Christmas Gifts for Dogs: 8 Best Ideas for 2026 (and What to Avoid)

Lamb Chop is one of the most loved dog toys of all time, based on Shari Lewis's famous puppet, and the holiday edition adds reindeer antlers. This one is a 10.5-inch laying lamb, sized for all breeds. It's soft, it squeaks, and many dogs carry their Lamb Chop around like a comfort toy for years.

It's a plush toy, so it's not built for power chewers. Give it as a cuddle and fetch toy, supervise play, and take it away if it starts to come apart.

Nina Ottosson's puzzles are the best-known dog brain games, and the Dog Brick is a great place to start. It's a level 2 (intermediate) puzzle with three ways to play: your dog lifts out bone-shaped blocks, flips open lids and slides covers to find hidden treats. You can make it easier or harder by choosing which parts to use.

Mental work is surprisingly tiring for dogs, which makes a puzzle like this perfect for dark winter evenings and rainy days. It holds about 3/4 cup of kibble or treats, so you can also use it to slow down dogs that gulp their dinner.

Sniffing is one of the most calming and tiring things a dog can do, and a snuffle mat lets them do it at home. You hide kibble or treats in the fabric strips, and your dog uses their nose to forage them out. It's a great way to make a meal last longer and to settle an excited dog.

The AWOOF mat has a non-slip bottom, folds into a bowl shape, and packs down small enough to take traveling. It's an easy gift for any dog and especially good for seniors, who still love to sniff even when long walks are harder.

For dogs that turn plush toys into confetti, a tough chew is the gift that lasts. Benebone makes durable chew toys with real flavor dogs can smell, and this medium 4-pack is made for dogs under 60 pounds. Each chew is curved or offset so your dog can hold it between their paws, which most dogs prefer to a straight bone.

Four chews means you can rotate them, which keeps them interesting, or hide one in the stocking and save the rest for later. Check them regularly and replace any that get sharp edges or are worn down to a size your dog could swallow.

Christmas pajamas aren't just for photos. Spark Paws makes them from a soft, 4-way stretch fabric with a fleece interior, so they're genuinely comfortable for short-coated and older dogs on cold nights. They're full-leg onesies and machine washable (wash cold, line dry).

They come in sizes from small all the way to 5XL, which is rare for dog clothes, so big dogs can join the family photo too. Measure your dog's chest girth and size up if you're between sizes.

This is the gift for the dog's people. The kit includes white clay, a roller, a circle cutter, a hole punch, ribbons, two display stands and a stencil set with letters and numbers, so you can press your dog's paw print and add their name and the year. There's enough clay for two 4.5-inch ornaments, or one larger keepsake.

Make one for the tree and one to give to a family member, or keep the second one for next year. It's a lovely way to remember a puppy's first Christmas or an old dog's last few.

Every dog in the family deserves a stocking. This one is knit in the shape of a dog bone and embroidered with an initial letter wearing a little Santa hat. It's about 16.5 inches long and 9 inches wide, big enough for a toy, a chew and a few treats.

Pick the letter that matches your dog's name and it feels personalized without waiting for custom embroidery. Hang it high enough that your dog can't help themselves on Christmas Eve.

Not every gift has to squeak. Musher's Secret is a paw wax made from food-safe oils and waxes that protects paws from salt, ice and snow, and stops snowballs from building up between the toes. The brand says it's safe even if your dog licks it. It's small, useful, and makes winter walks more comfortable from the first snow onward.

For dogs that need more protection, see our guide to the best dog snow boots.