As we are heading full steam towards Christmas, I thought we should focus on some Christmas-themed enrichment you can use this festive season for your pets.Christmas puzzles Cardboard boxes that you can use at any time of the year can be covered in Christmas paper, if you are giving your pet a gift, you may like to hide it in the box. Try to avoid metallic or cellophane papers and use minimal sticky tape.What about a Christmas cracker? Simply cover a cardboard roll from a paper towel or a toilet roll with wrapping paper, leaving extra at the ends, add their favourite treat and twist the ends. These two ideas are great for dogs and cats, but I have also seen Rabbits have a go too.Another Christmas treat for dogs and cats, and will also helps your pets cool downs, is a milk icicle made into a festive shape. Just use watered down pet’s milk and add a little food colouring (red or green), mix and pour it into a star- shaped mould and freeze.Try baking your own dog or cat treats. There are plenty of recipes online and use a tree or star cookie cutter to add that Christmas flair. Birds and small animals can have an edible string of food to decorate their environment! Slice their favourite foods thinly (eg. sweet potato, apple, pear, popcorn) use a cookie cutter to make a Christmas shape and use natural twine and a needle to thread the pieces on. Popcorn you can also colour using food dye, so you could alternate with red and green coloured popcorn!\Do remember with all new enrichment, you need to supervise your pet the first few times they use it to ensure they are not swallowing pieces that they shouldn’t. Remember at Christmas to ensure that your pets only receive fresh and healthy food. Cooked bones and many human foods such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, mushrooms and onion are very toxic to our beloved pets so ensure they are safe during this festive season.DebCarnivore Keeper P.S. if you missed by blog last month, click on the link below.Enrichment: Not just for Zoos Zoo Keepers spend hour brain-storming, making and setting-up puzzles and activities for our animals which keep them mentally and physically stimulated. But just how many of us do the same at home for our beloved pets? Keeper Deb who works with our carnivores gives you some handy hints on how to keep your pets happy and lively during the day when you can’t be at home.