Christmas Dinner for Dogs: What can and can’t your dog eat?

A Christmas dinner for dogs sounds like a brilliant way to involve your dog in the holiday celebrations. But the truth is that there are several dangerous foods for dogs to eat that are best they stay away from…have you ever wondered what they are?

Don’t worry – you won’t need to think too hard about this one. In this article, we’ll help you stay safe by identifying which Christmas foods your dogs can and can’t eat.  We’ll also share rules your guests should follow at Christmas to keep your dog safe, and how to make the perfect Christmas dinner for your dog to enjoy.

But hang on – if you’re looking to train your dog or puppy way past the Christmas holidays, download the Zigzag app. We have many lessons that will help you and your pup survive the holiday season, plus a team of lovely certified dog trainers on hand to coach and help you when you need that extra bit of support.

What Christmas foods can your dog eat?

Can dogs eat Christmas dinner? Yes! They can eat many popular Christmas foods we eat. But you do have to be careful with the amount of fat and salt your pup gets, as many Christmas treats like pate and cured meats are very high in these, and can cause problems. Make sure you don’t feed any cooked bones too! 

Here are some ideas for Christmas dinner items that dogs can eat that you might find on your table already:

Cooked Turkey

Lean, white turkey meat without the skin is a tasty and safe treat for your dog. It’s a great protein source, but to avoid choking concerns, make sure to remove any bones.

Other cooked meats

You can also feed your pup other leftovers, like chicken or beef — we’re all about all kinds of roast dinners at Christmas. Still, make sure the meat isn’t heavily seasoned or fatty as we don’t want any puppy health problems!

Christmas Dinner Vegetables

Many Christmas vegetables are dog-friendly:

• Brussels sprouts: These can be a healthy addition to your dog’s bowl…but in moderation. We’ll be honest, though — many dogs hate them. They’ll lick the bowl clean but leave the sprouts untouched! 
• Carrots: Raw or cooked, carrots are nutritious and loved by many dogs 
• Green Beans: A low-calorie, fibre-rich option that’s safe for dogs 
• Sweet Potatoes: Plain, cooked sweet potatoes are a nutritious treat 
• Pumpkin: Not just for Thanksgiving, it’s a good source of beta-carotene and fibre
• Roast or Mashed Potatoes: Tasty, nutritious, and just everyone’s favourite, right?

Fruits and Berries

Fresh berries are often a popular Christmas treat that you can feed your dog — just avoid anything sweetened or dried.

Other fruit options commonly enjoyed at Christmas include the following:

• Apples: Remove the seeds and core first! Apples are rich in vitamins A, C, and fibre
• Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants and fibre; can be served fresh or frozen
• Cantaloupe Melon: Hydrating and low in calories, but should be given in moderation
• Cranberries: Safe in small amounts; beneficial for urinary tract health
• Oranges: Peel and remove seeds before sharing. They’re high in vitamin C!
• Peaches:  Flesh is safe, but do remove the pit to avoid risk of exposure to cyanide, which is very toxic
• Pears: Safe when seeds and core are removed, and is also high in fibre.
• Pineapple: Only the fleshy part is safe; rich in vitamins but high in sugar, so serve in moderation! 
• Raspberries: Low-calorie and high in antioxidants; serve in moderation due to being one of very few treats that contains naturally occurring xylitol! 
• Strawberries: Contain vitamin C and manganese; also best in moderation
• Watermelon: Fantastic hydrating qualities, but make sure to remove the seeds and rind before serving

Foods your dog should avoid this Christmas 

While there are human foods that can safely go in a Christmas dinner for dogs, it’s also worth keeping an eye on those they can’t have and are actually dangerous for your dog to eat:

Cooked Ham

Who doesn’t love a big hunk of glazed ham on their Christmas table? Your puppy certainly would, but the high levels of fat, sugar and salt in it just aren’t t is not good for them, so it’s best avoided. It’s alright, they won’t miss it if they have loads of the safe Christmas foods for dogs they can munch on!

Stuffing

Turkey stuffing or other Christmas stuffing sides can contain high levels of fat, garlic and onion, so let’s avoid those for your puppy.

Cooked Bones

Don’t believe the cartoons — cooked turkey, chicken and other poultry and pork bones all have the risk of splintering, so let’s not give those out at all. Cooked lamb and beef are also generally advised not to give your dog because if they’ve never tried them before, they’ll really go wild, eat the whole thing, and risk causing blockages! 

Let’s make it easier for everyone. Learn all about puppy safe chews your dog can gnaw on instead without any worries.

Pigs in Blankets

Generally more of a hit with the Brits, these sausages wrapped in bacon may seem delicious for your dog, but with a high fat and salt content are best avoided. If you lean more towards the US version — cocktail franks or smokies wrapped in dough — I’d also give them a swerve from serving. 

