I have pups that will turn their back to me when they see the camera. Cats run away. They just refuse to cooperate.
They are part of our family, so why wouldn’t we put them in the card or give a photo as a gift? Below are easy dog Christmas photo ideas you can set up at home, plus what works when your pet won’t look your way. Cats get their own section.
Easy Christmas Photo Ideas You Can Set Up at Home
Simple dog Christmas photo ideas work best when they use things already in your house: a cozy blanket, an empty gift box and window light. Indoor and free is the point.
- The sleepy pup. A sleeping pet is the easiest subject there is. A nap on a blanket near the tree makes a sweet card photo. Shoot from a few steps back and let them keep sleeping.
- A blanket or tree skirt by the tree. Make sure the tree is secured so it can’t tip, and leave the tinsel off it.
- An empty gift box. Set your pet beside it, or in it if they like boxes. Empty means empty: no ribbon, no bows and no tissue paper anywhere in the frame.
- A festive collar or bandana. For a Christmas card photo, this is an easier ask of your dog than a full costume. Keep a bandana on only while you’re watching, because it can snag.
- A Santa hat or antlers. Only if your pet is comfortable with it. Snap the picture quickly and take it off the moment they object.
- Stockings on the mantel. A lineup of stockings with your pet in front of them looks great, as long as there are no lit candles or fire in the frame.
- The family cuddle. Matching pajamas, posed or candid, either one can capture the relationship.
- The funny outtake. Pretend to ignore your pet and see what they give you. The tongue-out, mid-sneeze shot may end up being the one everybody shares.
- Cookies and milk for Santa. Put pet-safe treats on the plate, never real cookies.
A framed print of any of these makes a gift, too.
How to Get Your Pet to Look at the Camera
A helper holding a toy or treat just above your phone can get a pet looking your way. Your pet won’t be still and won’t look at you, so give them a reason.
Let another person make the noises while you take the picture. Alley Cat Allies suggests clapping or crumpling paper, and Cats Protection in the UK suggests a helper dangling a toy just out of the camera’s view.
For dogs, the American Kennel Club suggests a familiar toy, a reward or a favorite trick. I call it bribes, patience and repetition. Keep the treats small: the AKC and the University of Guelph’s pet nutrition service say treats should stay around 10 percent of a dog’s daily calories or less, and a dog on a special diet needs a vet’s OK before getting a new treat.
Skip chocolate, xylitol in sugar-free candy and gum, and grapes and raisins. The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline list them as toxic to dogs, so if yours gets into any of them, call your vet or a pet poison line.
Start early and keep it short. A few minutes, then a break. The AKC says to stop if you see signs of stress or fatigue, like pinned ears, a droopy tail, lip licking or shaking.
Let your pet sniff the phone and earn a treat or a game first, so the phone means something good. A veterinarian who photographs cats, writing for Cat Protection Society of NSW in Australia, suggests pairing the camera with play or treats.
Use burst mode: hold the shutter down and sort through the frames later. Alley Cat Allies says it’s better to take more photos than not enough.
No sit and stay needed. A head tilt after a funny noise, a pup lying down, or a candid moment with the family all make good photos. A good walk first can take the edge off a wiggly pup.
Light and Angle With Just Your Phone
A phone is plenty for a Christmas card photo, as long as the light is good and you’re down at your pet’s eye level.
Open the blinds and curtains for window light. Put the light on your pet, not behind them, or you’ll end up with a silhouette. Outdoors, look for shade or the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, which the AKC recommends for soft natural light.
Skip the flash. Natural light looks better, and flash can startle some pets.
Get on the ground. Lie on your tummy. It adds intimacy. Tap your screen to focus on the eyes, then fill the frame with the details you love: a wet nose, a curly tail, whiskers.
A few phone habits help:
- Move closer instead of using digital zoom, and crop later.
- Wipe the lens.
- Try portrait mode, if your phone has it, for a pet who holds still.
- Keep the background uncluttered. A busy one distracts the viewer, and it can distract your pet, too.
Phone photo checklist
Get low, put the window light on your pet, and hold down the shutter for burst mode. Sort the keepers later.
Photos of Cats and Other Pets
For cat Christmas photos, the best rule is never to chase or force the shot.
Cats run away, remember? If yours disappears, take a break and try again later. Cats Protection in the UK suggests trying just after a meal or a nap.
Figure out what gets your cat’s attention. Maybe it’s a toy, maybe a treat, and with some cats it may take a while to find out. Get low, or raise your cat onto a safe surface.
Skip the costume unless your cat clearly doesn’t mind it. Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine notes that some dogs and cats freeze in costumes and won’t move. A cat who freezes in a hat is telling you no.
Other pets follow the same rules: patience, short sessions and no forcing.
Keep the Decorations Out of Reach
Never leave your pet alone with props, tinsel or lights, and put everything back out of reach when the photos end.
Tinsel and other stringy things. The ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine all warn about tinsel. It isn’t poisonous, but if swallowed it can block the digestive tract and cause severe vomiting, dehydration and possibly surgery. Cats are especially drawn to it. I skip tinsel, ribbon and other stringy things around pets altogether.
Lights and cords. The ASPCA says a chewed cord can cause electrical burns or shock, a punctured battery can burn the mouth and esophagus, and broken ornament pieces can cut the mouth. The University of Illinois also warns about chewed cords. If lights show up in your photo, keep them out of reach.
Candles. The ASPCA says never leave a burning candle unattended, since paws and wagging tails can knock one over.
The tree. Cover the tree water, because it can breed bacteria that may upset a pet’s stomach.
Poinsettias. The ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline and the University of Illinois all say poinsettia causes at most mild to moderate stomach upset, not the deadly plant its reputation says. Keep it out of reach anyway.
Lilies. These are the real plant danger for cats. Pet Poison Helpline says as little as a petal or a leaf, and even the pollen, can cause sudden kidney failure in a cat. Dogs usually get only a mild stomach upset. Keep lily bouquets far away from your cat.
Mistletoe and holly. Keep both out of reach. The ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline disagree on how serious mistletoe is, and holly’s spiny leaves can injure, so I treat neither one as harmless.
Costumes. Texas A&M, the AKC and RSPCA Australia say a costume should never limit a pet’s sight, hearing, breathing or movement. Take it off if your pet whines or paws at it, never leave a pet alone in one, and remember a costume can raise the risk of overheating.
If your pet swallows something it shouldn’t, call your vet or a pet poison line right away.
If the holidays mean travel for you, my team at Top Dog Pet Sitters offers pet sitting while you travel in McKinney, Melissa and Celina. You can reach out to us here any time.
Susan Gary owns Top Dog Pet Sitters in McKinney, Melissa, and Celina, TX, with her husband, Erick. She has been a professional pet care provider since 2015. Susan is a member of Pet Sitters International, is a founding member of the Texas Pet Sitters Association, and certified in pet CPR/First Aid. Susan is a long-time McKinney resident and a retired minister. Learn more about her here.
