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As the weather heats up and the festive season kicks off, it's time for backyard BBQs, beach days and big food spreads shared with the ones you love most — including your dog. While you're piling your plate with prawns, pav and roast potatoes, you might be wondering what’s safe to share with your pup.
From juicy summer fruits to lean meats, there are plenty of ways to include your dog in the holiday celebration — without compromising their health. You just need to know what’s dog-safe, and what to keep off their plate.
We’ve rounded up all the dos and don’ts of Christmas dinners for dogs, plus tips for celebrating safely with your pup.
Top tip: Download our ‘Dog’s guide to Christmas dinner’ and share with your guests, so everyone knows what they can and can’t share with your pup.
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A note on feeding fresh food
There’s a common belief that dogs shouldn’t eat "human food". But at Lyka, we believe that real food — fresh, nutrient-dense, and gently cooked — isn’t just safe for dogs, it’s better for them.
Plenty of festive foods are safe for dogs in small amounts. The golden rule? Keep them plain. That means no seasoning, sauces, marinades, added oils or butter — just simple ingredients that let the natural goodness shine through.
Read more: The life-changing benefits of real food for dogs
Dog-safe summer food
Here’s a list of summer staples your pup can enjoy — when prepared the right way.
Turkey: A Christmas classic. Feed white or brown turkey meat with no skin or bones.
Dogs can also eat lean chicken, lamb, beef, and pork if they’re skinless, trimmed, and cooked without seasoning. Avoid processed or cured meat like salami or bacon that are high in salt and fat.
Prawns: Cooked, peeled and deveined. Start with a small amount — like humans, not all dogs love the taste or texture.
Mussels and oysters: Summer seafood staples like oysters and mussels can be safely given to your dog as long as they’re plain, cooked, and served without their shells.
Vegetables:
Potatoes: Boiled or steamed in small amounts. White and red potatoes have a high GI load. Choose red or purple sweet potatoes – they’re lower in glycaemic load and packed with fibre, vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Pumpkin: Cooked Kent, Japanese or Butternut Squash is a great fibre source. Serve cubed or mashed without seasoning.
Carrots: Steamed, boiled or raw — they make a satisfying crunchy snack.
Leafy greens: Cooked kale, cabbage, spinach or broccoli can be great in moderation. Cooking leafy greens helps reduce oxalic acid and makes them gentler on digestion.
Salad: Chopped lettuce and cucumber are hydrating and refreshing – perfect for a hot summer day.
Mango: It wouldn’t be summer without slurping slices of juicy mango. The great news is that dogs can enjoy this fruit too. Remove the peel and stone, then serve in bite-sized pieces. Blend with banana and a spoon of lactose-free yoghurt for a cool smoothie your dog can enjoy.
Berries: Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are rich in antioxidants and fibre. Serve plain — fresh or frozen.
Stone fruit: Peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots are okay without the pits. They’re high in fibre, so cut them up into small portions and feed sparingly.
Cheese: This is a tricky one. Many dogs love cheese as much as we do, but it’s not healthy for them. High in salt and fat, less is definitely more when it comes to cheese. It’s also dairy, which is a common food allergen that not all dogs can tolerate.
Remember, healthy portion sizes during the festive season are just as important for your dog as they are for us. Although we might enjoy a festive feast, we usually have healthier intentions in the New Year, so we need to have that same health focus for our pups throughout the year.
If you’re introducing new foods to your pup, do it slowly with very small portions. Always consult your vet, if you’re unsure about what to feed your dog.
Read more: Healthy, vet-approved human foods dogs can eat: safe & nutritious snacks for your pup
What foods to avoid feeding your dog at Christmas
Here's a list of common festive foods to avoid feeding your pup. Some of these ingredients can cause stomach upsets, while others are highly toxic and may require urgent veterinary attention. It's always best to stay safe.
Christmas ham: Festive spreads wouldn’t be complete without a ham. But ham is high in salt and fat and should not be fed to your pup.
