Christmas is the one time of year when most dog owners are thinking about treats more deliberately than usual. Which is great — because it's also the time of year when the shelves are most full of things that look festive but aren't actually that good.
Here's what to buy instead.
Why Christmas Is the Time to Go Natural
Your dog's digestive system doesn't know it's Christmas. Rich foods, unusual ingredients, and sudden changes in diet are the most common causes of upset stomachs in dogs over the festive period — and most of those upsets come from well-intentioned treats that weren't actually suitable.
Natural treats — single ingredient, air-dried, without artificial additives — are both the most appropriate choice and, genuinely, the most exciting choice for your dog. The smell alone from a bag of air-dried sprats or venison strips is more motivating than a whole box of artificial biscuits shaped like snowflakes.
The Best Christmas Treats by Category
The Showstopper Chew
Christmas calls for something that lasts. A long-lasting natural chew — a bully stick, a dried tendon, a large lamb ear — gives your dog something proper to work on while the humans eat their Christmas dinner. This is genuinely useful as well as being a great treat. Browse our natural dog treats range for the best long-lasting options.
Festive Seasonal Treats
Our Christmas dog treats include seasonal flavours and festive formats made with natural ingredients — turkey, cranberry, and winter herb combinations that are genuinely different from what your dog gets the rest of the year. Special occasion treats should taste like a special occasion.
The Training Treat Top-Up
Christmas is actually a brilliant time to restock training treats. There's more going on — more guests, more distractions, more situations where recall and good behaviour matter. Going into the festive period with a good supply of high-value soft training treats is genuinely practical. Our natural dog treat boxes offer excellent bulk value.
The Advent Calendar
Twenty-four days of daily treats leading up to Christmas — each day a small natural treat from a different window. Our dog advent calendars are filled with natural treats, not novelty products. The daily ritual is genuinely something dogs look forward to, and the variety keeps things interesting right through to Christmas Day.
What to Avoid at Christmas
- Anything containing xylitol — check every festive baked product and treat carefully
- Turkey bones — cooked bones splinter and are genuinely dangerous
- Christmas pudding, mince pies, or anything with raisins or sultanas — highly toxic to dogs
- Chocolate in any form — even dark chocolate 'dog treats' from non-specialist brands should be checked carefully
👉 Browse our Christmas dog treats here
👉 Explore our full natural dog treats range
