It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Snowflakes dance through the air, fireplaces crackle and make homes all the more cozy, and excitement builds and builds as Christmas approaches. More than a few people are wishing for Santa to bring them a dog and wondering who delivers Christmas presents to dogs. 

We have a special Christmassy blog for you this year, with a short story about just that! Gather ‘round, grab a cup of your favorite Christmassy beverage, and let’s see what dogs want for Christmas….

Nutmeg’s Christmas Wish

It was the week before Christmas, and all through the town, villagers hurried and bustled around. They all dodged Nutmeg, the little brown puppy who ran around at their feet. 

“Merry Christmas,” the baker said, not sounding very merry at all as he sent the teacher off with some treats.

Nutmeg barked enthusiastically along with the teacher’s laughing reply. It was merry! The baker’s daughter Alina laughed and barked along with her, before skipping off back home with an armful of bread for her grandparents. 

Nutmeg liked the bakery for its warmth, coziness, and tasty treats. She liked it even more when the baker brought Alina to work with him.

Alina stayed some days, was gone others. Even when she was only at the bakery for a little bit each day, those were the best parts of each day. 

They were the parts of the day when Nutmeg got a taste of what having a human of her own would be like.

Nutmeg loved Christmas. She loved the bright lights, she loved how happy everyone was, and she loved all the attention she got.

But it also made her sad as she curled up under the bakery’s stairs. Because even though people said hi, no one would take her home with them. When she rested her head on her paws, she saw other dogs happy with their humans. And she wished….

Oh, she wished more than anything in the world for a human to love her. Alina loved her, yes, but… She was not Alina’s. When Alina would ask her father, he would just tell her “we’ll see” and “ask Santa.”

The night grew dark, and the baker closed up shop. He crouched down by Nutmeg and left bowls of food and water by the stairs for her. He was a gruff, stocky man, but Nutmeg could tell he had a warm heart. He’d even added blankets to the sides of the stairs and given her one to use as a bed. 

Maybe Nutmeg needed to ask Santa if he could take her home with them too.

“Don’t give me those eyes,” the baker told Nutmeg sternly, even as he ruffled her ears. 

Nutmeg just gave him her very best pout, her tail wagging slowly. 

He looked torn.

Her hopes rose – but then he left, muttering under his breath.

Nutmeg ate and drank. She must have fallen asleep somewhere along the line, because the next thing she knew, it was morning and silver bells were ringing.

It was a beautiful Christmas morning, but Nutmeg was sad. 

She’d been so convinced that her wish would come true. Alina had told her all about how she was going to ask her father if they could bring her home, and that Nutmeg needed to wish too.

Nutmeg had, but…

Were those footsteps approaching?

Heavier ones… and – and lighter ones!

She knows those footsteps!

It’s the baker and his daughter!

Even if they don’t take her home, she needs to say hi!

But then the baker left last night, last night when Nutmeg was sure he wouldn’t.

The blanket covering the side of the stairs lifted, and the baker’s stern face met hers. “Are you ready to come home?”

She tilted her head to the side, not quite believing her ears until Alina’s face appeared beside her father’s. “Nutmeg! Nutmeg! You’re coming home!”

Home?

Home?

Home!

Nutmeg jumped up and ran around their feet. Alina hugged her close, laughing and crying. The baker pretended to be annoyed, but Nutmeg could see the glassiness in his eyes, she could tell seeing his daughter happy made him happy.

Home? And humans to love? Forever?

Oh, Santa must have heard her!

The baker gathered up the pans, saying gruffly, “She’s already as good as ours, may as well take her own and make it official.”

“Oh, you love her too, Papa!” Alina declared, and he couldn’t even deny it.

They took her home – home – to their lovely, warm cottage. Nutmeg got to cuddle up with them on the chairs and eat her food by the table as they ate and at night, Alina let her curl up into bed with her.

It was, without a doubt, the best Christmas ever.

What Does Your Dog Want For Christmas?

Probably nothing more than your love and attention and to be cared for. We here at Little Teton Doodles hope you have a wonderful holiday season. If you want some tips for how to make your furbaby feel extra special, we’d be happy to share some Christmassy ideas with you. We’d also be happy to make your family complete with a new, furry family member. Contact us today to learn more about the doodles we have available! 

Halloween’s passed and the weather just continues to get colder and colder. Winter is coming, and it’s important to know how to keep your furry friends safe. Just like you make adjustments to how you dress and go about your day, your pup needs some adjustments too in order to be able to enjoy this season to its fullest. After all, just because dogs have fur doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take winter safety precautions to keep them warm.

