The dog is going to be in the holiday card whether or not you planned it, so you might as well plan it. Petco's 2026 holiday collection is in stores and online with hundreds of new dog and cat items, and according to Petco's announcement, 70% of them cost $10 or less.
The campaign is called "Never Naughty, Always Nice," and Petco leans on a 2026 Harris Poll it cites: 95% of American pet owners consider their pets family, and 83% say their pets are like their own children. Whatever you make of that, it explains why the pet aisle now looks like the toy aisle every December.
The things worth knowing about
The headline item is matching pajamas for pets and people at $12. It is the easiest holiday-card shortcut there is, and sizes are what run out, so buy early if this is your plan. For a December countdown, the Petco-exclusive Lambchop Advent Calendar launches in November with 12 mini Lambchop plushies in holiday outfits, and there are separate 12-day cat and dog advent calendars with treats and small daily surprises.
Two oddballs are genuinely fun. The Holiday Eggplant is a purple plush meant to be hidden around the house so your dog can sniff it out, which is a decent rainy-day game for a bored pup. Cats get a crinkly holiday Scratch Bag built for scratching, hiding and pouncing, which will probably outlast whatever else you buy them. Seasonal cookies and candy cane treats run $3 to $9.
Dates to put on the calendar
In mid-November, chef Ronnie Woo's cookbook Better for You, Better for Your Dog arrives exclusively at Petco, pairing human recipes with dog-safe, vet-reviewed versions. On November 21 and 22, select stores host free "Petsgiving" sampling events with recipe cards for a Thanksgiving bowl for your pet. From November 21 through December 25, Petco runs weekly "Nice List" promotions on toys, apparel, accessories and treats, and it is promising buy-one-get-one-free deals on holiday products over Black Friday and Cyber Week. Free pet photos with Santa return to select stores on December 12.
Our honest advice
Skip anything that just becomes landfill by January. The pajamas (a photo you will keep forever), an advent calendar (a month of fun) and one good toy are plenty. If your dog gets overwhelmed by guests, a quiet room and a long-lasting chew will do more for the holidays than another squeaky toy, and if you are traveling, plan the calming routine before you plan the outfit.
