A Merry Shiba Inu Christmas

# Ways To Celebrate Christmas With Your Shiba

1. Family and Pet Christmas Photos

Christmas photos of the family are an essential part of the holiday.

But Christmas photos with your Sheebs in them are next level cute.

Everyone can dress in holiday finery - you can do formal, funny, or cutesy -  like matching Santa pajamas or elf costumes or ugly sweaters. 

However, getting your Shibas to pose nice for the camera is another thing. Learn some tips about photographing your Shibe here.

Even if you opt out of professional shots, you should always have the camera close by so you can snap pictures whenever the chance arises. 

Preserving the memories of Christmas is a gift that keeps on giving. 

2. Whip Up Some Delicious Christmas Goodies!

Tasty snacks are a must during the holidays.

Everyone loves a delicious cookie—even your pupper.

Why not whip up some dog-friendly treats that everyone can enjoy?

Like people, dogs can eat baked snacks that contain whole ingredients, like apples, carrots, peanut butter, banana, pumpkin, sweet potato and zucchini.

Popular holiday goodies can be modified to make them edible for everyone in the family, including peanut butter cookies, zucchini bread, gingerbread men and cinnamon buns. 

You can make baking treats a full family affair. Simply gather up the correct ingredients, some holiday cookie cutters, and get baking.

Here is a sample recipe that you can use to make your own tasty treats that dogs, children, and even your persnickety in-laws can enjoy:

• 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour – you can remove if your Shiba Inu has a sensitive stomach and add the amount to all purpose flour instead
• 1 ½ cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons dry yeast
• ¼ cup oat bran
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup pureed apple
• ½ cup pureed banana
• 1 tablespoon carob powder – gluten-free and safe for dogs
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 cup water

3. Start Your Own Shiba Inu Family Tradition

Every family has a tradition or two that can include the pets, whether its going out shopping for a tree, helping with decorations, baking up treats together, or sitting around all day and watching A Christmas Story on repeat.

If your Shiba just joined your family this year, why not get a “first Christmas ornament” for your pooch?

Hang it on the tree with the other firsts!

 You can then start a new tradition where you add a new ornament to the tree every single year—or one ornament per new family member. 

If you don’t have a family tradition, it’s the perfect time to make one or a few. Traditions have to start somewhere! Here are some ideas that are ideal for including your furry friend:

• Make matching ugly sweaters for you and your pupper
• Visit nursing homes and care facilities to spread holiday joy
• Help the homeless as Santa and Santa’s Helper
• Have a dog-friendly party with family and friends
• Wrap presents together
• Donate in the name of your dog to animal rescues and shelters
• Play holiday-day themed games, such as musical chairs with Christmas tunes (ideal for pet parents who are training obedience and tricks)

4. Have Fun With Holiday Dress Up! - Think Ugly Xmas Sweaters

The holidays have never been more fun to dress up with your Shiba Inu.

From Santa and elf hats, reindeer antlers, ugly sweaters, blinking noses, and even A Nightmare Before Christmas inspired garments for those who prefer Halloween to merriment, there’s nothing stopping you from a full-blown costume party.

Some locations across the map even have holiday dog walks, so if you’re feeling competitive and want your Shiba Inu to strut their stuff, why not register? 

Holiday dress-up also makes for wonderful memories.

Have the camera nearby so you can snap pictures of everyone in their holiday finery.

You’re sure to find one or two special shots that can become next year’s holiday greeting card. 

5. Create Shiba Inu Ornaments

Christmas is the absolute best time to unleash your creativity - and have fun doing it! 

Making ornaments or stockings (or both) with the doggo’s name is a great way to officially welcome Christmas

You can also make this a whole activity at family gatherings, where everyone pitches in with the materials and accessories to make gorgeous stockings.

Even better, you can then hang them up and have time set aside in the evening where everyone goes around to fill the stockings with tiny gifts. 

