Your Dog Called and Told Us He Wants an Advent Calendar This Year

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When it comes to Christmas, we might be bigger fans of the anticipation leading up to the holiday than the big day itself. Sure, we love a big Christmas dinner and opening presents just as much as the next person, but nothing beats the magic of the season leading up, from the decorations to the activities to the advent calendars. Because, of course, what would Christmas be without an advent calendar to count down to the big day? And now that everyone in the family can get in on the advent calendar fun — from the toddlers to the full-grown adults — why not include your furry family member in on the fun? We love to spoil them with toys and treats year-round, so Christmas should be no exception.

Contrary what you might be thinking, spoiling your precious pup with their very own advent calendar this season doesn't have to blow the holiday budget. Don't worry, you can still afford a sweet gift for your pup and a snazzy new advent calendar for them. And, before you ask, that does include pet owners with multiple furry friends. We even included a pick or two here just for the cat lovers!

And since we know that your pet's health is a top priority (as it should be), we did our research to carefully vet each and every one of these calendars, including testing a few ourselves. We've paid special attention to include an option for every dog out there, from the food-averse to those that might need some extra nutrients in their treats.

12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar with Toys

Of course we couldn't leave our cat-loving companions off the list! This advent calendar is perfect for the fun-loving feline. Filled with 12 toys made just for cats, it'll keep them busy for the entire holiday season. Even though it's designed as a 12 Days of Christmas calendar, you could easily spread this one out over 24 days by opening a new box every other day. And with the variety in this calendar, your cat is bound to have more than a few favorites here. It includes toys with strings, catnip and crinkle paper to keep felines engaged — a tough task, as any cat parent knows.

Dog Advent Calendar

Worried about your precious pup letting go of himself this holiday season? Then opt for this advent calendar filled with nutritious treats, instead. These tasty bites have Glucosamine HCL, Omega 3, Omega 6, and more nutrients added, so there's no need to worry about your dog's health when enjoying this calendar's bounty. And just because they're healthy doesn't mean the pups like them any less. Just one look at the reviews and you'll see how much these dogs love the Christmas treats inside. Since these treats do contain added nutrients, it's important to note that there is a serving size to make sure you're dog isn't ingesting too much in one day. Dogs 30 pounds and over can enjoy both treats, while 30 pounds and under should stick to one.

Holiday Dog Treat Advent Calendar

There are few dogs that can resist a bully stick, so imagine your pup's glee when they see that every single day of this advent calendar includes a different variety of their favorite treat. The calendar features 24 days worth of snack-sized bully-style treats, including (brace yourselves) gullet stick bites, love bones, chicken sticks, beef sticks, and beef pizzle burger. Best Bully Sticks lists all the nutrition facts for each treat on the back of the calendar, including the country of origin, so you can rest assured that you know exactly what your furry family member is eating. It is important to note, though, that if your dog has never had a bully stick before, you may want to introduce these treats slowly.

Elf Advent Treat Calendar

BARK's advent calendar is a guaranteed sell-out every year, and with this year's popular Elf theme, you'll want to snatch it up quickly because it won't be around for long. We love this advent calendar for the only child, because for each day of December leading up to Christmas, your pup can enjoy a single-serving treat they're sure to love. No need to monitor your dog's treat intake throughout the month! The calendar includes three treat varieties: gingerbread men, wreaths, and snowballs, though the gingerbread men and wreaths are made of all the same ingredients. We can promise you these tasty bites will have your little buddy barking loud for all to hear.

24 Joyful Days Dog Advent Calendar

If your dog(s) think variety is the spice of life, then they'll love this advent calendar. Not only is each day filled with more than one bite-sized treat (ideal for multiple dogs), but there's 24 different treats for them to enjoy throughout the month. Your dog can enjoy the flavors of barkeetos, cheese puffs, yaky charms, and more every day in December leading up to Christmas. Since this advent calendar does include so much variety, we wouldn't advise it for dogs that have food allergies.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Dog Advent Calendar

If your furry family member is more toy- than treat-motivated, then a fun advent calendar like this will be their Christmas wish come true. For 12 days leading up to Christmas, your pup can unveil a new toy or accessory to play with, including stuffed, rope, and frisbee toys as well as an adorable bandana and balls. Plus, Mom and/or Dad will love the cute Grinch theme. The best part? Since there are so many toys to be had in this calendar, pawrents won't shed a tear when Fido rips one to shreds in approximately 2.5 seconds.

Dear Santa Define Good

If you've got a picky pet on your hands, then you'll probably appreciate the flexibility this advent calendar gives you. Instead of coming pre-loaded with treats or toys, pet parents can add their own in, making it ideal for animals with food allergies or families with multiple pets. Bonus: you can reuse this advent calendar year after year, making it the most budget-friendly option on this list.

DreamBone Holiday Advent Calendar

This mini rawhide-free bone advent calendar is perfect for pups with little chompers. It includes a mix of sweet potato bones, candy cane chews, and chicken-wrapped sticks to provide your pooch with some variety.

Dog Advent Calendar

This advent calendar comes with tons of treat options and pet accessory options like bow ties, bandanas, and more. The best part? You get to choose exactly what treats or accessories will be in your pup's calendar. This is also a great option if you've got more than one dog as each day contains multiple treats!

Bonne et Filou Dog Advent Calendar

For the truly fanciest pups, it doesn't get better than this French advent calendar. Is your dog ready to join the barkgeoisie? Then get him this calendar thats filled with macaroons, truffles, and bone cookies. These tasty treats are more snack-sized than bite-sized, so this advent calendar is probably better suited for medium to large breeds.

Are Advent Calendars Safe for Dogs?

Yes! As long as you stick to your dog's normal diet, adding an advent calendar of treats for 12-24 days shouldn't be a problem. If you're worried about weight gain, consider cutting back on their second meal of the day just a bit, but we wouldn't recommend this unless your pet is getting lots of treats from their calendar.

If you're worried about introducing new food into your dog's diet, then consider getting them a toy advent calendar instead. We've included a few on this list that have been carefully vetted for their safety, but you should always keep a close eye on your pet when playing.

Should I Get a Toy or Treat Advent Calendar?

The simple answer: which would your pet prefer? While most people think that dogs are extremely food-motivated, there's a fair share of pups who would prefer a brand new toy. The option is completely up to you, as you know your pet best.

How Long Does an Advent Calendar Last?

Most advent calendars last either 12 or 24 days, but there are some that only cover the week leading up to Christmas. We've included options from each on this list, so you'll want to pay attention to the duration before purchasing.

It's also important to note that you can stretch an advent calendar to last longer. If you have one pet and get a calendar with multiple treats each day, you could dispense half the allotted treats for the day to stretch the timing out further.

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