Santa Paws: Spoiling your pet at Christmas

Photo credit Andy Newbold

Spoiling our pets at Christmas is fast becoming a great British trend. Bring it on, barks Emily Davis

Christmas morning. An early rise, anticipation in the air. Presents hustled under the tree, bulging stockings by the fire. Pattering on the stairs, little feet, little paws.

That’s right – the kids are no longer the sole beneficiaries of festive spoils. Our pooches and moggies are also scraping in on the action, as the tradition of gift-giving now extends to our children in fur coats.

Enter Liz, Penelope, Josie and Kelly, a troop of Surrey pet lovers I’ve enlisted to help me on my quest to find out why reindeers are no longer the only four-legged folk lapping up our attentions at Christmas.

First stop, Liz Coleman, owner of Mad About Greys Photography. Snapping furry pals across London, Surrey and the South East, she’s the first to admit that festive assignments are her favourite.

“Christmas shoots are a blast,” she laughs.

“We have carols, the humans eat mince pies, while the dogs snack on liver cake... It’s like a party really!”

She continues, “Some pets are such tarts, they positively court the camera! But others are shy or hyperactive, and that’s fine too. It’s about designing the shoot to get the best out of the animal.”

Alongside being a pet pap, Liz regularly fosters dogs from Lurcher SOS, a small Surrey-based rescue charity.

Earlier this year, she fostered Sacha, a little brown dog who was found curled up beside the road on a freezing cold night. Liz can’t wait for Sacha to have her first proper Christmas this year.  

“I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t always buy my husband a Christmas present, but I always, always find time to buy something for my dogs,” she tells me.

“Christmas Day revolves around them. We go for a long walk by the river. Then, as the light fades, we come home to dinner, which, of course, the dogs share!”

Animal trainer turned pet photographer Penelope Malby has a studio in Tadworth and agrees that our animals have become a big part of the festive season.

“People often ask me to make Christmas cards with their pets on – it’s much more special than sending a shop bought one,” she tells me.

“I always buy my dogs presents. They’re a big part of our Christmas. They have turkey for their tea and even more cuddles than usual.”

Liz and Penelope aren’t the only ones putting their mutts first on December 25th. I’ve yet to meet anyone more dedicated to making the day a pawfect event than Josie Carter and Kelly Pearce from Carshalton.

The mother and daughter team own dog fashion brand Licks of London and are mummies to our cover girl, Queenie the chihuahua, (whose cute Santa outfit is available to buy from their website, licksoflondon.com).

“We’re the bling queens of the doggie world and have taken Surrey to the next level of amazing doggy attire and accessories!” Josie tells me.

“Queenie has full input on everything we sell. If she doesn’t like to wear it then we don’t sell it!”

And how does their model pup enjoy Christmas?

“Queenie loves to open presents and gets so excited to see all her new outfits and toys. She patiently waits while wagging her tail looking at her stocking hanging over the fireplace. She even gets sent toys from some of her fans [this is, after all, a dog with 35K Twitter followers].

“She really is spoilt rotten, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!” Josie purrs.

Quite... All I can say is, watch out kids – your beloved furry pets are giving you a run for the gift stakes this Christmas!

Listen up! A word of advice from Josie and Kelly: At Christmas we remind everyone that it’s hot indoors so take pictures of your doggy in their outfit, share with friends and take the coat off for the comfort of the doggy. If your doggy doesn’t like clothing on them or if they are a long haired doggy then we advise you to opt for the bandana look, a stylish fashion statement without over heating your doggy. If your pooch is long haired then you can only have clothing on them if the temperature is cool and you mustn’t leave their clothing on for long periods of time.

Click here to read our full interview with Josie and Kelly

Click here to read our full interview with Liz Coleman

Click here to read our full interview with Penelope Malby