Dog Lover Christmas Gifts: 14 Handmade Ideas Inspired by the Queen Who Filled Stockings for Her Corgis

Dog lover Christmas gifts are some of the sweetest presents to make, because you are really making something for two: the person and the pup they adore. Even royalty felt that way. Queen Elizabeth II was famous for her corgis, and every Christmas she made stockings for her dogs, filled with toys and treats. Most of us do not live in a palace, but we can borrow her warm idea. A felt stocking, a painted bowl, a paw print ornament or a cozy bed made from an old sweater costs very little and means a lot to anyone who calls their dog family. Every idea below is simple enough for one evening at the kitchen table, and safe for curious noses. Pick a few for the dog people on your list..

The Queen’s Corgi Stocking: Dog Lover Christmas Gifts Start Here

According to Wikipedia’s history of the royal corgis, Queen Elizabeth II made Christmas stockings for her dogs, full of toys and biscuits. In 1955, two corgis named Whisky and Sherry were even a surprise Christmas present for her children. You can make a royal style stocking in an hour. Cut two stocking shapes from red felt, stitch them together, then add a white cuff and a felt bone. Fill it with a rope toy and a few dog biscuits, and it becomes the stocking the whole family will fight over..

You will need: Red and white felt, a paper stocking pattern, scissors, a needle and embroidery floss or fabric glue, a felt bone shape, a ribbon loop, dog safe toys and biscuits.

How to make it: 1. Trace two stocking shapes on red felt and cut them out. 2. Stitch around the edges with a blanket stitch, leaving the top open, then add the white cuff and felt bone. 3. Sew on a ribbon loop and fill the stocking with toys and biscuits.

Paw Print Salt Dough Ornament

Of all dog lover Christmas gifts, a paw print ornament is the keepsake every dog parent wants and almost never gets around to making. Mix one cup of flour, half a cup of salt and about half a cup of water into a soft dough, roll it flat and cut a circle. Press the dog’s paw gently into the middle, poke a hole for the ribbon and bake it low and slow until hard. Paint the edges in red and green. One important tip: salt dough is not safe for dogs to eat, so hang it high on the tree. Whose paw would you capture first?

You will need: Flour, salt, water, a rolling pin, a round cookie cutter, a straw, acrylic paint, a brush, clear sealer, baker’s twine.

How to make it: 1. Knead the dough, roll it to about a quarter inch thick and cut a circle. 2. Press the paw in gently, make a hole with a straw and bake at 200 F for two to three hours (an adult handles the oven). 3. Paint, seal and tie on twine once cool.

Clear Bauble Dog Lover Christmas Gifts With a Paw Print

Clear plastic or glass baubles turn into personal ornaments in minutes. Dip a fingertip or a pencil eraser in white paint to stamp a little paw print on the front: one oval pad and four small dots. Add tiny gold dots around it and the dog’s name with a paint pen on the back. A spoon of faux snow inside makes it sparkle. These are perfect for a friend who just adopted a puppy, because it marks their first Christmas together. Would your dog get a gold or silver name?

You will need: Clear fillable baubles, white acrylic paint, a gold paint pen, a pencil eraser, faux snow, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Clean the bauble and let it dry. 2. Stamp the paw pad with a fingertip and the toes with the eraser, then add gold dots. 3. Write the name on the back, add faux snow inside and tie on a ribbon.

Hand Painted Dog Bowl With Their Name

A plain ceramic dog bowl from the discount store becomes a custom gift with porcelain paint pens. Draw little bones, holly leaves and paw prints around the outside only, never on the inside where food goes. Bake it in the oven as the paint pen package says, so the design holds up to washing. Add the dog’s name on the side for the full boutique look. Among dog lover Christmas gifts, it is the one the dog uses every single day, and the owner smiles every time they fill it. What would your pup’s bowl say?

You will need: A plain ceramic dog bowl, porcelain or ceramic paint pens, rubbing alcohol, a cotton pad, an oven.

How to make it: 1. Wipe the outside of the bowl with rubbing alcohol. 2. Draw your design on the outside only and let it dry for a day. 3. Bake as the pen directions say (an adult handles the oven) and hand wash it after.

