Christmas Gifts for Dog Moms (and the Dog Dad Who Forgets to Shop)
Christmas dog shirts for the dog mom by breed, gift ideas beyond the shirt, and a five-step plan for the dog dad who starts shopping late.
The dog mom in your life already has the dog's stocking hung, a photo of the dog as her phone background, and probably a dog ornament on the tree. What she may not have is something for herself that says the same thing: a dog lover Christmas gift that is about her, not just the pet. And if you are the dog dad who usually remembers on December 22, this guide is also for you.
Below are Christmas gifts for dog moms, sorted by the kind of dog in her life, plus a short plan for anyone who needs to get a gift there on time. The shirts are real designs from our Christmas Dog and Cat Shirts collection, printed on Comfort Colors 1717 in adult unisex sizes S to 3XL.
Dog moms are a big crowd
You are not shopping for a niche. The American Pet Products Association's 2026 Dog Report says 71 million U.S. households owned a dog in 2025. That is a lot of people who buy their dog a Christmas present and forget to put anything on their own list. A dog-themed holiday gift for her is a way of saying you noticed who matters to her.
Christmas dog shirts by the dog in her life
For the dachshund mom
Wiener dog people tend to go all in, and we have three Christmas dachshund designs.
- Four Festive Dachshunds: four dachshunds trot across the chest, one in a Santa suit, one in antlers, one in a tree costume and one in a lights sweater. It is the most funny dog design of the three and a good fit for a dog mom with more than one dog.
- Dachshund Sleigh Ride: a dachshund in a striped sweater pulls a pink sleigh loaded with a tree and gifts. It comes in 14 colors, including Blossom, Moss and Black.
- Christmas Dachshund Trio: three dachshunds stacked down the shirt, one in lights, one carrying a tree and one pulling a sled of gifts.
For the pug mom
Merry Pugmas shows a pug in a reindeer-antler headband with ornaments, sitting among wrapped gifts above the words Merry Pugmas. The pun does the work, and every pug owner will get it immediately.
For the bulldog mom
Christmas Bulldog with Lights is an English bulldog in a Santa hat and snowflake bandana, wrapped in colored lights with a cookie in his mouth. It is a cute, festive dog portrait with a little bit of naughty: that cookie was not his.
For any dog mom, any breed
If her dog is a mix, a lab or a breed we do not have, Merry Woofmas Paw Tree is the safe pick. It is a green Christmas tree with a red paw print ornament and a bow on top, over Merry Woofmas in green script. No specific breed, so it works as a dog lover shirt for anyone with a pet, from a new puppy to a gray-muzzled senior.
Does the house have a cat too? The same collection has two cat designs, so the cat does not have to sit this one out.
Should you buy a shirt or something else?
A Christmas dog shirt is a good gift for the dog mom who wears graphic tees, posts her dog online and dresses the dog up for photos. It is a weak gift for someone who keeps her love of dogs private or never wears novelty clothes. For that person, consider one of these instead, or alongside the shirt:
- A framed photo of her dog. Print a favorite picture from her phone and put it in a simple frame.
- An ornament with the dog's name. Many local shops and craft fairs make personalized ornaments in December.
- A donation to a local animal shelter in the dog's name. Some shelters send a card you can wrap.
- A few hours off. A gift card for a dog walker or a day of doggy daycare during her busiest week.
- Something for the dog. A new toy or a sturdy leash and collar, wrapped separately so the dog gets a gift to open too.
The shirt plus the photo frame is hard to beat. One is for her to wear, one is for her to keep.
The dog dad's last-minute plan
If you are the dog dad and this is the first time you are thinking about Christmas, here is the short version.
- Find her size today. Check the tag on a tee she wears a lot, or lay it flat and measure across the chest about an inch below the armholes. Compare it to our size and measurement guide. These tees run S to 3XL in a relaxed unisex fit.
- Pick the design by breed. Dachshund, pug or bulldog, use the list above. Otherwise, Merry Woofmas Paw Tree.
- Order two and match. Get one for yourself in a different color. Two S to XL tees come to $59.98, which ships free with Economy shipping on orders of $49 or more. A matching dog mom and dog dad outfit makes the family Christmas photo.
- Sign the card from the dog. It counts. Everyone knows the dog picked it.
- Order in time. Order by Dec 9 for Christmas delivery.
Getting the dog into the Christmas photo
Half the reason a dog mom wants a Christmas dog shirt is the photo with her dog in front of the tree. A few things make that photo easier.
- Shoot at the dog's eye level. Sit on the floor next to the dog instead of standing over it.
- Use daylight. A window next to the Christmas tree beats the overhead light, and it keeps the shirt colors true.
- Hold a treat right above the camera. The dog looks at the lens, and you get the ears up.
- Use burst mode. Puppies and older dogs alike move fast. Take twenty shots and keep one.
- Skip the costume if the dog hates it. A santa hat or reindeer antlers look cute for about four seconds. If the dog is miserable, the shirt is festive enough for both of you.
Price, color and fit
Each shirt is $29.99 in S to XL, $32.99 in 2XL and $34.99 in 3XL. Comfort Colors 1717 is a 6.1 oz, 100% ring-spun cotton tee, garment-dyed for a soft, lived-in feel, with a relaxed unisex fit and a crewneck. It is the kind of shirt she can wear to the dog park, to a holiday party, or with pajamas on Christmas morning.
Color tip: pick a shirt color that will not show her dog's fur too badly. A light dog on a Black or Pepper shirt is a lint roller commitment. Ivory, Chambray and Blossom hide light fur better, while darker colors like Moss and Graphite are kinder to a dark coat. Not every design comes in every color, so check the options on each product page.
Because the shirts are garment-dyed, a shade can vary slightly between dye lots. If the whole family wants matching dog shirts in the same color, put them in one cart.
Shipping for Christmas 2026
Each shirt is printed after you order. Orders ship in 1 to 3 business days. Most orders arrive 3 to 5 business days after shipping. Standard UPS shipping is $9 on orders under $49, and Economy is free on orders of $49 or more. For a dog park meetup or a holiday party earlier in December, count back about eight business days. Details are in our Christmas Shirt Ordering Guide 2026 and on the shipping information page.
Quick answers
What do you get a dog mom for Christmas?
Something that celebrates her dog: a Christmas dog shirt that matches her breed, a framed photo of her dog, or a donation to a shelter in the dog's name.
Can you print my own dog's photo on a shirt?
Not on these designs. They are set designs, so pick the breed closest to hers or the any-breed Merry Woofmas Paw Tree.
Do you have Christmas dog sweatshirts or long sleeves?
No. Each design is a short-sleeve Christmas t-shirt, so it layers under a cardigan or a flannel when it is cold at the dog park.
Do you make shirts for dogs?
No. These are tees for people, in adult unisex sizes S to 3XL.
How should she wash it?
Machine wash cold, inside out, with like colors. Tumble dry low, no bleach, and no iron directly on the print.