Pavlova: Cream contains lactose, and meringue is loaded with sugar. Instead, share some mango or berries before the pav is topped. Always avoid canned fruit, which often contains added sugar and preservatives – fresh is best!
Christmas cake, pudding, or mince pies: Fruit cake, pudding and mince pies contain raisins, sultanas and sometimes alcohol — all toxic to dogs.
Gravy and stuffing: Often contain onion, garlic or nuts, which are harmful to dogs.
Roast potatoes: Tasty for humans, but full of oil and salt. Stick with boiled or steamed options if you want to share potatoes with your pup.
Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine, a stimulant found in cocoa beans. Humans can metabolise this compound safely, but dogs can’t. Even small amounts can cause serious health issues.
Passionfruit: The seeds and rind of passionfruit can be poisonous to dogs if eaten in large quantities, so it’s best to avoid feeding this fruit to your dog.
Macadamias: Macadamia nuts contain a compound that is poisonous to dogs, even in small amounts.
Cooked bones and fatty scraps: Cooked bones should not be fed to dogs as they’re very hard and can damage their teeth, or they can splinter and cause internal injuries. Fatty scraps can upset your dog’s digestion or trigger pancreatitis.
Grapes: A staple in fruit salads and cheese platters, but grapes are highly toxic to dogs.
Alcohol: Even small amounts are harmful — keep the champagne and cocktails far out of reach and mop up any spills.
Xylitol: An artificial sweetener used instead of sugar, xylitol is highly poisonous to dogs, even in small amounts. Be mindful of leaving out sweet treats that may include this ingredient.
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What to do if your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t
If you think your dog has eaten something unsafe:
Try to figure out what and how much they’ve eaten.
Call your vet straight away. They’ll let you know whether to monitor at home or come in.
Common signs of digestive distress to watch out for:
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
Tremors (and in serious cases, seizures)
Even if your pup seems fine, don’t wait for symptoms. When in doubt, call your vet.
How to make a dog-friendly Christmas dinner
Want to serve your pup something special? Here’s a simple, one-off festive meal idea that lets your best friend be part of the celebration:
Shredded turkey breast (no skin or bones)
Mashed sweet potato (no butter or oil)
Steamed broccoli and carrot slices
A splash of plain bone broth instead of gravy
Dessert: fresh berries with a small dollop of lactose-free Greek yoghurt
Note: This is not a complete and balanced meal — just a festive treat. The easiest way to ensure your dog is getting everything they need is to start with a base Lyka meal (like our Turkey bowl) and add a few dog-safe extras for special occasions, like Lyka's Mussel Munchies or crumble some Sardine Snaps as a topper.
Celebrating safely with your dog
Festive food isn’t the only thing to think about. Here are a few simple ways to keep your dog safe and happy during the celebrations:
Feed first: Give your dog their meal before you eat, or at the same time, to curb table-side begging.
Prep their own plate: Set aside safe, dog-friendly foods so they feel part of the celebration.
Set boundaries: If they start nudging for scraps, don’t give in — consistency is key. A long-lasting chew like Lyka’s Pig Twigs or Busy Beefies can keep them happily occupied.
Keep food out of reach: Even well-trained dogs can be tempted by eye-level platters.
Brief your guests: Let visitors know if feeding your pup is off-limits — or print out this guide to show what’s safe.
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Lyka: Make every meal feel like a special occasion
Christmas is all about celebrating the ones you love — and that includes your dog. With a little planning and the right ingredients, you can treat your pup to something festive and nourishing.
But the real magic? That comes from making every mealtime feel this good. Lyka meals are made with fresh Aussie produce, gently cooked to preserve nutrients, and custom-portioned for your dog’s needs — so whether it’s Christmas Day or a regular Tuesday, their bowl is filled with food that helps them thrive.
Ready to give your dog the real food difference? Start their fresh food journey with Lyka today
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