Devils on Horseback

You should absolutely not serve these to your puppy or dog this Christmas! These are purely dried fruit wrapped in fatty bacon — nothing to like about this one.  

Fatty Foods

Foods high in fat can cause pancreatitis in dogs, so let’s keep all the creams and sauces with lots of butter strictly for humans.

Alcohol

Alcohol is toxic for dogs! Dogs really don’t need to drink to have a good time anyway, and alcohol can actually be harmful to them, so don’t be tempted to give them any. Don’t let your guests give it out, either!

Chocolate

Theobromine, a chemical found in cocoa, is poisonous for dogs. Make sure to keep chocolates away from your pup, even if they’re only Christmas decorations!

Macadamia Nuts 

Delicious for humans, but extremely poisonous to dogs. Scientists still cannot  figure out why this happens, but macadamia nuts can cause terrible things for dogs, like the inability to walk, tremors, hyperthermia, and vomiting. 

Dried Fruit

Currants, raisins, and sultanas are all variants of dried grapes and are toxic to dogs. In addition to these, two lesser known dried fruits dogs should avoid are figs and dates. Figs and dates contain cyanogenic glycosides which can bring on vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weakness, and collapse in dogs!

Christmas cakes, puddings, and mince pies 

These all contain raisins, currants, and grapes, which are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure. 

Alright, that’s enough of bad –  but necessary – news. To learn much more about this, read our article on how to dog proof your Christmas to keep your puppy safe this holiday season. 

Family rules for feeding your dog at Christmas 

To guarantee your dog’s health and safety during the holiday season, let’s create household rules for feeding them, and make sure your guests adhere to them. No exceptions!

Here’s some suggestions for rules around Christmas dinner for dogs: 

• No feeding them from the table — this encourages dogs to beg, and we don’t want that at all! 
• Designate particular times for treats and meals to avoid them getting over-treated by visiting guests who may be tempted to share their food with your pup. We get it – puppy eyes are difficult to resist.
• To prevent unintentional poisoning, explain to your guests clearly which human foods are off-limits, such as chocolate, grapes, and anything seasoned with garlic or onion. 

Don’t be afraid to write the rules out and pop them on the fridge! Everyone will be able to see them, and will be much more likely to stick to them. No excuses then.

Making the perfect Christmas dinner for pup to enjoy 

Looking for a Dog Christmas dinner recipe? Look no further! If you want to treat your dog to a festive dinner with the rest of the family, follow a recipe with dog-friendly ingredients.

Here’s our favourite Zigzag Christmas dinner for dogs recipe:

Zigzag Pup’s Turkey and Cranberry Loaf

Ingredients:

• 450 g ground turkey
• 170 g quinoa, cooked and cooled
• 50 g dried cranberries, finely chopped
• 50 g sweet potato, grated
• 50 g spinach, finely chopped
• 1 large egg
• 15 g ground flaxseed
• 5 g dried rosemary (finely crushed)

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 160°C (325°F).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, cooked quinoa, and egg. Mix well.
3. Add the chopped cranberries, grated sweet potato, and chopped spinach to the mixture for added nutrition and festive color.
4. Sprinkle in the ground flaxseed and crushed rosemary. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until evenly distributed.
5. Lightly grease a loaf pan with a dog-safe oil (like coconut oil).
6. Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan, pressing it down gently to remove any air pockets.
7. Bake for approximately 50-55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).
8. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing and serving it to your pup.
9. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serve with some green beans and watch your puppy go mental for this tasty dish. Now that’s how you share Christmas cheer! 

How have you enjoyed cooking for your dog? You might want to check out our guide on how to DIY treats and dog food to see what else you can come up with.

There you have it! We’re hopeful that this article has enlightened you on Christmas menus for dogs, as well as which foods to stay away from and which to let your dog welcome with open paws during the festivities. 

If you’re looking for more ideas to keep your pup safe and happy this holiday season, check out our guide on how to dog proof your Christmas, or learn how to go about your puppy’s first Christmas. It’s actually not as straightforward — just like wrapping presents

Here’s the good part – download the Zigzag app today, and you’ll get all the tips and tricks to help your Christmas go smoothly. You’ll receive more courses than you can imagine for your dog, no matter their age and background. Whether you’re welcoming a new pup this Christmas, a rescue dog becomes a new member of the family, or you’re simply wanting to get your New Year’s resolutions on track and actually train your dog….we’ve got you covered.

You can expect plenty of the basic training lessons, like helping your dog to stay by themselves with our separation foundations program, as well as fun lessons for tricks to impress your friends with. We like to balance out important training with some lightweight stuff.

Any questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our certified trainers, they’ll always be happy to give you a helping hand when you need it most,  24/7 via our in-app chat.