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The best Christmas gifts for a puppy are things they’ll use every day: a freezable rubber teething toy, a snuffle mat, a lick mat, a well-fitting adjustable harness and an engraved ID tag. Choose toys bigger than your puppy’s mouth, check they pass the thumbnail test (below), and skip rawhide, cooked bones and anything with small parts.
It’s your puppy’s first Christmas, and the pet aisle is full of glittery stockings, squeaky reindeer and festive treats. Some of those make brilliant gifts. Others are choking hazards wrapped in a bow.
This guide picks out the gifts puppies actually need and use: chosen by age, by budget and by the problem you’re dealing with right now, from teething to crying at night. For every gift you’ll find exactly what to look for and what to avoid, plus simple safety tests you can do in the shop.
- Which gift for which puppy
- Gifts by age
- 5 safety tests before you buy
- 1. Freezable teething toy
- 2. Snuffle mat
- 3. Beginner puzzle feeder
- 4. Lick mat
- 5. Heartbeat comfort toy
- 6. Washable crate pad
- 7. Adjustable harness
- 8. Engraved ID tag
- 9. Treat pouch
- 10. Grooming starter kit
- 11. Dog advent calendar
- 12. A training programme
- Gifts to avoid
- Christmas Day tips
- FAQ
Which Gift For Which Puppy
Start with what your puppy is going through right now. Each gift is explained in full further down.
| If your puppy… | Best gift | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Is teething and chewing everything | Freezable teething toy | The cold soothes sore gums and gives the chewing urge a safe outlet. |
| Cries at night in the crate | Heartbeat comfort toy and crate pad | Warmth and a steady rhythm mimic sleeping next to littermates. |
| Is full of energy and gets bored | Snuffle mat or puzzle feeder | Sniffing and problem-solving tire puppies out fast. |
| Gets overexcited when visitors arrive | Lick mat | Licking is calming and gives your puppy a job during the chaos. |
| Pulls on walks or slips their collar | Adjustable harness | Spreads pressure across the chest and is harder to back out of. |
| Doesn’t have ID yet | Engraved ID tag | The one gift that could bring your puppy home if they get lost. |
| Is just starting training | Treat pouch and a training programme | Makes rewarding at the right moment easy, and gives you a plan. |
| Hates being brushed or handled | Grooming starter kit | Short, positive handling sessions now prevent a lifetime of struggle. |
Christmas Gifts By Age
| Age at Christmas | What they’re going through | Top gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 weeks | New home, missing littermates, short attention span, sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day | Heartbeat comfort toy, crate pad, lick mat, soft puppy toys, engraved ID tag |
| 3 to 6 months | Teething, chewing everything, growing fast, starting training | Freezable teething toy, snuffle mat, adjustable harness, treat pouch |
| 6 to 12 months | Adult teeth in, more energy, testing boundaries (“teenage” phase) | Level 2 puzzle feeder, tougher chew toys, a structured training programme |
5 Safety Tests Before You Buy Any Toy
Do these in the shop or as soon as the parcel arrives. If a toy fails one, don’t give it.
- The size test. The toy should be too big to fit fully inside your puppy’s mouth, now and as they grow. Balls in particular should be wider than their open jaw.
- The thumbnail test. Press your thumbnail into a chew. It should dent slightly. If it doesn’t give at all, it’s hard enough to crack a puppy’s tooth.
- The small parts test. Pull on eyes, buttons, tags and squeakers. Anything that comes loose can be swallowed.
- The label test. Look for “suitable for puppies” or a minimum age. Adult “power chewer” toys are often too hard for baby teeth.
- The wash test. Check it can go in the dishwasher or washing machine. Puppy toys get slobbery and dirty fast.
12 Christmas Gifts Puppies Actually Need
1. Freezable Rubber Teething Toy
Between about 3 and 6 months old, puppies lose their baby teeth and their gums are sore. A rubber toy you can freeze gives cold relief and a safe target for all that chewing.
What to look for
- Natural rubber in a puppy-specific (softer) formula
- A hollow centre you can stuff with wet food and freeze
- Dishwasher safe
Avoid
Hard nylon “indestructible” chews made for adult dogs. They fail the thumbnail test for puppies.
Make it last longer: Fill it with wet puppy food, plug the end with a piece of kibble and freeze overnight. It turns a 2-minute toy into a 20-minute one.
Check price on Amazon2. Snuffle Mat
A fabric mat with fleece strips you hide kibble in. Your puppy has to sniff it out, which is surprisingly tiring. It’s the shop-bought version of the snuffle towel in our brain games for puppies guide.
What to look for
- Tightly stitched strips that don’t pull out easily
- A non-slip rubber base
- Machine washable
Avoid
Leaving it out after the game. Puppies shred and swallow the strips when no one is watching.
