home with loved ones, including our furry four-legged family members. Relax, enjoy the decorating process, and post pictures of your handiwork on our social media channels! Want ideas for how to include your dog in your Christmas festivities? Click here for 10 Ways to Celebrate Christmas With Your Dog.

Happy Decorating!

What other dog-themed Christmas decorating ideas should be included in this article? Please comment below…