DIY Dog Christmas Stockings Are This Year’s Gifting Trend

Nothing says “I love you” like a thoughtful Christmas gift you put together yourself… and that sentiment holds true when it comes to spoiling our furry besties as much as our human ones. 

That’s why we love the idea of making our dogs their very own DIY Christmas stockings this festive season. It’s the perfect excuse to pamper our furry loved ones, but also allows us pet parents to personalise every item to suit our pup’s palates and personalities.

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Not only will this reduce waste in the short-term (no more sifting through the contents of pre-made dog stockings to make sure there’s no rawhide in there), but designing your own dog stocking from scratch or filling up a reusable one for your bestie to paw through each December is more sustainable long-term, too. 

There are other reasons DIY dog Christmas stockings are popular right now: with the cost of living crisis and festive season price hikes (turkey is rumoured to be up to 25 percent more expensive; while chocolate ‘shrinkflation’ is very real), making your own dog Christmas stocking is one of the most cost-effective ways to treat your pet. And for any dogs with food intolerances or sensitive tummies, a DIY dog stocking will ensure even the fussiest pups are catered to. 

Here’s everything you need to know to create your own dog stocking at home, with expert-approved ideas for what to include inside, as well as things to watch out for when it comes to pup safety. We’ve also included a few stocking filler ideas for inspiration.

Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)

How to make your own dog Christmas stocking at home

For any crafty pet parents out there, the process of making your dog a bespoke stocking can feel like Christmas is already here. 

There are plenty of tutorials to follow online, but making your own dog stocking from scratch is pretty basic. Choose a fabric like jute, cotton or velvet, cut it into a traditional stocking shape (or opt for a cute dog bone shape), then use fabric glue or sew the sides together. 

If you’re making your dog their own stocking, you can embellish however you like. Sew on a stocking cuff in a different fabric. Try embroidering your dog’s name with colourful thread. Or iron-on some patches for a touch of whimsy and colour.

You can also skip the “putting the stocking together” part and just focus on the fun finishing touches. (You know, like monogramming their initials with fabric paint or using a Cricut machine to make a professional-looking bespoke stocking.) 

Hobbycraft sells linen, ready-made stockings for £2 a pop that are blank canvases you can decorate any way you like. Or head to The Works, where you can pick up four jute stockings for £6 – perfect for those with more than one pup at home. 

If the thought of crafting makes you feel more Scrooge than Santa, you can still make your dog a DIY Christmas stocking by filling up a reusable stocking with a selection of treats, toys and practical items. All you need is a stocking you’ll love pulling out year after year. (How cute is this personalised one from Debenhams, £14.99, which features a cute dog illustration with 16 breeds to choose from?)

What do I need to make a dog Christmas stocking at home?

Once you’ve sorted the stocking part, you can decide what to fill it with.

Most store-bought dog stockings have treats, toys, or some combination of the two, but the beauty of making your own dog stocking is that you can add a mix of super-practical items as well as sentimental ones. You can also make sure your dog needs (and loves!) everything you put inside, so the process of putting the stocking together is as fun for you as a pet parent as it is for your dog to tear open on Christmas Day.

Include some treats

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a treat or two for our dogs: lovely, natural chews, their favourite meaty bites and dental chews all work well, provided they don’t contain any ingredients you know your pup is allergic to. 

You can even sneak in one of those ‘give sparingly’ type treats such as venison sticks or pig’s ears. (It’s always a good idea to supervise your dog as they nibble away.)  

Add in an enrichment toy or two

You can get creative with your dog stocking by including pressies that double as training tools and enrichment toys for your pup to engage with all year. 

Pupsicle toys provide mental stimulation and keep dogs entertained as they lick their favourite frozen foods, while dog puzzle toys also work as boredom busters that keep dogs moving and engaged as they search for hidden treats.

Clinical animal behaviourist Emily Birch is a firm believer in the benefits of scentwork training, for dogs and pet parents alike. She recommends including a scentwork-themed activity in your dog’s stocking: 

“We start to speak a dog’s language: olfactory. For the dog, it releases a load of dopamine and serotonin. It makes them happy and relaxed, and it’s a nice bonding activity,” Birch explains. It also switches around power dynamics a bit (especially if you make a Christmas or Boxing Day game of it and ask a third party to hide the scent treat), because pet parents “have to trust their dog” to find the item.

The best way to include a scent work treat in your dog’s stocking, according to Birch? She recommends using catnip, because it’s a “novel” scent for dogs. 

You can either sprinkle it on a new toy for dogs to find, or go the budget-friendly route: Birch suggests hiding tiny sandwich containers, with a catnip-scented article inside, around the home. Include a few of these in your dog’s stocking as an excellent enrichment gift they’ll still be keen to play with long after 25 December. 