Check price on Amazon3. Beginner Puzzle Feeder
A puzzle toy where your puppy slides, lifts or spins pieces to find treats.
What to look for
- Marked as “Level 1” or “beginner”. Most brands grade puzzles by difficulty.
- No small removable pieces (bones or pegs that can be pulled out and swallowed)
- A wide, heavy base so it doesn’t flip
Avoid
Starting with a Level 2 or 3 puzzle. A frustrated puppy gives up and loses interest. Move up a level once they solve it in under a minute.
Check price on Amazon4. Lick Mat
A textured silicone mat you spread with soft food. Licking is naturally soothing, which makes it perfect for Christmas Day, when the house is loud and full of visitors.
What to look for
- Food-grade silicone
- Suction cups or a heavy base
- Freezer and dishwasher safe
Avoid
Leaving it with your puppy once it’s licked clean. It quickly becomes a chew toy.
Check price on Amazon5. Heartbeat Comfort Toy
A soft toy with a battery-powered “heartbeat” inside, and often a warming pack. It mimics the feeling of sleeping against mum and littermates, which can help a new puppy settle in the crate.
What to look for
- A heartbeat unit that sits in a fully closed pocket with a secure zip or Velcro
- A washable outer cover
- If it has a heat pack, one designed for pets
Avoid
Leaving it with a puppy who’s started to chew it. Remove it at the first sign of ripping; batteries are dangerous if swallowed.
Check price on Amazon6. Washable Crate Pad
A comfy crate makes crate training easier. Puppies have accidents, so washability matters more than looks.
What to look for
- Sized to your crate, with no big gap at the edges
- A removable, machine-washable cover (buy two so one is always clean)
- Flat or low sides for young puppies
Avoid
Big fluffy beds with stuffing for a chewer. If your puppy starts shredding bedding, switch to a vet bed or a folded blanket until the chewing phase passes.
Check price on AmazonCheck the size chart against your crate.7. Adjustable Harness
A harness spreads pressure across the chest instead of the neck, and a good one is much harder for a wriggly puppy to back out of.
What to look for
- A Y-shaped front that sits between the front legs, not across the shoulders
- At least 4 adjustment points, so it grows with your puppy
- A good fit: you can slide two fingers under every strap, and no more
Avoid
Buying a size up “to grow into”. A loose harness is easy to slip out of. Adjust it as they grow and size up when you run out of adjustment.
Check price on AmazonCheck the size chart and measure your puppy first.8. Engraved ID Tag
Christmas means open doors, visitors and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, which are prime conditions for an escape. An ID tag is the fastest way a stranger can get your puppy home.
What to put on it
- Your surname and phone number
- Your address or at least your postcode / ZIP code
- “I’m microchipped” if there’s space
Good to know: In the UK, dogs in public must wear a collar with a tag showing the owner’s name and address, and microchipping is compulsory. Rules vary elsewhere, so check your local requirements. Keep your microchip details up to date too.
Check price on Amazon9. Treat Pouch
Rewarding within a second or two of good behaviour is what makes training work. A pouch on your hip means treats are always within reach.
What to look for
- A magnetic or hinged opening you can work with one hand
- A clip or belt so it sits on your hip
- A washable lining
10. Grooming Starter Kit
Puppies who get used to brushing, nail trims and having their paws touched early are far easier (and less stressed) at the groomer and the vet.
What to include
- A soft bristle brush or rubber grooming mitt
- Small puppy nail clippers with a safety guard
- Gentle puppy shampoo
How to use it: Touch a paw, give a treat. Brush one stroke, give a treat. Keep sessions to 1 to 2 minutes and stop before your puppy wriggles.
Check price on Amazon11. Dog Advent Calendar
A fun daily ritual for December, as long as you choose carefully.
What to look for
- Treats labelled as suitable for puppies
- Small treats, because they count towards your puppy’s food for the day
- A short, simple ingredient list if your puppy has a sensitive stomach
Avoid
Hanging it where your puppy can reach it. Dogs can smell every treat through the cardboard and will happily eat all 24 at once.
Check price on AmazonCheck it says suitable for puppies.12. A Training Programme (The Gift That Can’t Be Chewed)
Toys get destroyed. A well-trained puppy is a gift that lasts for years. Brain Training For Dogs is an online programme of step-by-step games that build focus, impulse control and obedience using positive, reward-based methods. Because it’s digital, it’s also a good last-minute gift for a friend with a new puppy.
Good for
- Owners who want a clear plan instead of guessing
- Puppies who are bored by the basics
- Keeping training going through the busy holiday season
Got A New Puppy This Christmas?
Our free 19-page New Puppy Owner Survival Guide covers the first 30 days: toilet training, biting, night crying and brain games, with printable schedules and trackers.
