Christmas should be all about joy and family, and there’s no reason your dog, cat, or any small pet can’t join in the fun.
These simple Christmas-themed games can use things you already have at home or are cheap to buy, keep everyone safe, and create memories (and adorable photos) you’ll love looking back on.
1. The Treat Tree
Turn treat-hiding into a festive scavenger hunt. Place a small artificial Christmas tree (try the local pound shop) in the middle of the living room. Hide a few high-value treats or pieces of kibble in the lower branches and around the base. You can let your pet watch if you like and cue them to “seek it out”, or let it be a surprise. Let your pet “forage” while you cheer it on. Dogs love the search; cats enjoy batting at dangling treats. For rabbits or guinea pigs, tuck parsley sprigs among the branches – they’ll think it’s the best salad ever.
2. Jingle Bell Chase
Tie a jingle bell to a piece of string or a cat wand toy. Drag it slowly across the floor for your cats or flick it gently in the air for the more athletic types. The sound instantly says it’s “Christmas” and gets your cat happy. For less mobile pets, roll a jingle-bell ball along the floor and watch them pounce.
3. Santa’s Little Wrapper
Grab a few pieces of wrapping paper (no foil or glitter). Crumple it loosely around a favourite toy or some treats, secure with a plain ribbon if needed, then start teasing your pet. Once they are interested, you can throw it and let your pet rip it open. Most dogs go wild for the noise and surprise; many cats treat the paper like premium prey. Supervise closely, though, so no one eats ribbon or tape.
4. Snowball Fetch (Indoor Edition)
Find a pair of plain white socks, stuff them lightly with more socks (or spare cloth) and knot the end – voilà, soft indoor snowballs! Toss gently down the hallway for the dogs. Cats often prefer it if you toss the “snowballs” upward so they can leap and bat them mid-air. Bonus: they’re silent on hardwood floors and won’t damage anything if thrown. But don’t leave your dogs alone with them; you know what might happen!
5. Find the Elf for Your Dog
My favourite is Find The Elf, and it is played exactly the same way the kids do. Go grab an elf from the shops (I got a dog one from Dobbies at Gledrid) and teach your dog the simplest of searches, eg tease your dog with the elf, stuff it under a cushion in the front room right in front of him and tell him to “go find the elf. When he finds it you can reward him with a treat, some praise or even a tug toy; we do not want to play tug with the elf! Increase the difficulty every day.
And Remember…
- Avoid using anything you know would be harmful in your pets’ mouths, stomachs or fur.
- Keep sessions short – 10 minutes is fine.
- Take lots of photos and make sure you share them amongst family and friends.
These games cost almost nothing, use up extra energy, and remind everyone in the house that pets are family too. So grab a bell, crumple some paper, and let the merry mischief begin – your pets have been waiting all year to unwrap a little Christmas magic!
We hope you enjoyed reading “Fun Christmas Games for Your Pets”. Click here for more of our pet articles.
Author: Karen Boyce for Love Wrexham Magazine
Karen Boyce is the founder of Beastly Thoughts Professional Dog Services (BTPDS), established in 2007. As the largest independent dog training facility in Wales, BTPDS specialises in puppy training and managing reactive dogs, while also offering a wide range of obedience classes, lectures, webinars, and online training hubs and communities. In 2019, Karen was honoured as the Animal Star Awards Dog Trainer/Behaviourist of the Year. In 2025, BTPDS surpassed the milestone of training 2,000 puppies and was named the Overall Winner in the Best of North Wales Business Awards, in addition to being recognised as the Best Pet Services Business in North Wales. Contact Details: - Phone: 07970 488 395 - Email: info@beastlythoughts.co.uk - Website: www.beastlythoughts.co.uk
