A few years ago, I bought Sugar this dog puzzle I found on Amazon for Christmas. It was trending on my timeline. I was so excited to watch her “open” her gift so she could play with it. After we unwrapped and opened the puzzle, she looked at it, sniffed it, and then proceeded to play with the box it came in.
I thought, “Girl, what? I’m happy you’re having fun, but you’re not even gonna try to play with this $20 puzzle?” I learned right there that sometimes holiday trends aren’t always the best financial decisions.
The trick is making sure that the holiday trends will work for your dog and your budget. So, in this week’s blog post, we’re dishin’ on pet trends for the holidays and how to make them work for your budget.
Pet Trends for the Holidays (2025): Chewy’s Top 5
So, these internet streets have been talking. And by internet streets, I mean Chewy.com. Chewy’s mission is “to be the most trusted and convenient destination for pet parents and partners, everywhere.”
In July 2025, Chewy released their pet trend report showcasing the trends that are shaping the pet care experience. The report identified these five top pet trends that have “all of us wagging our tails.” These pet trends for the holidays are ready to show up and show out this holiday season.
- Spoiling Pets with Human-Like Luxuries – In other words, pet parents are spending money for their pets for things they’d bought for themselves. For the holidays, this can include matching pajama sets for you and your dog, stylish pet furniture, or high-quality pet food.
- Pet Parties – Pet parents are not only throwing parties for their pets. But they’re also inviting them to their own parties, such as weddings, birthday celebrations, special occasions, and yes, even holiday parties. Which means you’ll probably have to add some dog-friendly items to your holiday party menu.
- Vacation & Travel – Pets have become travel companions and partners for those travel excursions. So, for the holiday season this could mean including your dog in the travel budget. Whether your dog is traveling with you or you’re leaving behind, make sure you budget for your dog’s travel needs during the holiday.
- Pet Wellness – Many pet parents are spending money on supplements, which range from gut health supplements to joint pain to energy boosters. The goal is to help your pets live their best lives. For the holidays, this could also mean looking at gifts for pet wellness, such as special steps, fancy supplements, or other gifts that are made to enhance what the supplements do.
- Food Inspired Pet Names – Pet parents are looking to food more and more to choose a name for their pet. I’m no stranger to this. I mean, my dog’s name is Sugar. However, for the holidays pet names can inspire gift purchases like custom dog bowls with your dog’s name on it.
Holiday Pet Spending Reality vs. Dog Mom Math
According to the 2025 Deloitte Holiday Retail Survey, shoppers expect to spend $1,595 for the holiday season. And 70% of pet parents buy their pets a gift for the holidays, with 27% of pet parents admitting that they spend more than $100.
In fact, pet spending in the U.S. has topped $151.9 billion in 2024 according to the American Pet Products Association and is projected to reach $157 billion in 2025. This shows that pet parents aren’t slowing down in spending money on their pets, especially during the holiday season.
And if you’re like me, you’re probably already seeing several ads showing you something you can buy for your dog during this holiday season.
But here’s what I learned from Sugar:
- A lot of dogs could care less about designer collars and fancy clothing. They’d rather have your attention.
- Experiences (like extra walks or cuddle time) are more important than expensive toys. Hence why Sugar chose to play with the box.
- Overspending during the holidays often leads to financial regret in January.
Now, I’m not saying don’t buy your dog a holiday gift. Because yes. Sugar does get a few gifts under the tree. However, I’ve learned to be smarter about the money I spend to buy them.
5 Smart Ways Dog Moms Can Budget for Holiday Pet Trends
The Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails and texts have already started rolling in. And while I love a good deal. A sale for a trendy gift isn’t worth it if no one uses it.
So, this year I’m being intentional with my money with Dog Mom Math Rule #2: “Discounts Aren’t Spending, They’re Saving.” Here’s my strategy.
Step 1: Make a Holiday Budget That Feels Real
Instead of guessing what I’ll spend, I created three categories for my budget:
- Dog Expenses: Toys, grooming, outfits, vet checkups.
- Gifts for Others: Friends, family, coworkers.
- Seasonal Extras: Decor, food, travel, or events.
I also made a list of what I wanted to buy in each category and how much I wanted to spend.
Step 2: Use Cash-Back and Rewards Strategically
I used my credit cards for my purchases so that I could take advantage of my cash back rewards and retail promotions. Some cards even let you redeem rewards for gift cards. You can use those gift cards to take care of some of your holiday expenses, which will reduce the money you have to spend out of your pocket.
Step 3: Compare Prices Before You Buy
Before I purchase anything, I look at other websites to make sure that I’m getting items at the best price. Unless you’re purchasing a specialty item, you can at least check one or two other stories before you buy. Apps like Honey or Rakuten automatically find discounts or cashback offers.
Step 4: Set Spending Triggers
Decide in advance what’s “worth it.” For example:
- Under $25 → impulse gift OK
- Over $50 → wait 48 hours before buying
This helps reduce emotional spending, which spikes during the holidays.
Step 5: Turn Discounts into Savings
Every time you get a discount, transfer the difference into your Dog Mom Emergency Fund or travel fund. If you saved $20 on Sugar’s new winter coat, move that $20 into savings. It’s how small wins become lasting results.
Budget-Friendly Ways to Make Holiday Memories with Your Dog
The best part of the holidays isn’t even following the trends. It’s about spending time with family and loved ones. I especially look forward to fixing Sugar her special holiday plate. And when you’re on a budget, you find little things to make the best memories.
Here are five little things to help you enjoy the holiday trends and make memories with your dog while managing your budget.
- Pupcakes & Movie Night: Instead of buying those premium quality dog treats, make some pupcakes for your dog. The Sugar’s Sweet Cake Pupcakes is one of Sugar’s favorites. Then cozy up together to watch a movie.
- DIY Barkcuterie Board Party with Friends: Host a mini get-together with you’re a few of your favorite dog moms to make a “barkcuterie” board for your dogs. Then wrap it up and save as a holiday gift to give your dog. Everyone saves money while still gifting something thoughtful and fun.
- Take Your Dog to See Santa: I did this one year with Sugar. She was terrified of Santa, but she looked so cute in her picture. It’s a nice way to get out of the house and do a quick field trip with your dog. Plus, the picture is a great memory.
- Send Your Dog Moms A Love Tap: Love Taps by Pupcake Sugar are interactive greeting cards designed to celebrate dog moms, grandmoms, and aunties who love to love on their fur babies. They’re also a cute way to encourage pet parents to share experience with their dogs this holiday season.
- Create a “Dog Mom Holiday Fund” Jar: It’s never too late to start saving for next year’s holiday season. Throughout the year, drop loose change or digital “roundups” from your debit purchases into a separate account or jar. By next year, you’ll have a guilt-free budget for holiday fun.
Shopping Smart for Pet Trends This Holiday Season
The holiday trends ae cool. But this year, I’m more interested in making memories with Sugar. Baking some pupcakes. Watching a few movies. And buying her a gift that she’ll actually like. Don’t tell her, but I think I found a new pair of those Isotoner slippers she loves to play with.
Dog Mom Math has also taught me to look beyond the trends and shop smart to make my money work for me. Which helped me save this holiday season and find joy in the little things.
Now we’d love to hear from you. What are you looking forward to this holiday season?
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