Braided Fleece Tug Toy

Dogs go wild for a good tug toy, and you can braid one from fleece scraps or an old fleece blanket in ten minutes. Cut three or six long strips, knot them together at one end, braid them tightly and knot the other end. Choose red, white and green fleece for a candy cane look under the tree. Always supervise play and toss the toy once it starts to fray, so no loose bits get swallowed. For more free ideas, see our DIY dog toys made from things you already own. Which colors would you braid?

You will need: Fleece fabric or an old fleece blanket, sharp scissors, a ruler.

How to make it: 1. Cut strips about 2 inches wide and 20 inches long. 2. Tie them together with a tight knot at one end. 3. Braid firmly, then tie a second tight knot and trim the ends neatly.

Embroidered Dog Portrait Hoop

An embroidered portrait looks like art from a craft fair, but it starts with simple tracing. Print a photo of the dog, trace its outline onto cream linen with a washable pen, then stitch along the lines with a back stitch in brown or black floss. Add a tiny holly sprig in the corner for Christmas. Leave the fabric in the wooden hoop as the frame. It is one of those dog lover Christmas gifts that makes people tear up, and even beginners can finish one in an evening while watching a movie. Which pet portrait would make someone on your list cry happy tears?

You will need: A wooden embroidery hoop, cream linen or cotton, a washable fabric pen, embroidery floss, a needle, a printed photo of the dog.

How to make it: 1. Tape the photo to a window, lay the fabric over it and trace the outline. 2. Put the fabric in the hoop and back stitch along the lines. 3. Rinse away the pen marks, trim the back and add a ribbon to hang it.

Dog Silhouette String Art

String art is having a big comeback in dog lover Christmas gifts, and a dog silhouette makes it personal. Print the outline of the dog’s breed, tape it to a stained board and hammer small nails around the shape. Remove the paper and wrap red yarn back and forth between the nails until the shape fills in. It looks bold on a shelf or above a dog bed. Older kids can help with the wrapping while an adult handles the hammer. Would you choose red for Christmas or the dog’s collar color?

You will need: A wood board, wood stain, small nails, a hammer, a printed dog silhouette, tape, yarn or embroidery floss.

How to make it: 1. Stain the board and let it dry. 2. Tape the silhouette on and hammer nails every half inch around it (adult help). 3. Tear off the paper, tie the yarn to one nail and wrap across the shape until it is full.

Leash Hook Board, One of the Most Useful Dog Lover Christmas Gifts

Every dog home has a pile of leashes, collars and treat bags by the door. A leash hook board fixes that and looks great doing it. Cut a scrap plank, sand it, paint it soft white and screw on three or four black hooks. Add a little painted paw print or the dog’s name at one end. It takes an afternoon and costs a few dollars, but it gets used several times a day. Hang it at hand height near the door so walks start faster. Who on your list is always searching for the leash?

You will need: A scrap wood plank, sandpaper, paint, a brush, three or four metal hooks, screws, a drill, picture hanging hardware.

How to make it: 1. Sand and paint the plank, then let it dry. 2. Mark even spaces and screw on the hooks (adult help with the drill). 3. Add hanging hardware on the back and wrap it with a bow.

Treat Jar With a Painted Lid

A big glass jar becomes a kitchen treasure when you paint the lid. Use red paint and white paw prints, then glue a small wooden bone on top as a knob. Fill it with dog biscuits and tie a plaid ribbon around the neck. It makes treat time feel special and keeps the counter tidy. If you bake treats, stick to simple dog safe recipes and avoid chocolate, grapes, raisins and xylitol. A pretty jar like this is also one of the easiest dog lover Christmas gifts for a dog walker or groomer. Who deserves one at your house?

You will need: A large glass jar with a lid, acrylic or enamel paint, a small wooden bone shape, strong glue, ribbon, dog biscuits.

How to make it: 1. Paint the lid red, let it dry and add white paw prints with a fingertip. 2. Glue the wooden bone on top and seal the lid. 3. Fill the jar with biscuits and tie on the ribbon.

