The month leading up to Christmas Day is one of the most exciting of the year. Many of us love the anticipation of the gifts, foods, and festivities that only the Christmas holiday season can bring. These days we love to count down to Christmas with an advent calendar filled with little treats or toys to keep us going until the big day. Advent calendars are very popular and dog lovers are joining the trend by choosing the best advent calendars for dogs to keep their furry friends happy.
What is an Advent Calendar?
Advent calendars are simply calendars that count down from 1st December to 25th December - Christmas Day. Traditionally they depicted a nativity scene and you opened small card windows to reveal a picture beneath. Over the last few decades, this has all changed!
Advent calendars are now big business. They have a small gift or toy behind each window which could be chocolates, sweets, toiletries, or a small toy. One of the most exciting developments, as far as dog lovers are concerned, is that there is now a great selection of advent calendars for dogs.
What to Look for in an Advent Calendar for Dogs
You will have plenty of dog advent calendars to choose from these days! So, as dog owners, we want to give you a heads up on what you should look out for when looking for an advent calendar for your dog.
- Design and size: Dog advent calendars come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are simply two layers of cards but others open up like a book. If you have limited space over the festive season, you may want to choose a smaller dog Christmas advent calendar. It is a good option to choose a robust design. Some of the more flimsy advent calendar dog versions allow the treats to fall to the bottom of the box.
- A number of windows: Most calendars have 24 windows but others have 12 for the 12 days of Christmas. It's up to you how many days you want to be handing out advent treats!
- A number of treats: You can get an advent calendar that has one treat behind each window or an advent calendar that has several treats behind each window. If there is only one treat, it is usually larger. Some dogs prefer several treats so that you can spread them throughout the day!
- Treats or cookies: Advent calendar cookies tend to have less meat and are grain or vegetable-based. This is a problem if your dog is allergic to grains. Advent calendar treats, on the other hand, can be made of up to 95% meat. Not all owners like the odor of the meatiest treats.
- Calorie content: In general, advent calendar treats are very high in calories. There is nothing wrong with having some special food at Christmas but this is something that you will have to bear in mind if your dog is watching their weight. In general, the advent calendar treats should not exceed 10% of your dog's daily calorie requirement.
- Added benefits: Some of the treats in a doggy advent calendar have added benefits. They may help to keep your dog's teeth clean or they may have superfood ingredients for overall health.
- Ingredients: This is very important especially if you have a dog that has allergies or food sensitivities. Many advent calendar treats contain grains and some contain artificial colors and flavors. It is best to opt for natural ingredients if possible. There are some rawhide-free options out there that are gentler on the stomach.
- Price: Of course, there is a wide variation in price to suit all budgets. In general, a more expensive pet advent calendar will be of a higher quality but it is a greater risk if your dog does not like it.
- Safety: Not all treats are suitable for dogs under 12 months old so check this out if you have a pup. Also, some calendars have treats that are suitable for small dogs. They can present a choking hazard for larger dogs.
If you are feeling very creative you could even make a personalized dog advent calendar or a fabric Christmas advent calendar that you fill yourself with freshly baked or store-purchase treats.
10 Top-Rated Dog Advent Calendars
| Product Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wüfers Advent Cookie Calendar | Buy on Amazon | 4.8 |
| Purina 24 Days Of Treats | Buy on Amazon | 4.7 |
| DreamBone Furry Christmas Advent Calendar | Buy on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Heart To Tail Pure Being Advent Calendar Salmon And Sweet Potato | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
| Trader Joe's Advent Calendar For Dogs Salmon And Sweet Potato Dog Treats | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
| Good'n'Fun The 12 Days Of Dogmas Calendar | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
| Best Friend's Advent Calendar | Buy on Amazon | 4.2 |
| Bark The Halls 24 Days Of Festive Dog Cookies | Buy on Amazon | 3.9 |
| Advent Calendar For Dogs With 35 Treats | Buy on Amazon | 4.6 |
| GoodBoy Pawsley Meaty Advent Calendar For Dogs | Buy on Amazon | 4.7 |
1 Wüfers Advent Cookie Calendar
- Stylish design
- Human grade ingredients
- Locally sourced and made in USA
- Attractive frosting
This classy and boutique dog advent calendar is the one to choose for the fashionable dog about town. The Wüfers Dog Advent Calendar features elegant, understated designs that have earned it a mention in the New York Times.
Behind the windows of the Wüfers Dog Advent Calendar you will find 24 hand baked and decorated dog cookies that have been lovingly made in the USA from locally sourced ingredients. Everything in these dog advent calendars is human grade. It would make a perfect gift for the discerning doggy in your life.
- Looks great in your home
- Made from natural ingredients
- All ingredients tested and approved as safe
- Not grain free
- One of the more expensive calendars
2 Purina 24 Days of Treats
- Made with Beggin fun size original treats
- Suitable for small dogs
- Features small busy bone treats
- Bright colorful design
The Purina Busy Bone Dog Chew Mini/Tiny Dog Treats for Small Dogs contains 24 days of delicious treats for your furry friends to get them in the holiday spirit. Your pup will love the Purina Beggin Bacon small treats, the Purina Beggin Bacon and cheese treats and the small busy bone.
These advent calendars are only suitable for small dogs and are made with pork right here in the US. If your dog is already a fan of Purina treats, thus could be one of the best dog advent calendars for you.
- Contains popular Purina beggin fun size treats
- Fun advent calendar design
- Three types of popular treats
- Not grain free
- Only suitable for pups over one year and adults between 5 pounds and 35 pounds
3 DreamBone Furry Christmas Advent Calendar
- No rawhide included
- Suitable for most dogs with sensitive stomachs
- Contains sweet potato
- Fun Christmas theme design display box
For those four legged friends that have a sensitive stomach these rawhide free chews are the ideal option. It allows them to join in the festive fun without have tummy upsets. The DreamBone Holiday Rawhide-Free Collection contains real chicken as well as real vegetables.
