If your dog suddenly becomes your best friend the minute you start preparing Christmas dinner, you’re not alone. Most dogs are professional foodies. They know when something good is happening in the kitchen, and they are more than happy to supervise every single step of the process. The good news is that your pup doesn’t have to be completely left out of the Christmas feast. There are quite a few common holiday foods that dogs can enjoy. The trick is keeping it plain. A lot of the seasonings, sauces, butter, sugar, and other ingredients we add to our Christmas favorites aren’t a great choice for dogs. So, while you can share some of your holiday dinner with your pup, their version should look a little different from yours. As an Amazon affiliate, when you click on any of the links on this page and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you! By using our affiliate links, you’ll find our favorite picks and support us at the same time. And we really appreciate your support! Here are some Christmas foods dogs can eat, along with holiday foods you should keep firmly off the doggy menu. Christmas Foods Dogs Can Eat 1. Turkey Turkey is probably one of the easiest Christmas dinner foods to share with your dog. The catch? Keep it plain. Roasted turkey is often seasoned with herbs and spices, and some seasonings can contain ingredients such as garlic powder or onion that aren’t safe for dogs. The skin can also be very fatty and heavily seasoned, so it’s best to skip it. Instead, set aside a few pieces of plain turkey meat for your pup before you start seasoning the rest. You can serve it by itself or mix a little into their regular food. And, of course, no turkey bones. 2. Ham A tiny piece of plain, thoroughly cooked ham can be an occasional treat for your dog, but this isn’t exactly health food. Ham is high in fat and sodium, so moderation is important. If you’re sharing some with your pup, keep it plain and skip the honey-baked or heavily seasoned versions. And whatever you do, don’t give your dog the ham bone. 3. Fish Fish can be a healthy holiday treat for dogs as long as it’s prepared properly. Salmon and sardines can provide protein and other nutrients, but you’ll want to remove fish bones from all fish before serving. Sardines are a little different because their small bones are soft and digestible, but you should still pay attention to how the fish is prepared. The biggest rule here is simple: plain fish, no heavy sauces or seasonings, and watch those bones. 4. Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes Dogs can enjoy cooked potatoes and sweet potatoes. If you’re making roasted potatoes for Christmas dinner, set aside a small portion for your dog before adding butter, seasonings, or other ingredients. Mashed potatoes can work too but your dog’s portion should come before the milk, butter, salt, and other additions go in. Avoid feeding your dog raw or partially cooked potatoes, especially the peels. 5. Green Beans Green beans are an easy way to give your dog a little taste of the holiday meal. They can be served raw or cooked, although plain fresh green beans are a better choice than heavily salted canned versions. If you’re preparing a green bean dish for Christmas dinner, grab a few for your pup before adding seasonings or sauces. They’re healthy and your pup will think they’re getting a treat. 6. Carrots Carrots are another simple dog-friendly snack. Dogs can eat them raw or cooked, and many pups love the crunch of a raw carrot. If you’re giving your dog a raw carrot, cut it into appropriately sized pieces to make it easier and safer to eat. Cooked carrots should be plain and unseasoned. Fun Idea: Get a Christmas dog bowl for your pup. This set has a decorated food bowl and stainless water bowl. 7. Corn Corn can be an occasional treat for dogs, but there’s one very important rule: Take it off the cob first. The cob can cause serious intestinal problems if a dog swallows it. So, if you’re serving corn with Christmas dinner, put a little plain corn aside for your pup. 8. Homemade Broth Homemade broth can be a nice addition to your dog’s food, especially if you’re already making a batch for soups or gravy. Dog-friendly broth can include ingredients such as carrots, celery, rosemary, and thyme. The important part is checking the ingredients carefully. No onions, garlic, shallots, or bay leaves. These common cooking ingredients can turn an otherwise dog-friendly broth into something your pup shouldn’t have. 9. Eggs If you’re making Christmas cookies, dinner rolls, or another recipe that uses eggs, you can set aside some cooked egg for your dog. Plain cooked eggs or hard boiled eggs can be served on their own, and scrambled eggs can work as long as you aren’t loading them up with butter and seasonings. Skip raw eggs. And if your dog has never had eggs before, start with a small amount to make sure they tolerate them. 10. Cranberries Plain cranberries may be a little tart, but they are a great treat for dogs. If you’re making homemade cranberry sauce, you can set aside a small portion before adding sugar or other ingredients. Skip the typical canned cranberry sauce, which can contain a lot of added sugar and may include ingredients you don’t want your dog eating. As with everything on this list, plain is your friend. 11. Pumpkin Pumpkin is another holiday favorite that can work well for dogs. Plain pumpkin provides fiber and other nutrients and is easy for many dogs to digest. You can offer plain pumpkin puree or incorporate it into a dog-friendly treat, like cookies or biscuits. Pumpkin seeds can also be used, but make sure they’re prepared appropriately and aren’t covered in salt or seasonings. 12. Cheese This one comes with a big “maybe.” Some dogs can enjoy a small amount of cheese, but cheese is high in fat, and some dogs don’t tolerate dairy very well. If your dog handles dairy, a tiny amount of cheese may be okay as an occasional treat. Avoid cheeses with herbs or flavorings, especially anything containing garlic or other ingredients that aren’t safe for dogs. And if your dog is overweight or has a history of digestive problems, cheese probably isn’t the Christmas treat I’d choose. 