The trees are up, the tinsel is out, and mince pies are lining the shelves… that’s right, Christmas is well and truly underway and with the festive season comes a chance to spend quality time with the ones we love and spoil our friends and family rotten. All our friends and family – including the furry four-legged members…
It’s no secret that we’re a nation of dog lovers and Christmas is the perfect time to treat man’s best friend - which is why Asda Money carried out a survey with 1,000 UK dog owners to see just how Brits spoil their pups.
The survey revealed 8 in 10 owners saying they want their dogs to feel part of the Christmas celebrations, and a whopping 73 per cent of owners treating their dogs to a dog-friendly Christmas dinner this year. One in either spoilt pups (12 per cent) will even enjoy a celebration breakfast of smoked salmon and croissants!
Almost a quarter of owners (23 per cent) will even be setting their dogs a place at the dinner table this Christmas, while a further 19 per cent are desperate to let their dog sit at the table on the 25th of December, but their family won’t allow it.
Three-quarters (76 per cent) of pups can even expect to receive special Christmas gifts this season. On average, they will find four presents underneath the tree costing £32, with dog owners from London (£41), Leicester (£37) and Stoke-on-Trent (£37) digging deepest into their pockets this year to spoil their furry friend.
Top 10 presents that dogs across the nation will be treated to this Christmas:
- Extra dog treats (47 per cent)
- A new blanket (31 per cent)
- New set of balls to play with (31 per cent)
- Festive-themed toy (30 per cent)
- Dog advent calendar (29 per cent)
- New dog bed (29 per cent)
- Bone to chew on (28 per cent)
- An extra big lunch or dinner (25 per cent)
- An extra-long walk on Christmas Day (23 per cent)
- A hamper full of treats (22 per cent)
A further 23 per cent admitted they spend MORE on presents for their dog, than they do for other family members – and even best friends, and three in ten dog owners admit that their dog receives far more fun and interesting Christmas present than other family members.
Over a third of dog owners even admitted they get more excited to spend the holiday season with their dog than they do with some other family members!
Christmas dinner is by far the best part of Christmas Day but when it comes to serving our four-legged companions the food we would normally eat, checking what food is safe to eat should come as a top priority. That’s why Asda Money Pet Insurance has partnered with MasterChef contestant, Max Davies, to create the ultimate Christmas recipes that are not only easy to create at home, but also safe for our furry friends to tuck into.
The exclusive Asda two-course Christmas Dogs’ Dinner has been fully approved by specialist vet, Joii, and deemed safe for dogs to dig into – and was even put to the test by Asda’s office tasters: Pepper the spaniel, Nala and Stanley, both miniature goldendoodles, Buckles the cockapoo, and Carrie the Labrador retriever – they all reported it was pawfect, but you can see their reactions (and some adorable bloopers) on the Asda Money blog.
Max commented, “Combining my love of food with my love of dogs was a really exciting project to work on. All the dishes have been prepared to be suitable for a healthy dog diet – which was a bit of a challenge as it’s different to the guests I usually cook for – but it was so much fun putting it together for them. The dogs might not have appreciated the presentation of the dishes, but by the look of the clean plates they certainly enjoyed the taste!”
Keeping it classic with turkey, Max Davies’ take on a traditional Christmas dinner suitable for our furry friends featured a turkey crown, broccoli, carrots, swede, spinach and even some dog-friendly gravy to add a little luxury to this healthy festive treat. Just perfect for pups, as the survey showed that 64 per cent of Brits love to give their dogs a festive turkey, while 36 per cent will be tucking into beef. As for extras, 37 per cent will get a side of carrots and over a third are going to be treated to festive themed dog treats.
When asked about dessert, the research also found that some British pooches won’t be missing out on that either this year, as 27 per cent will be enjoying a dog-friendly Christmas cake or pudding after their main course. A fifth (22 per cent) of lucky pooches will even enjoy a fancy box of dog-friendly chocolates to round things off in style!
To inspire more dog-friendly sweet treats, Max Davies has also come up with the perfect doggy dessert to share at Christmas. Including dog bone biscuits made from just six simple ingredients, a few chopped blueberries and some peanut butter ice cream – a yummy addition for sharing with owners – this doggy bone dessert is sure to make your dog’s Christmas extra special this year.
Insurance Product Manager, Ed Doherty from Asda Money Pet Insurance, who conducted the research said: “We’re a nation of dog lovers, but this Christmas we wanted to see just how much we involve our furry companions in the family festivities. Having worked with many dog lovers – including myself – it came as no surprise to learn that most owners are eager to get their dog involved. Dogs love their owners unconditionally and we think it’s only right we love them back just the same.”
“At Asda Money, we believe that caring for our pets is a year-round responsibility, and our Pet Insurance product gives pawrents the perfect peace of mind that their beloved pets are protected year-round, and not just for Christmas!”
However, it’s important to remember what is and what isn’t safe for your dog to take part in this year. Although dogs enjoy tucking into a Christmas dinner as much as we do, there are some festive foods that can pose a health risk to dogs. Not to mention toys, decorations and anything with small parts lying amongst the strewn wrapping paper.
With safety in mind, pet insurance is essential to ensure the whole family can enjoy Christmas Day this year without having to worry, safe in the knowledge that should the cheeky pups get into the Christmas pudding, or sneak a Quality Street from the tin, your coverage ensures your pup is looked after. Find out more about Asda Money’s Pet Insurance here.
