Looking for a fun way to involve your dog in the holiday festivities? Create a DIY activity-based dog Advent calendar! Instead of filling each day with store-bought treats or toys, this version focuses on spending meaningful time together and adding holiday joy to your pup’s December.

The end-of-year holidays are meant to bring everyone together — and this activity calendar is a great way to make sure you spend quality time with all members of the family, including the four-legged ones.

What is an Advent Calendar?

An Advent calendar is a countdown that starts on December 1st and leads up to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Historically a Christian tradition, modern Advent calendars can be adapted for any winter holiday or even repurposed to count down to other celebrations throughout the year.

This post focuses on making a DIY dog Advent calendar filled with activities, giving you 12 or 24 days of fun, festive moments with your furry family member.

How to Make a Dog Advent Calendar

There are several ways to set up your activity-based dog advent calendar, depending on how much time you have and how you want your dog to participate.

Choose Your Countdown

• 12-Day Calendar: Perfect for busy schedules.
• 24–25 Day Calendar: Great if you want a full month of festive fun.

Choose the Activity Order

• Scheduled: Plan activities on the date that will fit your time and energy.
• Randomized: Put each activity on a slip of paper and draw one daily, or get our Dog Advent Activities Spinner Wheel.
• Dog-Chosen: For a more interactive twist, let your dog “pick” the activity. Check out our list of 9 creative ways that you and your pup can “choose” the day’s activity together.
  

Make Adjustments for Your Dog

Keep in mind that not all activities listed are appropriate for all dogs. If you have a dog that is not social or may have other challenges, you will want to replace that activity with one that is more appropriate and enjoyable for your pup.

Dog Advent Calendar Activity Ideas

The activities on this advent calendar list are a mixture of new experiences, quality time, treats, and other enrichment items. If you come across an activity that is not a good fit for your dog, feel free to replace it with another activity on the list.

Dog Advent Calendar Activity Ideas

These activities cover all the bases from enrichment, quality time, new experiences, to seasonal fun. Feel free to customize this list so it fits your dog’s personality and your holiday schedule.

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12 Dog Days of Christmas

1. Walk in a New Park/Place– Fresh scents, sights, and sounds- New places are exciting!
2. Scent Walk– Let your dog set the pace and “read the world” with their nose.
3. Holiday Photo Shoot– Capture a festive memory with your favorite decorations or matching outfits. The perfect way to get ready for your pet-friendly holiday photo card this year.
4. New Toy– Big or small, the newness of it is what makes it exciting.
5. Special Treat/Chew– This is another quick activity. Let them have a special treat or chew. Surprise treats are always nice!
6. Movie Night– Take a night off and snuggle up with snacks and a holiday movie.
7. Make an Ornament– You can make a clay mold, use paint to get an annual paw print for the tree, or use your holiday photo.
8. Puppy Massage– Who doesn’t love a massage? Set the timer and spend that time giving your dog the best pets! This can be relaxing for both of you.
9. Date Night– A relaxing stroll, stargazing, a drive for coffee — any outing together.
10. Do Something Nice-Visit a friend, send a card with your dog’s “signature,” or hop on a holiday video call.
11. Holiday Craft– Make some Christmas Paw Print Art, or a simple holiday-inspired project together.
12. Uninterrupted 30 minutes of playtime– Phones down and toys out — your canine companion deserves at least 30 minutes of your full attention.

24 Dog Days of Christmas

Use the 12 ideas above, plus these additional activities, to create a full 24-day calendar. A few repeats appear because they’re worth doing more than once!

Throw a Holiday Party – Invite dog-friendly pals or host a themed gathering.

1. Playdate With a Friend (Human or Canine)
2. Dog Popsicle – Homemade or store-bought.
3. Homemade Dog Treats– Bake a batch together. Treats for your pup and cookies for you.
4. Field Trip to Pet Store– Field Trips are the best. Let them sniff around and pick out a treat.
5. Holiday-Themed Enrichment- DIY or store-bought fun.
6. Learn a New Trick– Training is a great bonding experience. Take some time and teach them a new behavior, or brush up on an old one.
7. Dinner Using Feeder Puzzles-Slow down mealtime with puzzles.
8. Throw a Party– Invite dog-friendly pals to play some doggy games and host a themed gathering.
9. Walk in a New Park/Place– A repeat, but this is a fantastic activity for both humans and dogs.
10. Uninterrupted Play Time– Again, because spending one-on-one time with your dog matters.
11. People or Animal Watch– Relax together in a park or public space.
12. Puppy Massage– A relaxing, repeated activity that lowers stress for both of you.

Happy Holidays!

I hope this activity-based Dog Advent Calendar brings you and your pup closer throughout the season. Whether you choose the 12-day version or go all-in for 24 days of festive fun, these activities are designed to help you and your pup make some festive, forever memories together.

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