A Christmas dinner for dogs is a lovely idea – after all, your pup is part of the family. But while the festive season is full of delicious food, not everything on your plate is safe for your dog or puppy.
If you’re wondering “Can dogs eat Christmas dinner?”, the short answer is: some of it, yes – but only if you know what to avoid. New puppy parents in particular need to be extra vigilant, as many classic Christmas foods can be harmful or even toxic to dogs.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- What dogs can eat at Christmas
- Foods dogs must avoid
- Family rules to keep your dog safe during the holidays
- How to make a dog-friendly Christmas dinner recipe
This article supports our Puppies First Christmas guide and is designed to help you enjoy the festive season safely – without emergency vet visits.
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? Many popular Christmas foods are perfectly safe for dogs. The main thing to keep an eye on is the fat and salt content, as festive treats like pâté and cured meats can be quite high in both, which isn’t ideal. And cooked bones are best avoided altogether.
Here are some Christmas dinner items that dogs can safely enjoy, and you’ll likely have them on your table already:
Cooked turkey (plain only)
Lean, white turkey meat makes a tasty and safe treat for your dog. It’s a great protein source, but remember to:
✔ Remove all bones to avoid choking
✔ Remove all skin as it’s too fatty
✔ Serve plain – no gravy, stuffing, or seasoning
Other cooked meats
Dogs can also eat:
- Plain chicken
- Lean beef
- Plain lamb
Avoid meats that are cured, smoked, salty, or seasoned, as these can upset your dog’s stomach or cause longer-term health issues.
Christmas dinner vegetables
Many Christmas vegetables are dog-friendly:
- Brussels sprouts: These can be a healthy addition to your dog’s bowl in moderation. Though, to be honest, many dogs aren’t fans-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 often feature at Christmas and are fine for dogs—just avoid anything sweetened or dried.
Other fruit options commonly enjoyed at Christmas include:
- 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 best 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 any cyanide risk!
- Pears: Safe when seeds and core are removed, and high in fibre too.
- 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 for hydration, but remove the seeds and rind before serving
Foods your dog should avoid this Christmas
While there are plenty of human foods that can safely feature in a Christmas dinner for dogs, it’s also worth knowing which ones are actually dangerous:
Cooked ham
Glazed ham is a Christmas classic, and your puppy would certainly be keen, but the high levels of fat, sugar, and salt aren’t great for them. It’s easily skipped if they’ve got plenty of the safe Christmas foods to enjoy instead.
Stuffing
Turkey stuffing and other festive sides can contain high levels of fat, garlic, and onion, so it’s best to steer clear for your pup.
Cooked bones
Don’t believe the cartoons – cooked turkey, chicken, and other poultry or pork bones all risk splintering. Cooked lamb and beef bones are also generally advised against, as dogs who’ve never tried them before can get overly excited, eat the whole thing, and risk blockages.
If you’d like safer alternatives, our guide to puppy-safe chews has plenty of options your dog can gnaw on without worry.
Pigs in blankets
These sausages wrapped in bacon (or the US version – cocktail franks wrapped in dough) may look irresistible to your dog, but with their high fat and salt content, they’re best avoided.
Devils on horseback
These definitely aren’t suitable for your puppy or dog this Christmas. They’re essentially dried fruit wrapped in fatty bacon – not ideal on either count.
Fatty foods
Foods high in fat can cause pancreatitis in dogs, so keep creams and buttery sauces strictly for humans.
Alcohol
Alcohol is toxic for dogs. They really don’t need it to have a good time, so keep it well out of reach – and remind your guests too.
Chocolate
Theobromine, a chemical found in cocoa, is poisonous for dogs. Keep chocolates away from your pup, even if they’re just decorations.
Macadamia nuts
Delicious for humans, but extremely poisonous to dogs. Scientists still can’t figure out exactly why, but macadamia nuts can cause serious problems—including tremors, hyperthermia, vomiting, and difficulty walking.
Dried fruit
Currants, raisins, and sultanas are all variants of dried grapes and are toxic to dogs. Two other dried fruits to avoid are figs and dates, which contain cyanogenic glycosides and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weakness, and collapse.
Christmas cakes, puddings, and mince pies
These all contain raisins, currants, and grapes, which are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
To learn more on keeping your pup safe, our article on how to dog-proof your Christmas has plenty of guidance.
Family rules for feeding your dog at Christmas
To keep your dog safe and healthy during the holiday season, it’s worth setting some household rules around feeding – and making sure your guests know about them too.
Here are some suggestions for rules around Christmas dinner for dogs:
- No feeding them from the table – this encourages begging, which no one really wants to deal with long-term.
- Designate particular times for treats and meals to avoid over-treating by well-meaning guests who may be tempted to share their food. We get it—puppy eyes are hard to resist.
- Explain to guests which foods are off-limits, such as chocolate, grapes, and anything seasoned with garlic or onion, to prevent accidental poisoning.
Write the rules out and pop them on the fridge if it helps – everyone will be able to see them and will be much more likely to stick to them.
Making the perfect Christmas dinner for pup to enjoy
If you’d like to treat your dog to a festive dinner alongside the rest of the family, a recipe with dog-friendly ingredients is a brilliant idea.
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:
- Preheat your oven to 160°C (325°F).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, cooked quinoa, and egg. Mix well.
- Add the chopped cranberries, grated sweet potato, and chopped spinach to the mixture for added nutrition and festive colour.
- Sprinkle in the ground flaxseed and crushed rosemary. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until evenly distributed.
- Lightly grease a loaf pan with a dog-safe oil (like coconut oil).
- Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan, pressing it down gently to remove any air pockets.
- Bake for approximately 50-55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing and serving.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Serve with some green beans and watch your puppy’s delight at this tasty dish. Now that’s how you share Christmas cheer!
If you’ve enjoyed cooking for your dog, you might want to check out our guide on DIY treats and dog food to see what else you can create.
We hope this article has helped you navigate Christmas menus for dogs-which foods to welcome with open paws, and which to keep well away 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 dog-proofing your Christmas, or learn how to navigate your puppy’s first Christmas. It’s actually trickier than it looks—just like wrapping presents.
The Zigzag app has plenty of courses and guidance to help your Christmas go smoothly, with lessons for dogs of any age and background. Whether you’re welcoming a new pup this Christmas, a rescue dog is joining the family, or you’re keen to get your New Year’s resolutions on track and finally dive into training, we’re here for you.
You’ll find all the essentials, like our separation foundations programme to help your dog settle when home alone, as well as fun tricks to impress your friends with. We like to balance important training with some lighter, enjoyable stuff.Any questions? Our certified trainers are always happy to help via the in-app chat, 24/7.
