DIY Things Your Kids Can Make for Fido

As the holiday season ramps up into full speed, many people are busy picking out gifts for their loved ones. Of course, many people also have their young ones at home this year, because of the pandemic. Why not have the kids make something for Fido? A local vet offers some suggestions in this article.

Treats

If there’s one thing that is appropriate for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s yummy snacks. Have the kids do some holiday baking! The recipes don’t have to be very complicated. You can make some simple dog biscuits by combining a half cup of oats with 2 cups of pureed pumpkin or sweet potato, an egg, a half cup of natural PB, and three cups of whole wheat flour. Roll the dough out, and use a cute bone-shaped cookie cutter to divide it into small portions. About 20 minutes at 350F should do it, but you can add more time for crunchier treats. We suspect Fido will approve either way.

Toys

Toys are very fun for dogs, but they are also really good for our canine pals, both physically and mentally. Here’s an easy option: cut an old towel or T-shirt into thin strips. You can use a few different-colored ones if you like, to make it look nicer. Braid the strips together, and then braid those braids together. When you have a decent-sized rope toy, tie the ends off in big knots. You can also make variations of this, by incorporating things like tennis balls, sweet potato jerky strips, or different shapes. 

Bedding

It’s very important for Fido to sleep comfortably. Why not make him a bed? You can go easy with this one, and have the kids sew and stuff a blanket. Or, if you want something a bit more involved, upcycle a piece of furniture. Thrift stores are gold mines for this type of thing! You can turn a coffee table upside down, repurpose a hard-shell suitcase, or even make a pallet bed. Paint and stain will make it look nice. Just make sure that there are no sharp edges. 

Treat Jar

Another option is to have the kids decorate a treat jar for Fido. You can start with any simple ceramic jar or vase. (A plain cookie jar is fine.) They can use paint, stencils, or other mediums to decorate it and make it look nice. 

Happy Holidays! Please contact us, your local vet clinic, if there is ever anything we can do for you. We are here to help!