Plaid Dog Bandana

Nothing says holiday photo like a dog in a plaid bandana. Cut a triangle from flannel, fold the edges under and sew a simple hem, or use fabric glue if you do not sew. For a slide on version, fold the top over and stitch a channel so the collar slips through. Make a matching one for each dog in the family. It is the gift that guarantees a Christmas card photo everyone will love. Will you go classic red plaid or a cozy green tartan?

You will need: Flannel fabric, scissors, a ruler, pins, a sewing machine or fabric glue, matching thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut a triangle about 20 inches wide for a medium dog. 2. Fold the edges a quarter inch and stitch or glue them. 3. Fold over the top inch and stitch a channel for the collar.

Dog Collar Wreath for the Front Door

Tell the whole street a dog lives here with a dog collar wreath. Start with a plain pine wreath and wrap a bright red collar around the bottom where a bow would go. Wire in a few rope toys, tennis balls and bone shaped biscuits sealed in clear bags. It is cheerful, a little funny and surprisingly pretty, and it doubles as one of the best dog lover Christmas gifts for neighbors. When Christmas is over, the toys come off and go straight to the dog. Would you make one for your door or for a friend who just got a puppy?

You will need: A pine wreath, a dog collar, rope toys, tennis balls, floral wire, wire cutters, small clear bags, dog biscuits.

How to make it: 1. Buckle the collar around the bottom of the wreath. 2. Wire on the toys and tennis balls in a curve. 3. Bag the biscuits, wire them in the gaps and hang the wreath on the door.

Hand Stamped Tags for Dog Lover Christmas Gifts

A hand stamped tag looks like it came from a boutique pet shop, and you can make several in one evening. Buy blank brass or aluminum tags and a simple letter stamping kit. Tape a tag to a steel block, line up each letter and give it one firm tap with a hammer. Rub a little black paint into the letters and wipe the surface clean so the name pops. Add a tiny heart or paw stamp for charm. Clip it to a new collar and the gift is ready to wear. What name would you stamp first?

You will need: Blank metal pet tags, a letter stamping kit, a steel bench block, a small hammer, painter’s tape, black paint pen, a soft cloth, split rings, a new collar.

How to make it: 1. Tape the tag to the block and practice on a scrap first. 2. Stamp each letter with one firm tap (adult help for kids), then fill the letters with paint and wipe. 3. Attach the tag to the collar with a split ring.

Upcycled Sweater Dog Bed Cushion

An old sweater is the perfect start for a cozy dog bed. Stuff the body of the sweater with a pillow, sew the neck and bottom closed, then roll the sleeves into a bolster around the edge and stitch them in place. The knit texture looks like a boutique pet bed, and it smells like home. Small dogs and cats curl right in. It is one of the coziest dog lover Christmas gifts for an older dog who likes to nap near the tree. Which sweater in your closet is ready for a new life?

You will need: An old sweater, a bed pillow, polyester stuffing, a needle and strong thread, pins.

How to make it: 1. Sew the neck opening closed and stuff the sleeves with stuffing. 2. Slide the pillow into the body and sew the bottom closed. 3. Curve the sleeves around the front and stitch them to the sides.

DIY Photo Backdrop, the Most Fun of Dog Lover Christmas Gifts

Some of the best gifts are experiences, and a holiday photo session for someone’s dog is pure joy. Build a little backdrop in a corner: drape a buffalo plaid blanket over a chair or a hay bale, add a small pine tree or garland, a few ornaments on the floor and a lantern with a battery light. Tie on a soft fleece scarf, then snap away with treats in hand. Print the best shot in a frame and wrap it up, or give a card that invites them over. Whose dog would steal the show in front of your camera?

You will need: A plaid blanket, a chair or crate, pine garland or a small tree, shatterproof ornaments, a battery lantern, a fleece scarf, treats, a phone or camera, a frame.

How to make it: 1. Set the blanket and greenery against a wall near a window for soft light. 2. Seat the dog on the blanket and hold a treat just above the camera. 3. Take lots of shots, pick the sweetest one and print it for the frame.