Britain's love for its canine companions reaches new festive heights, with one Surrey woman confessing she has lavished over £450 on her pampered cockapoo this December, while her husband received nothing more than a Christmas card.
A Nation of Pampered Pooches
New research commissioned by fresh dog food brand Different Dog reveals the staggering scale of yuletide indulgence for pets across the UK. This Christmas, dog owners are projected to spend an eye-watering £293 million on gifts for their four-legged friends.
The study of 1,000 people found that a quarter plan to include their pet in the family present-opening ritual around the tree. Furthermore, 13% intend to set a place for their dog at the Christmas dinner table, and nearly a quarter (23%) admitted they spend as much on their dog as on their partner or children.
Meet Carla, Henry, and the Spoilt Cockapoo
This trend is embodied by Carla Wong, 40, and her husband Henry, 43, project managers from Surbiton, Surrey. Their three-and-a-half-year-old cockapoo, Coco, is the undeniable star of their Christmas.
"This year under our tree there's a small pile for my husband… and a wibbling, wobbling mountain for Coco," Carla explains. Her haul includes handmade collars, hand-painted bowls, assorted treats, and three advent calendars, totalling around £250 on gifts alone.
Carla's festive spending for Coco doesn't stop there. She has also invested £200 on a seasonal wardrobe featuring a snowman jumper, reindeer bandana, and Santa sweater. This brought her total December outlay for the dog to more than £450.
"I definitely spend more on her than Henry… in fact I've only got him a card this year," Carla admits. "But words are worth a lot, right?"
The Life of a Dog Influencer
Coco is no ordinary pet. Adopted as a puppy, she is a trained "trick dog" grand champion who knows over 300 words and can perform tasks like putting a basketball in a net. Her online fame as @cocodeardiary on Instagram has garnered her 11,000 followers, cementing her status as a bona fide dog influencer and model.
Her luxurious lifestyle extends beyond December. Carla buys her human-grade dog food and outfits year-round, often spending £50 per item on handmade jumpers and embroidered bandanas. One of her most extravagant purchases was a specially designed £180 orthopaedic dog mattress.
On Christmas Day, Coco will enjoy a turkey and cranberry dinner with her owners before they all snuggle up for a festive film. "I don't want her to feel like we're eating something delicious and she's not," Carla says.
Henry appears to take his secondary gifting status in good humour. "Clara lavishes gifts on Coco… not on me," he says. "But then Coco is almost like a little child to us... She is family - and she's worth it."
The story of Carla and Coco highlights a broader cultural shift, where pets are increasingly considered core members of the family, deserving of their own festive spoils. With millions being spent nationwide, it seems Britain's dogs are in for a very merry Christmas indeed.
