Our dogs were the one thing that got us through the panic and lockdowns. I — along with an estimated 3.2 million fellow Brits — gained a lockdown puppy, after years of lobbying from my children.
Darcey is a cockapoo and a menace, a hyperactive, slipper-chewing, cheese-stealing ball of fur — but she’s now part of the family. My four children insist that Darcey should participate in Christmas festivities.
It seems that we aren’t the only ones who ensure Rover receives Santa’s visit. Pet owners spend more on festive gifts for their felines and dogs than ever before, according to retail outlets.
Harry Wallop (pictured) and Darcey, his cockapoo Darcey give their verdict on the selection of canine crackers ahead of Christmas
Tesco sells mince pies, and even pigs in-blankets to pets, and says Christmas treats are on the rise by 25%.
And it’s not just pet owners. Amelia Austin, pet food buyer at the supermarket, said: ‘Last year we noticed a third of shoppers who bought items from our Christmas pet range didn’t buy anything from our wider pet range, suggesting they were picking up a gift for a friend or family member’s cat or dog. With pet gifting being a huge trend, we expect this to rise again this year.’
There have been dog stockings, pet Christmas jumpers, and dog advent calendars for quite some time. But the best Christmas gifts for dogs is crackers.
You may have believed loud bangs or small, easily swallowable trinkets made of plastic were inappropriate for dogs, but they are actually dog-friendly.
Which are your top picks? Darcey also rated which of these best?
LAUGHTER RIGHT ROYAL
The Dog’s Cracker, £15, Fortnum & Mason (fortnum andmason.com)
Harry said The Dog’s Cracker (pictured) had a sturdy rope chew toy, which Darcey very much enjoyed
An undeniably top cracker for a top dog, as you would expect from Britain’s most famous upmarket grocer with two royal warrants (I wonder if the corgis get their festive treats from here).
The box is elegantly wrapped.
Inside the cracker (no scary bang) you get a sturdy rope chew toy, which Darcey very much enjoyed, along with a couple of jokes, including this corker: ‘Dog owner: My dog has a fever. How should I treat him?
Vet: Mustard. That’s the best thing for a hot dog.’
At £15 per cracker, however, you could hardly call this cracking value. 4/5
CLEVER CANINES
Christmas Cracker by Goodchap’s, £7.95, Natural Pet Store (thenatural petstore.co.uk)
Harry said Christmas Cracker by Goodchap’s (pictured) is eco-friendly but doesn’t have much sparkle or festive spirit
If your dog is really clever (and of course they are), you can actually ‘pull’ this cracker with them, because it’s been cleverly designed with two rope toys, sticking out of each end. The dog can grasp one end and you the opposite.
Darcey also found a small packet of dried salmon snacks in the sachet.
There’s not much sparkle or festive spirit about this cracker, but it is eco-friendly, with the cardboard and the ropes both fully compostable and recyclable. 3/5
DOGGY BITES
Bud’s Bites Christmas ‘no bang!’ Cracker for Pooches, £6.95 (budsbites.co.uk)
Harry said Bud’s Bites Christmas ‘no bang!’ Cracker for Pooches (pictured) contained a generous sachet of treats
It is a cracker! The bows are beautiful and the label with the red paw prints is adorable. You could even reuse it as Christmas decorations.
Bud’s Bites was set up by Mollie Edwards, based in Poole, Dorset, who started the business during the first lockdown.
Inside is a generous sachet of treats in the shape of dog bones, which Darcey gobbled down, a sturdy paper hat (for the owner, rather than the dog, I presume) and a joke: ‘Q: Why are teddy bears never hungry? A: Because they’re always stuffed.’ Oh, dear me. Warning: there is a small charm, designed to go on to your dog’s collar or harness, which you want to ensure doesn’t get gobbled up by the dog if it goes flying. 4/5
FISHY FUN
Skipper’s Fish Skin Flatties Christmas Cracker, £7.99 (skipperspet products.com)
Harry said Skipper’s Fish Skin Flatties Christmas Cracker (pictured) contains a bag of six pretty large cod skin treats
Skipper’s was set up in 2013 by Steve Moore, a former fishmonger based in Grimsby, and the company specialises in treats made from fish.
This makes them pretty healthy because they are low in fat and full of omega 3 oil, which is great for your dog’s joints and skin.
The crackers don’t have any hat, jokes or festive sparkle, which is a shame, but they do contain a bag of six pretty large cod skin treats (60g in total) — air-dryed rather than cooked, which means they don’t smell too strong.
If it becomes stuck under your sofa, good news! Darcey was so in love with hers, she quickly took it out to the backyard and put it under a tree. 3/5
POSH AND PERSONAL
The Handmade Christmas Co Luxury Pet Treat Cracker, £14.50, Not On The High Street (notonthehigh street.com)
Harry said The Handmade Christmas Co Luxury Pet Treat Cracker (pictured) contains a party hat and a joke
Although they are not nearly as expensive than the Fortnums, these give them a good fight in the elegant stakes.
And you do get to personalise them — not just putting the name of your beloved pooch on the front, but you also choose whether to include a dog bone biscuit or a cat rattle.
A joke and party hat are also available. Darcey warns her fellow dogs that it won’t take long to demolish the bone.
It’s a great plaything, and the box that it comes in is just as cool. 3/5
A MUTT’S HAVE
BuzzyBearShop Custom Christmas Cracker for Dogs, £7.50, from Etsy (etsy.com)
Harry said BuzzyBearShop Custom Christmas Cracker for Dogs (pictured) contained a hat, dental chew, biscuits and a joke
Another cracker you can personalise, by choosing the colour of the ribbon — which also corresponds to the colour of the party hat inside the cracker. You can also make this for your dog. The collar is made of felt with a ribbon that can be tied around the neck.
Darcey was not impressed but I think it is adorable. The cracker can be personalized with the pet’s name.
Along with the hat comes a Whimzee mini-festival dental chew, four biscuits, and a joke. Darcey chose the chew over the hat.
Buzzy Bear is run by Katie McArragher, who says she understands why people want to pull a cracker with their pooch and pop a hat on their head: ‘Especially with the tough past few years, our dogs have been a constant for us with their funny ways and unconditional love.
‘So why wouldn’t you want to treat them as a part of the family and spoil them at Christmas?’ Why indeed not? 5/5