Dogs love munching on the crunchy texture and these will soon become your dog’s favorite treats. The texture also scrapes off plaque and helps with dental health.
- Free from rawhide
- Easy to digest
- Crunchy to help dental health
- Contain vitamins and minerals
- Contains artificial flavors
- First ingredient is cornstarch
4 Heart to Tail Pure Being Advent Calendar Salmon and Sweet Potato
- Each treat contains 17.3 kcal
- No meat or grains
- Contains sweet potatoes
- Useful for dogs with food intolerances
If your furry friend has problems with food intolerances, the Heart to Tail Pure Being Dog Advent Calendar with Salmon and Sweet Potato Treats would be one of the best dog advent calendars for you. The treats are made with just four ingredients – there are no meat proteins or grains to worry about.
This is a healthy choice too, the treats are packed with Scottish salmon and sweet potatoes which are both superfoods for dogs.
- Cute dog advent calendar design
- Grain-free treats
- Made with limited ingredients
- Made with fish (no meat proteins)
- Smell quite strongly of fish
- Little variety in the treats
5 Trader Joe’s Advent Calendar for Dogs Salmon and Sweet Potato Dog Treats
- Contains salmon smoked over natural hardwood
- Packed with healthy sweet potato
- 24 treats for advent
- Attractive advent calendar box
With Trader Joe’s Advent Calendar for Dogs – Salmon and Sweet Potato Dog Treats you know exactly what you are getting. There are only two ingredients which are smoked Scottish salmon (60%) and sweet potatoes (40%). The salmon is also antibiotic free making it the healthy choice.
The lovely advent calendar box has pretty pictures and quotes. In total there are 24 treats and dogs go crazy for them.
- Only two ingredients
- No grains or soy
- No added artificial preservatives
- Crunchy and delicious
- Windows tear easily
- Quite expensive to buy
6 Good’n’Fun The 12 Days of Dogmas Calendar
- Delicious selection of treats
- Cute design with 12 dog breeds
- High in protein
- Long lasting chews
Based on the classic ’12 days of Christmas ‘ song, the Good’n’Fun Holiday Chews & Treats is a dogmas calendar with a treat behind each window. In the 12 days of dogmas calendar, your dog will find a selection of beefhide favorites which are triple flavor kabobs and triple flavor twist sticks.
The high protein (80%) meaty snacks are made from several meats including beef hide, pork hide, chicken and duck.
- Chews last longer than a small treat
- Dogs love the texture
- High in protein
- Made with beef and pork hide which can cause stomach upsets
- Only 12 chews are provided
7 Best Friend’s Advent Calendar
- Dog cookie advent calendar
- Huge variety of treats
- One treat for each day leading to Christmas
- All natural treats and cookies
With an adorable design featuring many of the nations best loved dod breeds, the Best Friend’s Advent Calendar is a wonderful way to share the holiday season with your pooch. It’s packed with dog treats, one for every day of advent leading up to Christmas.
Your dog will soon be in the holiday spirit with tasty treats made from natural ingredients. There is no lactose or binding agents in the recipes. Behind each door there is a natural treat made from healthy ingredients such as peanut butter, coconut oil and carrots.
- Advent calendar with cute design
- One treat for every day in December leading to Christmas
- Made from natural ingredients
- High in calories
- Lots of ingredients so not suitable for dogs with allergies
8 Bark The Halls 24 Days of Festive Dog Cookies
- Cheery festive design
- Opens up like a book
- 24 large treats
- A treat for all the days leading to Christmas
This dog cookie advent calendar is packed with 24 delicious cookies – one for every day leading to Christmas so that pet parents can treat their dog. The Bark The Halls Dog Treat Advent Calendar contains delicious dog treats and opens up like a book with all the goodies inside.
The delicious ingredients, including cinnamon and honey, in the advent calendar treats will keep your dog happy and feeling part of the holiday spirit.
- Lovely design
- Large treats
- Delicious taste
- Contains grains
- High in calories
9 Advent Calendar for Dogs with 35 Treats
- Advent calendar with seven different treats
- Only two ingredients in each treat
- Bonus bully stick
- Made with real meat
Make the days leading up to Christmas extra special for your dog with this Advent Calendar for Dogs with 35 All Natural Treats. There are six types of treats so your dog will never get bored with this advent calendar but each treat contains only two ingredients so you can deal with any allergies that your dog has.
As an added bonus there is even a bully stick packed with protein. The calendar treats include duck fillets made from 95% duck and chicken hamburgers made from 95% chicken.
- High protein treats
- High meat content
- Limited ingredients
- Larger than some purchasers expected
- Treats may move around inside
10 GoodBoy Pawsley Meaty Advent Calendar for Dogs
- Fun advent calendar design
- Great variety of treats
- Made with plenty of meat
- Natural ingredients
The GoodBoy Pawsley Meaty Treats Advent Calendar for Dogs will make your dog feel part of the excitement of the holiday season. Behind each of the 24 doors there is a meaty treat.
They are all made with real meat such as duck and chicken with a flavor dogs love.
- Easy to get the treats out of the windows
- Made with real meat
- Tasty treats
- Ingredients list is not readily available
Final Word on Dog Advent Calendars…
Remember that dog advent calendar treats are food so proceed with caution in the same way as you would do when introducing anything new into your dog’s diet. Check out the ingredients lists for anything that your dog could have a reaction to.
If you notice that your dog suffers from any symptoms after eating the treats, such as vomiting or diarrhea, stop feeding them the treats straight away. Also, always store the calendar in a safe place where your dog cannot get at it and help themselves!
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