Here are some of our top winter safety tips for dogs. Whether your dog adores the snow or hates it or you live somewhere that doesn’t get snow at all, by practicing cold weather safety, you can head into the holidays with a happy, content pup all winter long.

#1. Keep Them Warm!

Whether you live in frigid Alaska or sunny California, winters have one thing in common: lowered temperatures and worsened weather. Those puppy coats, sweaters, and booties aren’t just adorable fashion statements, but can be a necessity, especially for short-haired dogs in cold climates. You may consider keeping your dog’s coat longer than you would in the summer months, so they have a bit of extra warmth. 

Your dog’s breed plays a significant role in how much you need to do to help them stay nice and warm. Some breeds adore the snow while others could not hate it more. Dogs are also individuals, so they could respond to the cold and wet differently than how you might expect. Pay attention to your dog and learn how they respond to the cold. 

Watch for signs of distress, such as shivering, picking their paws up from the snow, whining, disorientation, and lethargy. Like humans, dogs can get frostbite and hypothermia, so it’s important to keep them warm. Generally speaking, if it’s too cold for you to be outside, it’s too cold for your pup. 

#2. Protect Their Paws 

In states that get snow and freezing temperatures, it’s quite standard for people to put salt and other ice melts on their driveways and sidewalks to keep them clear. However, these can end up giving your pup’s paws chemical burns. 

Consider getting little booties for your pup to keep their paws protected on your walks. Otherwise, you want to ensure that you thoroughly wash and clean your furbaby’s paws after each outdoor excursion. You don’t just want to clean away any salt or ice melts, but also snow and ice. These can cause your pup’s paws to crack and bleed. If you notice that your pup’s paws are bleeding, you’ll want to call your vet.

A moisturizer can help keep your pup’s paws moisturized. Petroleum jelly works well for this. 

#3. Don’t Let Them Eat Antifreeze Or De-Icers

Antifreeze may taste sweet, but it’s incredibly toxic to dogs. The chemicals in de-icers are too. While salt isn’t toxic, it can still lead to an upset stomach. Keep an eye on your pup during your walks and steer clear of areas with these substances.

This is also why the above point is so important. If you don’t clean your pup’s paws after bringing them back inside, they could lick off chemical de-icers or antifreeze, leading to a trip to the animal hospital. Nobody wants this! A key component for winter safety for dogs is preventing poisoning from de-icing agents and antifreeze.

#4. Keep Them Hydrated 

Winter months tend to be drier, especially if you live in a desert area. If you live somewhere that gets cold, your home can get drier too, as the heat runs. This makes watching your pup’s hydration an essential part of winter safety. While some people assume that winter means you have to worry about their pets’ hydration less, the truth is that water bowls can freeze and you still need to ensure that your dog is drinking enough. 

If you gently pinch the loose skin at the back of your dog’s neck and it doesn’t immediately spring back, they’re dehydrated. You can also check their gums: healthy, hydrated gums are a nice pink color.

#5. Watch For Dryness

You may consider using a humidifier inside your home to keep the air from getting too dry. Dry, flakey, itchy skin is a common winter problem, especially if your pup likes to go out into the cold. Ensure that you towel dry your furbaby every time they come in, and bathe them as little as possible. Bathing them too often can remove essential oils from their coat and skin that they need. 

You may also need to moisturize their skin. You can talk to your vet about whether or not your dog would benefit from a fatty acid supplement to keep their coat and skin in good condition. 

#6. Consider Whether Or Not To Feed Them More

If you have an active pup who runs around and plays a lot, then you may need to up their caloric intake. Especially if your dog loves the snow, they may need some more food during the winter months in order to maintain a healthy weight, as well as to ensure that their body generates enough heat and energy. 

However, if your dog is a couch potato and despises snow with a fiery passion, they likely ought to be fed the same as normal, or even a bit less than normal, if the winter months mean that they live a more sedentary lifestyle than they otherwise would. 

Keep a careful eye on your dog’s weight to ensure that it stays in a healthy range. Talk to your vet about your dog’s specific lifestyle in order to know what you can do in order to keep them at a healthy weight throughout the winter.

These are but six of the winter safety tips you can use to help protect your dog during this time of year. Little Teton Doodles cares about helping you and your dog stay happy and healthy. If you would like to learn more winter safety tips for dogs, you can contact your vet. We would also be happy to help. Stay safe out there! 

It’s almost Howl-o-ween! In the weeks leading up to this spooky holiday, it’s the perfect time to give your pup’s costume a test drive to ensure that they’re comfortable in it prior to any actual Halloween events. If you’re still looking for a dog costume, we have several trendy ideas for you, including Stranger Things looks! We also have some important safety considerations that you’ll want to keep in mind when dressing your pup up. 

