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The boys and I can’t get over how FUN this DIY dog/pet advent calendar is! I don’t know why we didn’t come up with it sooner. Chance and Kona love the holidays as much as us so it’s only fair that they get to celebrate with a fun advent calendar like the boys do every year right?!

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

This post is sponsored by BLUE Santa Snacks® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Blue Buffalo Santa Snack, but All for the Memories only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers Blue Buffalo is not responsible for the content of this article.

There are many ways to create your own version of this advent calendar depending on your equipment or skill level so definitely just use this as inspiration to make it your own! Basically, we wanted a way to display the countdown to Christmas and hold THE CUTEST BLUE Santa Snacks® made by Blue Buffalo as a special holiday treat each day for Chance and Kona. We were so excited when we saw these snacks at Target (you can also get them at Kroger, Meijer, Chewy, Pet Smart and select regional retailers). They come in holiday shapes and have seasonal spices like cinnamon.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

How to Make a Dog Advent Calendar

We wanted a fun way to celebrate using these so we made our own advent calendar. To make one like ours you’ll need:

  • a wood sign (plenty of options at any craft store this time of year or you could make your own)
  • small hooks
  • small drawstring bags
  • Iron-on vinyl, paint & stencils, markers, or stickers to decorate the sign

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

To make the advent calendar sand out your wood and stain or paint if desired. I wanted a more rustic look so left it as is. Measure out where you want your hooks to go. I had 4 rows and put 6 hooks on 3 rows and 7 hooks on the bottom row. I offset each row so the bags would hang where you could see each number.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

Mark the holes on the hooks and pre-drill a small hole for the screw to make attaching them easier.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

Screw-in all the hooks.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

Add a title with vinyl, paint or stamps. If you have a cutting machine, feel free to use my Cricut design for the paw prints / numbers HERE and the title design HERE.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

The next step is to add the numbers onto the bags. Again, use what you have! Write them on with a permanent marker, stamp them on or if you have a digital cutting machine you can use my design found HERE and cut them out of iron on vinyl like I did.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

Fill the bags with crunchy dog biscuits like these Blue Buffalo holiday treats!

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

Hang the calendar (make sure it’s high enough that your pups can’t get into it – I moved the location of this one for the rest of the month), add the bags of snacks and treat your dog(s) every day leading up to Christmas! My boys love that they get to celebrate each day like they do with their own advent calendars.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

I love seeing this up on the wall each day AND that I can pack it up and use it again next year. Do you celebrate fun Christmas traditions with your dogs too? Mine have their own stockings, presents under the tree (although we have to wait until Christmas morning to put them under there or they will open them while we’re gone) and now their own advent calendar.

DIY dog advent calendar! Holiday shaped treats for each day leading up to Christmas

This post is sponsored by BLUE Santa Snacks® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™.

This post is sponsored by BLUE Santa Snacks® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Blue Buffalo Santa Snack, but we only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers Blue Buffalo is not responsible for the content of this article.

Author

Allison Waken is the founder, writer, photographer, and content creator of All for the Memories and All for the Boys.

9 Comments

  1. That is the most wonderful Advent calendar I’ve ever seen! LOVE that your dogs get to participate in the festivities, and can imagine that they will look forward to it every year when the calendar comes back out! I wish I could buy one already made (because I am NOT crafty). The Blue snacks are perfect, too!

  2. What an adorable advent calendar. I know it has been several years since you posted this, but can you tell me where you found the small hooks? Thank you for the inspiration!

    • Allison Waken

      Thank you! We love taking it out during the holidays! I found the hooks on Amazon – https://amzn.to/2NRJqTL looks like they’re still there in that great little size.

  3. michelle albers

    can you tell me what size little baggie you used??
    this is adorable and I so want to make one this year.
    thanks!

  4. The link to get your paw print design does not work 🙁 would you be able to send me the link again? I would love to be able to create this 🙂

      • I was wondering if you could tell me the length and width of the board and how far apart you have the hooks

        • Allison Waken

          I need to pull it out this year and I’ll measure for you!