Thanksgiving Dog Treats 2026: 7 Considered Ways to Spoil Your Pup (Safely)

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when the whole house revolves around food — and your dog knows it. The turkey is in the oven, the table is set, and somewhere near the kitchen, a very hopeful nose is working overtime. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year, and if your pup is part of the celebration, they deserve a plate of their own. Not a plate of scraps, and not a gamble on the stuffing — a considered one.

The rule the vets and the American Kennel Club agree on is simple: share only plain, unseasoned versions of holiday foods, keep portions small, and keep treats — holiday foods included — to no more than 10% of your dog's daily calories. Everything in this guide follows that rule. Here are seven considered ways to include your dog in Thanksgiving, from a frozen enrichment cup that keeps them happily busy through dinner to the bed they'll curl up in after it.

The safe Thanksgiving plate: what dogs can actually eat

Several classic Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs when they are served plain. The American Kennel Club, PetMD, and VCA Animal Hospitals all point to the same short list: plain cooked turkey (boneless, skinless, unseasoned), plain sweet potato, plain canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, never pie filling), plain green beans, carrots, and apple slices with the core and seeds removed. A small dog needs only a tablespoon or two of turkey; a few bite-size pieces stirred into their usual dinner is plenty for most dogs.

Just as important is what stays off the plate. Turkey skin, bones, and gravy; stuffing; green bean casserole; mashed potatoes with butter and seasoning; pie and pie filling; grapes and raisins; chocolate; anything sweetened with xylitol; and raw bread dough are all on the keep-away list. Cooked poultry bones can splinter and choke, rich fatty foods are hard on digestion, and onion, garlic, grapes, and xylitol are toxic to dogs. The AVMA's advice for the holidays is to keep people food away from pets and ask guests to do the same — so a dog-specific treat, served in their own bowl, is the kindest way to include them.

1. A frozen Honey Pot, filled with pumpkin

The single best Thanksgiving dog treat is the one that lasts through dinner. The Honey Pot Dog eCup Treat Dispenser from SodaPup is an open-topped enrichment cup made from durable PUP-X rubber — fill it with plain pumpkin puree and a spoonful of xylitol-free peanut butter, freeze it for two to four hours, and hand it over as everyone sits down. Licking is naturally calming, the frozen filling stretches the fun, and your dog is happily occupied instead of begging at the table. From $16.99, in Large and XL, and it doubles as a slow feeder on ordinary days.

2. A lick mat with a Thanksgiving spread

For smaller dogs, or a quieter moment before guests arrive, the Flower Power eMat from SodaPup turns a spoonful of plain pumpkin puree into a ten-minute project. Spread the puree thin, add a few plain green beans on top, and let the licking do the work. Lick mats are a gentle way to settle an excitable dog when the doorbell starts ringing, and this one is dishwasher safe when the feast is over. From $13.99.

3. Bakery biscuits, ready to serve

Not every Thanksgiving dog treat needs to be homemade. The BBQ Chicken Biscuit Bag from Bubba Rose Biscuit Co. is a ready-to-serve bag of bakery biscuits at $9.99 — tuck a few into a small bowl as your dog's own appetizer while the humans have theirs. A treat made for dogs, with nothing to check against a safe-foods table, is the lowest-stress option of the day.

4. A cupcake of their own

If the table has dessert, your dog should have one too — theirs, not yours. Big E's Cupcakes from Bubba Rose Biscuit Co. are shelf-stable, dog-made cupcakes in pink, blue, purple, and yellow, at $9.99. One cupcake on their plate while the pie is served keeps the "but he didn't get anything" guilt — and the sneaky hand-offs from well-meaning relatives — to a minimum.

5. A plain turkey-and-sweet-potato plate from the table

The one table food worth sharing is the simplest: a few pieces of plain, fully cooked turkey breast with no skin, bones, butter, or seasoning, plus a spoonful of plain mashed sweet potato. The ASPCA's own suggestion is to mix a little turkey, sweet potato, and green beans into your dog's usual dinner rather than serving a second meal. Keep it to a few bites, serve it in their bowl (not from the table), and save the rest of the bird for the humans.

6. The post-dinner nap spot

After the meal, every good Thanksgiving ends the same way: a nap. The Classic Velvet Sleeper Dog Bed in Gray from Chester & Lee is the kind of bed that earns its place by the fire — a deep velvet bolster sleeper from $145, made for the long, full-bellied sleep that follows a holiday meal. Set it near the family, not in another room, and your dog gets to stay part of the evening while they drift off.

7. A cable-knit sweater for the Thanksgiving walk

Before the nap comes the walk — and late November in Texas still calls for a layer. The Oatmeal Cable Knit Dog Sweater from Chilly Dogs is a classic knit from $36.99, warm without bulk, and it photographs beautifully against fall leaves if the family photo happens on the walk. A short stroll after dinner is good for digestion, good for the dog, and the easiest way to burn off the excitement of a full house.

What to keep off your dog's plate

It bears repeating, because the emergency vets see it every year: turkey skin, bones, and gravy; stuffing and dressing; anything with onion or garlic; grapes and raisins; chocolate and xylitol-sweetened desserts; rich, buttery, or heavily seasoned dishes; and raw dough. If your dog gets into something on the list, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away — don't wait to see how they feel. And if you're unsure about any food for a dog with a sensitive stomach, pancreatitis, diabetes, or allergies, check with your vet first; the safest Thanksgiving dog treat for that dog is one made for dogs.

For more on keeping the holiday calm, our Thanksgiving dog safety tips cover the whole day, from guests arriving to the doorbell at dessert. And if you're already planning the next holiday, our Holiday collection gathers the season's giftable picks in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

Yes, in small amounts. Plain, fully cooked turkey breast with no skin, bones, butter, or seasoning is safe for most dogs. Keep portions to a few bite-size pieces — treats and extras should stay under 10% of your dog's daily calories — and skip the skin, gravy, and stuffing entirely.

What Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs?

Plain cooked turkey, plain sweet potato, plain canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, not pie filling), plain green beans, carrots, and apple slices without the core or seeds. Everything should be unseasoned and served in small amounts.

Can dogs eat pumpkin pie?

No. Pumpkin pie filling is sweetened and spiced, and the crust is rich and buttery. Plain canned pumpkin is the safe version — spread it on a lick mat or freeze it in an enrichment cup instead.

How much Thanksgiving food can my dog have?

Very little. A small dog needs only a tablespoon or two of turkey; a larger dog can have a few bite-size pieces stirred into their regular dinner. If your dog has a sensitive stomach or a health condition, stick to treats made for dogs and ask your vet first.

What should I do if my dog eats something unsafe at Thanksgiving?

Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately, especially for onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, xylitol, or cooked bones. Don't wait for symptoms to appear.

Thanksgiving is better with your dog in it — a frozen enrichment cup during dinner, a bakery biscuit of their own, a short walk in a cozy knit, and a velvet bed waiting by the fire. Considered, plain, and small: that's the whole recipe. Everyday, exceptionally.