TL;DR
In this solo episode, Mariska discusses how to make the holiday season magical for dogs. She shares the Elfie for Dogs tradition, holiday enrichment ideas, safety tips, and ways to create special memories with pets. The episode emphasizes the importance of connection and presence during the festive season, reminding pet parents to prioritize their dogs' needs and joy over Pinterest-perfect setups.
During This Episode:
- Live update: the elevated feeding system story and founding pack waitlist
- What is Elfie for Dogs? A dog-friendly daily tradition and how it got started
- The 25-day printable Elfie pack, and Mariska's favorite Elfie setups (pancakes, binoculars, naughty or nice)
- Holiday enrichment ideas to help dogs cope with festive stress
- The Christmas "snafari" walk, a slow, sniff-focused walk through the holiday season
- Wrapping paper treasure hunts and festive lick mats
- Advent calendars, both store-bought and DIY
- Christmas Eve treat puzzles and setting up a cozy den
- Holiday safety for dogs, including toxic foods and guest safety
- Decoration hazards to watch for around the house
- Managing guests, stress, and decompression spaces for your dog
- Traveling with your dog during the holidays
- Special holiday traditions: paw print ornaments and Christmas Eve walks
- Matching pajamas, pup stockings, and family photos
- Gift ideas that support your dog's wellbeing, plus enrichment gifts, treats, and acts of kindness
- Where Tails Meet Hearts: a tribute to Tika the Iggy
- Paw-lebrity of the Week: Frederick and Royston
- Final message: presence over perfection
Takeaways:
- Make the holidays magical for your dog. Small, consistent moments of connection matter far more than elaborate setups.
- The Elfie for Dogs tradition adds fun and creativity. A daily printable scene, like pancakes or binoculars, gives you a simple way to bond each day of December.
- Enrichment activities help dogs cope with holiday stress. Snafari walks, wrapping paper treasure hunts, and festive lick mats give dogs an outlet for changed routines.
- Safety is crucial during the festive season. Toxic foods, decoration hazards, and unfamiliar guests all need extra attention in December.
- Create special traditions to bond with your dog. Paw print ornaments, Christmas Eve walks, and matching pajamas build memories you'll return to every year.
- Dogs thrive on connection and presence during holidays. They notice when you slow down and include them, more than any decoration ever could.
- Use everyday items for holiday enrichment activities. Wrapping paper, cardboard, and pantry staples can all become simple enrichment tools.
- Be mindful of food hazards for dogs during gatherings. Brief your guests before they offer your dog anything from the table.
- Set up a cozy retreat for your dog during busy times. A decompression den with familiar items gives an overstimulated dog somewhere calm to go.
- Gifts should support your dog's well-being and happiness. Choose enrichment toys, comfort items, or a rescue donation over pure novelty.
Relevant links mentioned in the episode:
Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:
[00:00] — Intro
[00:40] — The Elevated Feeding System Story & Founding Pack
[02:18] — Welcome to the Episode
[04:10] — What Is Elfie for Dogs?
[05:20] — The 25-Day Printable Elfie Pack
[06:15] — My Favourite Elfie Setups (Pancakes, Binoculars, Naughty/Nice)
[07:30] — Holiday Enrichment Ideas
[09:00] — Christmas “Snafari” Walk
[10:40] — Wrapping Paper Treasure Hunt
[11:20] — Festive Lick Mats
[12:15] — Advent Calendars (Store-Bought & DIY)
[13:05] — Christmas Eve Treat Puzzle & Cozy Den Setup
[13:32] — Holiday Safety for Dogs
[15:15] — Toxic Foods & Guest Safety
[17:40] — Decoration Hazards
[18:40] — Guests, Stress & Decompression Spaces
[19:30] — Traveling With Your Dog During the Holidays
[20:25] — Special Holiday Traditions With Your Dog
[21:45] — Paw-Print Ornaments & Christmas Eve Walks
[22:15] — Matching PJs, Pup Stockings & Family Photos
[22:55] — Gift Ideas That Support Wellbeing
[24:45] — Enrichment Gifts, Treats & Acts of Kindness
[25:06] — Where Tails Meet Hearts: Tika the Iggy Tribute
[27:28] — Paw-lebrity of the Week: Fredrick and Royston
[28:40] — Final Message: Presence Over Perfection
FAQ
What is Elfie for Dogs?