Kids will love the chance to add dog-friendly treats to their furry friend’s stocking, and dogs will delight in sniffing the vittles hidden inside.

6. Go on a Christmas Vay Kay With Your Doges

Is your Shiba Inu a road hog or frequent flyer?

Then why not enjoy the holidays in vacation mode?

Around the globe, there’s a revolution going on that is making destinations more pet-friendly. You can find a number of pet-friendly hostels, hotels, and even Airbnbs.

Use popular sites like Official Pet Hotels, Bring Fido, Pets Welcome to find the perfect destination that will get everyone’s tail wagging.

Learn more about traveling with your Shibas here.

7. Spoil Your Shiba Inu ROTTEN With Gifts

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on getting a fantastic gift for your pooch, not when the best gift you can give them is some quality one-on-one time during the stressful holidays.

Of course, no Shiba is going to deny their love of presents - namely tasty or fun ones! 

Retail therapy at the local pet store is great, but if you prefer to surprise your Shiba Inu with a gift they’re sure to love, check out the list below. 

Christmas Gifts For The Shibes

Whether shopping only for your beloved Shibe or someone else’s fur baby, the perfect gift awaits.

Just think about the type of dog you’re shopping for and what they could use the most. To help inspire your Christmas shopping list, here’s some gift ideas for your dog:

Shiba Inu Toys

Every dog needs a few good toys. There are thousands on the internet and in pet stores to scour, but here are some favorites that will please your wallet and your pup:

Shiba Inu Beds

Since Shiba Inu are small to medium sized, you can order customized beds with various themes.

There are wine barrel dog beds available, as well as teepee beds, cubes, shark beds, canopy beds, and even beds with special mattresses.

You can give you dog a foam bed, fleece, Sherpa wool, and so on.

The options are limitless.

For the DIYers, making a bed out of a repurposed barrel or crate could be a fun task for you and a great gift for your pooch.

Shiba Inu Furniture

Why does your Shiba Inu need their own furniture when they already own everything in the house?

To pamper them further, of course! 

For example, if you have a Shiba Inu that loves hanging around outside with you, why not get them a dog house with a rooftop deck?

Useful indoors near the lookout or outdoors, a cozy nook for sleep and relaxation is ideal for the catty Shibe. 

For aging Shiba Inu, you can consider pet steps or ramps for the sofas and beds, so you doggo doesn’t have to jump so high.

Similarly, you can do the same for cars and other parts of your home that your elderly dog (or even puppies) have difficultly accessing, such as steps up to the front door.

Though you could do this any time of the year, it’s definitely in the giving spirit of Christmas to make the days merrier and bright. 

Yummy Nom Noms

Shiba Inus are notoriously food motivated, so you won’t go wrong with presenting them with edible gifts. 

Or even things they can gnaw and chew on.

You can make the Christmas treats previously mentioned and use those as a gift, or you can order some gourmet options to delight your furry companion’s palate.

There’s a wide variety of natural treats to be found on the internet, like ostrich and buffalo jerky, Supreme Bully Sticks, Himalayan dog chews, doggy ice cream, possum treats (Awesome Possum), antlers, mineral chews, and so on.

Food also makes a wonderful last-minute gift that is also budget friendly. Your Shiba Inu won’t think any less of you if you simply whip up a smorgasbord of their favorites.

Interactive Brain Games

The busy mind of the Shiba Inu is one that requires continuous stimulation. When you’re tired after a long at work, you might not be up for playing games, though.

That’s when you gift them with toys for mental stimulation.

Mental stimulation is an important aspect of dog health. And they enjoy it too.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve been inspired by the ideas in this article, this Christmas with your Shiba Inu is going to be the most memorable yet.

Have your dog join in on the festivities by including them in old and new traditions, baking treats, taking photos, playing games, and exchanging gifts. 

Remember, that to a dog, the greatest present you can give your furry friend is making them feel like they are as much a part of the family and the events as you believe they are.

Happy Holidays from our Shiba Inu family to yours!