Download My Free Guide Free PDF · no sign-upChristmas Gifts To Avoid For Puppies
| Avoid | Why | Give instead |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked bones (including turkey and ham bones) | Cooking makes bones brittle. They splinter and can damage the mouth, throat and gut. | A frozen stuffed rubber toy |
| Rawhide chews | Puppies can bite off and swallow large pieces, which can cause choking or blockages. | A puppy-safe rubber chew |
| Very hard chews (antlers, hard nylon, hooves) | Fail the thumbnail test and can fracture baby and adult teeth. | Softer puppy-formula chews |
| Stuffed toys with stitched-on eyes and small squeakers | Eyes and squeakers come off and get swallowed. | Embroidered-eye or rubber toys |
| Human Christmas food as a “treat” | Chocolate, grapes, raisins, sultanas (mince pies, Christmas pudding), onions, garlic and xylitol are all toxic to dogs. | Puppy treats or a small piece of plain cooked turkey with no skin or bones |
| Festive costumes with bells, buttons or tight elastic | Small parts get chewed off, and costumes can overheat or stress a puppy. | A plain festive bandana, supervised, for photos only |
If your puppy eats something toxic: Call your vet or an emergency vet straight away, even if your puppy seems fine. Have the packaging to hand so you can tell them what and how much was eaten.
Christmas Day Tips For Puppy Owners
- Turn present opening into a game. Wrap one toy loosely in plain brown paper with no tape or ribbon and let your puppy rip it open. It’s the Cardboard Box Dig from our brain games guide, Christmas edition.
- Clear up wrapping straight away. Ribbon, tinsel and tape cause dangerous gut blockages if swallowed.
- Don’t put edible gifts under the tree. Your puppy will find the chocolate before you do.
- Give your puppy a quiet room. Set up their crate or bed in a calm space with a lick mat so they can escape the noise.
- Stick to the routine. Keep meals, toilet breaks and naps at their usual times. An overtired puppy on Christmas Day is a bitey puppy.
- Brief your visitors. Ask guests not to feed the puppy from the table and to keep doors and gates closed.
4 Common Gift-Buying Mistakes
- Buying for the photo, not the puppy. A cute reindeer outfit is worn once. A teething toy is used every day.
- Giving every toy at once. Put most toys away and rotate 3 or 4 at a time. Swapping them every few days keeps each one exciting.
- Choosing adult-strength chews. Always check the label says it’s suitable for puppies.
- Forgetting the boring essentials. An ID tag, enzyme cleaner for accidents and a spare crate cover make life easier than another squeaky toy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Get My Puppy For Their First Christmas?
For a puppy under 12 weeks, a heartbeat comfort toy, a lick mat and an engraved ID tag. For a puppy aged 3 to 6 months, a freezable teething toy, a snuffle mat and an adjustable harness. See the age table above.
Are Stuffed Toys Safe For Puppies?
Only with supervision. Choose toys with embroidered eyes and no small squeakers, and take the toy away as soon as your puppy starts ripping seams. Swallowed stuffing can cause blockages.
Can My Puppy Have Christmas Dinner?
A small piece of plain cooked turkey breast with no skin, bones, gravy or seasoning is fine as a treat. Keep stuffing, gravy, pigs in blankets, Christmas pudding, mince pies and chocolate well out of reach, as these contain fat, onions, garlic, raisins or chocolate that can make dogs ill.
How Many Toys Does A Puppy Need?
About 5 to 8 is plenty: two or three chew toys, one or two puzzle or sniffing toys, a comfort toy and a tug or fetch toy. Rotate them rather than leaving them all out.
Should I Give Someone A Puppy As A Christmas Present?
Not as a surprise. A dog can live 10 to 15 years or more, and the new owner should choose their puppy and be ready for the time, cost and commitment. A better gift is something to help them prepare, like our free survival guide, a training programme or a voucher towards their puppy’s first essentials. Christmas is also a hectic time to settle a new puppy, so many reputable breeders and rescues recommend waiting until the holidays are over.
The Gift That Lasts All Year
Toys get chewed and treats get eaten, but the habits your puppy learns now last a lifetime. If you want a structured plan for the months ahead, Brain Training For Dogs takes you step by step from simple games to impulse control and obedience.
Brain Training For Dogs
Progressive games and lessons for puppies and adult dogs. A gift that can’t be chewed.
Explore Brain Training For DogsWhatever you choose, the best Christmas gift for your puppy is your time: five minutes on the floor with a new toy and a handful of kibble. Happy first Christmas to you both.
This article is general information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your vet. Prices are rough guides and vary by brand and retailer. If your puppy has a health condition or a special diet, check with your vet before giving new treats or chews.