Elfie for Dogs is a dog-friendly holiday tradition where you set up a small, playful daily scene throughout December, using ideas like a tiny pancake breakfast, binoculars for "bird watching," or a naughty-or-nice treat setup, using a printable pack to guide you.
What foods are toxic to dogs during the holidays?
Common holiday foods that are dangerous for dogs are covered in detail in Episode 6's toxic foods guide, and general holiday hazards include chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol, alcohol, and fatty or bone-in scraps from the table, so it's worth briefing guests before they feed your dog anything.
Are Christmas decorations dangerous for dogs?
Yes, tinsel, ribbons, and small ornaments can all be choking or ingestion hazards, so dogs should be supervised around a decorated tree, especially in the first few days.
What are some good enrichment activities for dogs during the holidays?
A Christmas "snafari" (a slow, sniff-focused walk), a wrapping paper treasure hunt with hidden treats, and a festive lick mat are all low-cost, high-value ways to keep a dog engaged during a busy season.
How can I help my dog cope with holiday guests and noise?
Set up a quiet decompression space with your dog's bed and favorite items so they have somewhere calm to retreat to if the holiday hustle and bustle becomes overwhelming.
What are meaningful, low-cost holiday traditions I can start with my dog?
An annual paw print ornament, a quiet Christmas Eve walk together, a pup stocking, matching pajamas, and an annual family photo are all simple traditions that become more meaningful each year.
What are good holiday gift ideas for dogs?
Gifts that genuinely support wellbeing, like enrichment toys, comfort items, and treats tied to your dog's actual needs, or even a donation to a rescue in your dog's name, tend to matter more than novelty gifts.
Should I travel with my dog over the holidays?
If you do travel with your dog, bring familiar comfort items like their bed or a worn piece of your clothing to help them settle more easily in a new environment.
About the Author: Mariska Nell
Mariska is the founder of Tails and Tones, a design-led, sustainable dog product brand. She's also the host of the Tails and Tones podcast, where she explores dog health, product design, and intentional pet parenting with experts, veterinarians, and fellow dog parents.
Background: Mariska holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Design, a Bachelor's in Interior Design, and a Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science. She's spent over 10 years working as a sustainability designer and strategist across the UAE, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and India. Her previous work includes collaborations with brands like Nespresso, Costa Coffee, and Dubai Airport, and she founded Design By Mariska, known for trash-to-treasure art exhibited at Dubai International Airport. She's also the host and founder of Mama Earth Talk, a sustainability podcast with 200+ episodes on zero waste and climate action, featuring guests including Dr. Sylvia Earle and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. She created the free Living Lighter course for practical sustainable living.
Piper: Mariska shares her life and work with Piper, her French Bulldog rescue dog. Piper joined the family in 2021 at 5 months old and has been the Chief Paw-duct Tester for everything Tails and Tones creates. Piper's journey, including cleft palate repair, luxating patella, arthritis risk, and recent mobility challenges, directly shaped the founding mission of Elevé (Tails and Tones' first product: a modular, height-adaptive feeding system).
Mission: We are on a mission to help modern dog parents simplify everyday care and elevate life with their pets, without sacrificing style or sustainability. Tails and Tones exists to build products that show up for dog parents, beautiful, sustainable, and robust enough to support you on the worst days. Not just the easy ones.
You can find Mariska at @tailsandtones on Instagram, or visit tailsandtones.com to learn more about Elevé and the Tails and Tones mission.
