6 Festive Ways to Spend Thanksgiving Weekend With Your Dog

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to enjoy some festive and fun activities with your furry friend by your side. Whether it’s enjoying a pet-friendly picnic together or snuggling up in cozy PJs, here are six perfectly seasonal and fun things to do with your dog over the long holiday weekend.

1. Host a Friendsgiving with Your (and Your Dog's) Best Friends

A cheerful outdoor gathering with dogs and their owners sharing food at a decorated table

Sometimes it’s not possible to make it home for Thanksgiving with family—or even if you can, you may still want to celebrate with friends too. Invite your friends and their pups over for a Friendsgiving dinner, where everyone can share a potluck meal and coo over each other’s fur babies.

Check out our tips for planning the perfect, pet-friendly Friendsgiving.

And if you need inspiration for creating a yummy dog-friendly menu, try these FurPetVo fan favorites:

  • Turkey-Cranberry Meatballs
  • Thanksgiving Dinner DIY Dog Treats
  • Barista-Style Fall Drinks for Dogs
  • Mini Peanut Butter “Mousse” Pies

While you’re channeling your inner chef, keep safety top of mind: onions, garlic, nuts, and chocolate are common in Thanksgiving dishes—and all are dangerous for dogs. Always double-check ingredients before sharing any human food.

2. Play One of These Fall-Themed Games

There are so many fun games to play with your dog—and we consulted two certified pet trainers for their favorite seasonal ideas.

Hide-and-Seek

Take advantage of cool weather and colorful fall leaves with a seasonal spin on this classic game.

“Dogs have truly incredible noses and love to use them,” says Nicole Lorenzetti Yuhas, CPDT-KA, certified professional dog trainer with Heavenly Hounds Training in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.

Yuhas suggests heading outside and tossing treats into the grass, then letting your dog sniff them out. Once they master that, scatter fallen leaves over each treat to add a fun, seasonal challenge. As your pup gets more confident, build larger leaf piles and spread them farther apart across your yard. For an extra sniffing test, hide treats in only half the piles—watch as your dog uses their powerful nose to distinguish which ones hold rewards!

Trail of Treats

Alli Bennett, trainer with Collective Canine Training Co. in Lawrenceville, Georgia, recommends “Trail of Treats”—a playful way to reinforce the “stay” command while celebrating autumn flavors.

Start with dog-safe seasonal treats—like FurPetVo’s Pumpkin Biscuits—then ask your dog to “stay.” Place the first treat 10–15 feet away, then drop another every 2–3 feet. When you give the cue, let your pup follow the delicious trail!

“It’s a great game to keep your dog focused on finding the next treat,” says Bennett.

If your pup needs a quick refresher on “stay,” check out FurPetVo’s free training guide at furpetvo.com.

3. Enjoy a Hike and Pup-Friendly Picnic

A dog happily walking on a forest trail with golden autumn foliage around them

Winter is still a few weeks away—so why not take advantage of crisp, sunny days and hit the trails? Hiking with your dog is a wonderful way to bond, burn energy, and soak up nature’s fall palette.

Before you go, review FurPetVo’s complete guide to hiking with dogs—including how to choose a dog-friendly trail and what essentials to pack.

Make the day extra special with a pet-friendly picnic. Try whipping up trail-mix bars that both you and your pup can enjoy—no separate prep required!

For more tips on planning a safe, joyful outdoor meal, visit furpetvo.com/picnics.

4. Create Your Own Found-Objects Fall Wreath

An easy, meaningful way to bring seasonal charm indoors? Make a DIY wreath using natural treasures gathered on your daily walk—with help from your curious canine companion.

Stick to items already on the ground—no pruning needed. Your dog will happily scout pinecones, acorns, twigs, and colorful leaves while you stroll.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Natural materials gathered on your walk: twigs, evergreen branches, fall leaves, pinecones, acorns, etc.
  • A ready-made wreath frame (wire or foam; 9″ works best for most doors)
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Pruning shears
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon in varying widths and colors
  • 22-gauge green florist wire

What to do:

  1. Lay out your found objects and wreath frame. Trim oversized branches with pruning shears.
  2. Start attaching longer, lush materials—like evergreen branches—to the frame using florist wire. Work clockwise until the frame is fully covered.
  3. Add layers like leaves and acorns, securing them with hot glue and overlapping for dimension.
  4. Optional: tie ribbon bows and attach them with hot glue.
  5. Inspect for gaps or loose pieces. Let glue dry completely before hanging.
  6. Finish with a ribbon loop at the top for easy door display.

Interior design expert Jarret Yoshida and floral designer Dan Moynihan advise caution with wild berries: “Many kinds are toxic to both people and pets. Don’t take chances—if you’re unsure what it is, skip it.”

5. Snuggle Up Next to Your Home-Built Fire Pit

A cozy backyard scene with a small fire pit, blankets, and a dog resting beside their owner

Depending on your climate, a thick blanket might be enough—but in chillier regions, adding a fire pit to your backyard is a thoughtful way to extend outdoor enjoyment through Thanksgiving and beyond.

Imagine star-gazing on Thanksgiving night, wrapped in warmth, with your dog curled up beside you.

Ready-made fire pits range widely in price online—but if you’re feeling hands-on, FurPetVo’s step-by-step tutorial (inspired by trusted home-building resources) walks you through building your own safely. You’ll need basic supplies like concrete blocks, a shovel, and safety gear—and a long weekend is the perfect time to get started.

6. Get Your Cozy On

A relaxed indoor scene: person and dog lounging on a sofa wearing matching cozy pajamas, with mugs and soft lighting

If your ideal “fall-iday” involves sleeping in, wearing sweatpants all day, and sipping hot cocoa—then we wholeheartedly support that plan.

What you do with your lazy day is up to you—but kicking off the holiday movie marathon early sounds delightful. FurPetVo’s curated list of family-friendly, pet-positive films is streaming now at furpetvo.com/holiday-movies.

Make it extra special—and very Instagrammable—with matching cozy pajamas for you and your pup.

While you sip your cocoa, your dog can enjoy their own seasonal sipper, too—try FurPetVo’s DIY barista-inspired dog beverage recipes.

At the heart of Thanksgiving is connection—and nothing deepens that bond quite like shared joy. So whether you’re hiking, crafting, cooking, or simply cuddling, what matters most is spending meaningful, happy time with your best furry friend. However you celebrate, it’s bound to be memorable.