Don’t forget to include a practical item or two 

“Dogs poo, even on Christmas Day. Compostable poo bags make a great and genuinely useful stocking filler,” says Dr Angela Jones, veterinarian and co-founder of Petscribers, a pet medication price comparison website.

Dr Jones tells Kinship she’ll also be including a paw balm in the stocking she makes for her dog, George. “Paw balm is a good one in the winter, because they often get cracked paws, particularly if there’s lots of salting on the pavement,” she explains. 

Other ideas for practical necessities to throw in your dog’s stocking include everything from a smart new collar, medicated dog shampoo or a winter-warmer coat.

“Thoughts over things”

Dr Jones adopts the ethos of “thoughts over things” when it comes to Christmas gifting. She encourages pet parents (and aunties, uncles and friends) to consider adding something meaningful to a dog’s stocking, like a training class voucher or donation to a local rescue in the dog’s name. 

You can also use the stocking as a way to carve out future 1:1 time to spend with your dog… without breaking the bank to do it.

“You could put in little notes of things you could do: ‘Go for our walk’, ‘explore somewhere new’, ‘practice your recall’, ‘teach your dog a new trick’. That would also help with engagement,” says Birch. 

Safety considerations when creating a dog Christmas stocking

Always check ingredients of treats and chews, and look out for additives and any known intolerances your pet has.

Dr Jones advises pet parents to “avoid rawhide and anything heavily processed or dyed. Instead, choose air-dried meats such as venison or rabbit, and opt for a UK brand with strong sustainability credentials to benefit both your dog and the planet.”

When choosing which chews or toys to include, she recommends testing with your nail: you should be able to make a dent in it.

“Often, things such as antlers and other bone-related toys aren’t quite soft enough, and they do risk fracturing teeth. So if you dig your nail into it and it doesn’t make a dent, then it’s probably not suitable as a chew toy,” she explains.

Size is also important: cheap, squeaky toys can break easily, and Dr Jones warns against balls that are too small for a dog’s mouth – it’s a choking and a swallowing hazard. “A ball is a safe diameter if it is wider than your dog’s jaw; roughly half of it should remain visible outside the mouth,” she says. 

And remember to keep your stocking out of your pup’s reach, especially if there are tasty nibbles inside. “Otherwise, the dog could absolutely find it and eat all of it,” says Birch. 

Best expert-reviewed reusable stockings and dog stocking filler ideas

Raspberry Blossom ‘Santa Paws Stop Here’ Dogs Stocking

$18

This 100 percent cotton stocking is colourful, festive and features an embroidered message reading “Santa Paws Stop Here” on one side and colourful doggie illustrations on the other. It measures 61cm x 34cm x 2.2cm and is certain to brighten up your mantlepiece each December. 

$18 at Dunelm

Race&Herd Sniff and Seek Dog Scent Training Kit 

$35.62

This six-pack scent work training kit is made with anise seed and corn cob for your dog’s scent-based enrichment, and is a great way to add a bonding toy to your dog’s stocking. 

You can also make your own scent work toys by sprinkling catnip over toys or fabric scraps and hiding them in small tubs around the home. 

$35.62 at Amazon

Nylabone Extreme Tough Dog Chew Toy Bone

$5.95

Nylabone’s durable dog chew bone is “great for hardcore chewers” and comes in a selection of sizes and flavours so you can personalise it to your pup’s breed and palate preferences. This long-lasting treat also works to help prevent tartar buildup (along with regular toothbrushing).

$5.95 at Amazon

Pets at Home Christmas Tree Lick Mat Cat & Dog Slow Feeder Green

$4

This multi-functional slow feeder mat is a cute festive addition to your dog’s stocking. It’s freezable so it doubles as a “pupsicle” style toy, works with pastes, wet food, raw food and peanut butter, and has a suction cup base so it won’t slide around everywhere. Plus, it can help slow down speedy eaters and it’s in the most adorable Christmas tree shape, ready for the festive season.

$4 at Pets at Home

Nutripaw Nourishing Balm

$11.99

A practical grooming item is a great addition to your pup’s stocking, and Nutripaw’s Nourishing Balm can be used on skin, snout or paws to protect from the elements and hydrate cracked paws and flaky skin.

$11.99 at Nutripaw

Nina Ottosson Dog Worker Level 3 Dog Puzzle Toy

$26

This interactive dog puzzle toy can be made more difficult as your dog masters spinning, scooting, swivelling and sliding their way around 12 hidden compartments. It’s great for keeping dogs occupied, slowing down food guzzlers and is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free. 

$26 at John Lewis