Tips For Safe Halloween Dog Costumes

Adorable as dog costumes are, some of them can create health risks to your furbaby. Here are some of the top tips to keep in mind in order to prevent any health concerns to your pup this Halloween.

#1. Ensure That They Have Full Mobility

Your dog should be able to move with ease in their costume. This means that they should be able to run around and howl and see things as they normally do. The costume should fit them properly, as a costume that is too small will restrict their movement and their breathing, while one that is too big can end up tripping your dog as they try to move around.

If your heart is set on a picture with your dog with a little Batman mask or something else that would impair their sight or movement, it’s best to keep these restricted to a quick little photoshoot, then take them off. Cute as masks and the like may be, they restrict your dog’s senses, which can cause them to get frightened and stressed and could lead to potential injury.

#2. No Choking Hazards

Most dog costumes are designed with dog safety in mind, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. You want to remove any dangling or loosely attached bits that your dog could choke on if they tried to pull it off. 

#3. Be Careful Of Allergies

Sometimes dogs can have allergic reactions to certain fabrics and detergents. This can result in issues like rashes, itching, and respiratory problems. Keep a careful eye on your dog, and if something seems amiss, remove the costume right away and give your pup a bath in a gentle soap. Should symptoms persist or should you not know what to do, contact your vet as soon as possible.

#4. Keep ID Tags Visible

Did you know that Halloween is right up there with the 4th of July for holidays when pets are most likely to go missing? That’s a horror you never want to experience. Should your pup get away from you in the night, ensure that their costume keeps their ID tags visible, so that whoever finds them can help them find their way back to you.

#5. Watch For Signs Of Stress

Chances are, unless you dress your pup up on the reg, they’ll be a bit uncertain when you first put their costume on. Dogs don’t usually wear clothes, after all! You can typically coax your furbaby to move around and become accustomed to their costume with treats and encouragement. This is also why it’s good to have your pup try their costume on prior to Halloween so that they have time to get used to wearing it. 

However, it’s important to recognize that dog costumes aren’t good for all dogs. Just like not every human enjoys getting dressed up, neither does every dog. If your pup tucks its tail, hunches its spine, folds its ears down, or keeps looking sideways or its eyes roll back, please take the hint your pup is trying to give you and remove the costume. 

You can still be festive with a cute little Beanie Baby tag on their collar or a bandana with a Halloween-esque print. Halloween is supposed to be fun after all, and if your pup just doesn’t like being dressed up, listen to them. 

You also want to give your own costume a test run around your pup. Costumes change the way that people look and smell, so for the most enjoyable Halloween, you’ll want to get your dog used to you wearing a costume too. Check out our previous blog, Top Halloween Tips For Dogs, to learn more about keeping your pup safe this Halloween. 

Trendy And Safe Halloween Dog Costume Ideas

Whether you want to dress your pup up as a fearsome dragon or you want to do something more on-trend, the above tips for how to select a safe Halloween dog costume are sure to help you out. If you need some help coming up with ideas for what to dress your pup up as, we here at Little Teton Doodles have some very trendy dog costume ideas for you so that your pup can be the belle of the ball!

We have partnered with nimbypimby on Instagram to come out with dog costumes each week leading up to Halloween! Be sure to follow us (@littletetondoodles) and them (@nimbypimby) to see our weekly reveals!

This week, we’re all about the Netflix hit series Stranger Things. Whether you want to throw on a Hellfire shirt and jean jacket for an easy Eddie or opt for Max’s iconic blue hoodie, these Stranger Things costumes will help you and your pup be a matching set.

Mike

The ringleader of the fearsome foursome, this Mike costume reflects his Season 4 adventures into the Hellfire Club.

Lucas

Sweet Lucas may feel torn between balancing newfound popularity and his nerdier friends, but your pup can just enjoy a snazzy basketball uniform with none of the conflicts!

Dusty Bun

Dustin is the heart of the foursome, and this costume will certainly make its way into your heart too, with Dustin’s signature hat and all.

Will The Wise

Caring Will put so much effort into his friendships and Dungeons And Dragons adventures, as reflected in this costume he put together. Your pup can also be a wizard on a quest with friends!

Babysitter Steve

Oh, Steve. Somehow, he always ends up dragged into UpsideDown business and charged with looking after the above four troublemakers. Your pup can enjoy the nautical look of his Season 3 Scoops Ahoy! uniform with none of the responsibilities Steve is often charged with. 

If Stranger Things isn’t your thing, check our Instagram for more costume reveals over the upcoming weeks. We can’t wait to share them all with you!

Little Teton Doodles is excited to help you and your pup have a spooktacular holiday. Contact us to learn more about our partnership with nimbypimby and our dog-safe costume ideas for you!