Twas the Night Before Christmas For Dogs: A Feel-Good Poem for Dog Lovers

Happy-Go-Doodle’s Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem

A dog lover’s twist on the beloved poem about the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and out on the ground, lies a blanket of snow, exciting the hound! Last year, Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe and I woke up to a wintry landscape on Christmas Eve morning. 

The story that follows was inspired by our snowy morning adventures and is a twist on the classic Twas Night Before Christmas poem. (The original Twas the Night Before Christmas poem follows our dog-friendly version.)

In the spirit of the holiday season, we hope Happy-Go-Doodle’s Twas the Night Before Christmas for Dog Lovers brings you a smile.

And if you’re looking for more positivity and dog-loving fun, you may enjoy our 10 feel-good quotes about winter, quotes about fall and dogs, and our all-new quotes for dog lovers.

Each post is a reminder that it’s a wonder-fur world with a dog by your side.

Happy-Go-Doodle’s Twas the Night Before Christmas

~ Inspired by one very happy Goldendoodle dog named Chloe and written by her sidekick, Jenise Carl

Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ground,

Lies a blanket of snow, exciting the Hound!

The fetch balls were tucked in the stocking with care,

But Chloe’s smart snoot would not leave them there!

“A red ball, a blue ball, a tennis ball or two!

I found them, I found them! I found them for you!”

She filled up her mouth and ran down the hall;

No waiting!  Snow’s waiting! It’s time to play ball!

Outside (in my slippers) I heaved that small sphere,

And swirling and twirling it did disappear.

I was sure that we’d lost it, so deep in the snow,

But that snowdrift was perfect for Chloe, you know!

She was dressed all in fur, from her head to her foot,

And her paws were all covered with snowflakes and dirt.

A slobbery ball she’d returned in her mouth;

She’d worked hard to find it, she’d “drop it” herself!

Her eyes—how they sparkled! Her face was so merry!

Her curls were wet spirals. Her snoot? A brown berry!

That muppet-like face pointed skyward just so,

That the beard on her chin would glisten with snow.

Her favorite new ball she kept tight in her jaws,

And she circled around me on mischiefy paws!

She had a red tail and a furry round face,

That bounced when she played, with not too much grace!

She did not waste time, but played fetch oh-so-hard,

That she zoomied and zoomied and tore up the yard!

Till finally worn out and covered in snow,

She nuzzled beside me…there’s snow place like home.

With one last ball bounce, then we shared a high paw,

“This Dood’s got my heartstrings.”  I said with an “awwww. ”

Then Chloe exclaimed with a “WOOF” and delight,

“Happy Christmas to all! May it be furry and bright!”

Warmest, furriest, and happiest wishes for a very merry Christmas enjoyed in the company of family, friends, and your furry family members. Doodle kisses & Merry Christmas wishes!

~Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe and her sidekick, Jenise

Twas the Night Before Christmas: The Classic Poem

If you enjoyed our dog-friendly twist on Twas the Night Before Christmas, please get comfy and read the original version of the world’s most famous Christmas poem.

When my own children were small and during my own childhood, reading Twas the Night Before Christmas was a Christmas Eve tradition. The poem was written almost 200 years ago (in 1823) and published in the Troy Sentinal newspaper in upstate New York. The author has been disputed and you may see either Clement Clark Moore or Henry Livingston Jr. as the writer.

Many versions and parodies of Twas the Night Before Christmas (also called The Night Before Christmas or A Visit from St. Nicholas) have been written since then.

The poem that follows was penned by Moore in 1862, almost 40 years after first publication, at the request of the librarian at the New-York Historical Society Library. You can see the handwritten manuscript on the New-York Historical Society Library’s website.

A Visit from St. Nicholas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap;

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof—
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill’d all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.“

C. Clement Moore

Is reading Twas the Night Before Christmas a holiday tradition for your family?

We’d love to hear. Please comment below.

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