13. Dog-Friendly Gingerbread Cookies Want your dog to have their own Christmas cookie? Make them a dog-friendly version. There are plenty of gingerbread recipes designed specifically for dogs. Ginger can be used in dog-friendly recipes, but you’ll want to avoid the large amounts of sugar and other ingredients found in traditional human Christmas cookies. You can even make a simple dog-friendly icing. Because yes, your dog deserves a Christmas cookie photo too. Pro Pick: Use these cute bone shaped cookie cutters for your dog’s cookies. 14. Dog-Friendly Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter cookies can also be turned into a dog-friendly holiday treat. The easiest approach is to make a basic batch using simple ingredients and set aside your dog’s portion before adding chocolate, extra sugar, or other ingredients that aren’t appropriate for dogs. You can even add oats for a little extra texture. Just remember to check your peanut butter ingredients and avoid products containing ingredients that aren’t safe for dogs. Pro Choice: Amazon has some great dog treat cookbooks; this one is our pick. Christmas Foods Dogs Should NOT Eat Now for the less-fun part. There are plenty of Christmas foods that should stay on the human table and out of your dog’s bowl. Many of these ingredients show up in holiday recipes because they’re used to add flavor. That’s one reason making your dog’s portion separately is often the easiest way to avoid problems. Onions and Garlic Onions and garlic are common in Christmas recipes, gravies, stuffing, sauces, and seasonings. They can be harmful to dogs, whether they’re fresh, cooked, raw, or powdered. That means the little sprinkle of garlic powder you might not think twice about is still something to keep away from your pup. Grapes and Raisins You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s worth repeating: Don’t give grapes or raisins to your dog, ever. Keep them away from your pup, including foods and desserts containing grapes or raisins. Chocolate Chocolate and dogs are a bad combination. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which dogs should not consume. And Christmas happens to be one of those times when chocolate seems to be absolutely everywhere: cookies, candy, desserts, stocking stuffers, and gifts. So be sure to keep it out of reach of your pup. If your dog gets into chocolate, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison resource for guidance rather than guessing whether the amount was safe. Fat Trimmings That piece of fatty meat may look like the perfect little Christmas treat to your dog, but it isn’t. Too much fat can contribute to pancreatitis, so don’t intentionally feed your dog meat trimmings or large amounts of fatty holiday food. If your pup manages to sneak a tiny bite, don’t automatically panic, but definitely don’t turn it into a Christmas tradition either. Macadamia Nuts Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs and should stay completely off the menu. Many other nuts can also create choking or digestive hazards, especially when they’re mixed into holiday desserts. Uncooked Yeast Dough If you’re making homemade bread, rolls, or other yeast-based treats, keep the uncooked dough away from your dog. Uncooked yeast dough can continue rising inside the stomach and cause serious problems. And let’s be honest, rising bread dough sitting on the counter is exactly the kind of thing a curious dog may decide needs investigating. Keep it safely out of reach. A Simple Rule for Sharing Christmas Dinner with Your Dog The easiest way to remember all of this? Set aside your dog’s food before you start seasoning the family meal. That one little step can make Christmas dinner much easier. Before adding butter, salt, sauces, gravy, garlic, onions, herbs, spices, or other ingredients, pull out a small portion of dog-friendly foods. You can give your pup a little plain turkey, cooked vegetables, potatoes, or another appropriate treat without trying to figure out whether they can have everything on your plate. And remember that treats should still be treats. Even foods that are safe for dogs can cause stomach problems if your dog eats too much of them. Don’t Forget About the Christmas Trash The dinner table isn’t the only place your dog can get into trouble. The trash can be incredibly tempting during the holidays. Think about everything that might end up there: Turkey scraps, bones, chocolate wrappers, food packages, ribbon and wrapping materials and a myriad of other bad things for your pup. Keep your trash securely closed and somewhere your dog can’t reach it. Take it out as soon as possible. When in Doubt, Keep It Plain Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be complicated for your pup. In fact, the simpler the better. Plain prepared foods are generally much easier to manage than holiday dishes loaded with butter, salt, spices, sauces, sugar, and other ingredients. And if you’re considering giving your dog something that’s not on this list, or you’re unsure about an ingredient, check with your veterinarian before sharing it. Every dog is different, and a food that one dog tolerates perfectly well may not agree with another. Final Thoughts: Let Your Dog Join the Christmas Feast Your dog doesn’t need a plate piled high with Christmas dinner to feel included, but giving them a treat will. A few pieces of plain turkey, some green beans, a little pumpkin, or a homemade dog-friendly cookie can be enough to make your pup feel like part of the celebration. Just remember that safe Christmas foods for dogs are usually the plain versions. Skip the seasonings, keep the portions small, keep the dangerous foods out of reach, and don’t let those adorable begging eyes convince you that your dog absolutely needs a bite of everything you’re eating. Because let’s be honest, they’re going to ask anyway. You might as well be prepared. We love sharing tips and information we learn along the way to help you keep your pup’s Post navigation Christmas Safety Tips for Dogs: How to Keep Your Pup Safe During the Holidays