Dog Christmas Baubles Filled With Treats
DIY Projects
Nearly every ornament on the tree is off limits to a dog. This one is made for them. Dog Christmas baubles are clear plastic ornaments packed with tiny treats and finished with a little photo tag, so they look sweet on a branch and get opened on Christmas morning.
Each takes about ten minutes, and a batch sits happily alongside these other homemade Christmas gifts for dogs.
How to Make a Dog Treat Bauble
What You Need for a DIY Dog Christmas Ornament
- Clear plastic fillable baubles that open in two halves
- Ribbon and small tassels in your color scheme
- Photo paper, 6x4 or 5x5 inches
- Small wooden gift tags
- Scissors and a glue stick
- Small, dry dog treats
- Optional: a glue gun, a letter cut-out and some glitter
Dog Treat Bauble, Step by Step
- Wash both halves in warm, soapy water and dry them well. Craft plastic isn't made for food.
- Print a photo of your dog small enough to sit inside the tag.
- Fill one half with treats, leaving room so the halves click shut.
- Thread ribbon through the hanging loop and tie a bow.
- Trace the tag onto the photo, cut it out and glue it on.
- Tie the tag and a tassel to the ribbon, then hang it up or wrap it.
Best Dog Treats to Fill a Christmas Bauble
Small, dry and shelf-stable is the rule. Soft treats sweat in sealed plastic and go off within days, so fill baubles a few days before Christmas, not on December 1.
Store-Bought Fillers for Dog Treat Christmas Baubles
Mixed shapes look prettiest: mini bone biscuits, freeze-dried liver cubes, the odd chip of dried sweet potato. This guide to the best dog treats sorts good options by size and diet.
Small makers have the cutest shapes, and many are in this dog treat directory.
Their collars and beds feature in the dog products shopping guide.
Homemade Treats That Fit a Bauble
Tiny, crisp biscuits keep longest. These homemade dog treat recipes include several that bake up hard.
For something festive, try these Christmas dog treat recipes, with dog-safe takes on gingerbread and peppermint.
Still deciding? The full collection of dog treat recipes has plenty more.
Personalizing a Pet Photo Bauble
Photo Tags for Dog Treat Baubles
The photo is what turns a plain bauble into a keepsake. Faces read best at that tiny size, so crop in close, ears and all. If it's a gift, write the dog's name on the back along with what's inside, since a Frenchie with a chicken allergy shouldn't be guessing. Rather skip the photo? These free Happy Howlidays dog gift tags print in minutes.
Initials and Sparkle for Dog Xmas Baubles
For a bit of glamour, hot glue a letter to the front and dust it with glitter while the glue is still warm. Do one bauble at a time. The glue sets in seconds. Keep every bit of decoration on the outside of the plastic, away from the treats.
More Dog Christmas Ornament Ideas
Treat Baubles as a Dog Advent Calendar
Fill 24 smaller baubles with a treat or two each, number the tags, and string them along the mantel. One a day, December sorted. This printable dog advent calendar is another easy way to count down.
Paw Print Ornaments Without Salt Dough
A paw print ornament is a lovely keepsake, but the classic salt dough recipe and dogs don't mix. Even one ornament can hold enough salt to make a dog seriously ill. Air-dry clay takes the print just as well. It still belongs high up, out of reach.
Matching Dog Stockings and Toys
For a mantel that matches the tree, these no-sew dog stockings work with the same ribbon and tassels.
Under the tree, a couple of holiday doggy donut toys made from rolled-up socks finish the set.
Hanging Dog Baubles Safely on the Tree
To a dog, a bauble full of treats smells like dinner on a branch. Hang them high on sturdy branches, or keep them off the tree until Christmas morning. A Labrador who can reach one will happily bring the whole tree down to get it.
Ornaments Dogs Should Never Chew
- Glass baubles, which shatter into sharp pieces
- Tinsel, ribbon and string, which can tangle in the gut
- Salt dough ornaments, old ones included
- The empty plastic halves, once the treats are out
Treat time is safest with the bauble in your hand. Open it, offer the treats one by one, then put the plastic away. With so much holiday food around, it also helps to know which Christmas foods are safe for dogs.
The ASPCA's holiday craft safety tips go into glue, glitter and salt dough in more detail. If anything does get swallowed, call your vet straight away.
Related Reading
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