How to make an ofrenda for your dog

What to put on a dog ofrenda

• Their photoOne where they look most like themselves: the head tilt, the tongue out, the muddy paws.
• Their water bowlTheir own bowl, filled fresh each day. The journey home is long.
• A favorite treatA dog biscuit, a few pieces of kibble, a little plain cooked chicken — whatever made them sit politely.
• Leash and collarCoil the leash beside the photo and hang the collar or tag on the frame. Few things say “walk time” more clearly.
• A toyThe squeaky toy, the half-chewed rope, the tennis ball they would never drop.
• Marigolds (cempasúchil)Around the photo, and as a path of petals from the door they always waited at.
• A candleOne for each dog you are remembering. LED if other dogs share the house.
• A Xoloitzcuintli figureThe Mexican dog who guides souls to Mictlán — a fitting companion for a dog’s altar.
• Their bed or blanketFolded under or beside the altar, a place to rest after the journey.

Print this checklist

Step by step

1. Pick their spot

   Near the door, their bed, or the window they watched the street from.

2. Lay a cloth and set the photo

   A colorful cloth or their own blanket; photo at the top or center.

3. Add water, food and their things

   Bowl, treat, leash, collar, toy.

4. Add marigolds and papel picado

   Flowers around the photo; paper banners above if you have them.

5. Lay the petal path

   From the front door to the altar — the road home.

6. Light the candle on October 27

   In the evening, say their name and tell a story about them.

For what each element means and when to take the altar down, see the full pet ofrenda guide.

Why dogs have a special place on the ofrenda

In Mexica belief, the souls of the dead crossed a great river on the way to Mictlán, and a dog helped them across. That dog is linked to the Xoloitzcuintli, the hairless breed named after the god Xólotl, and Mexico’s Secretaría de Cultura still describes the dog as a guardian of life after death. For many families, giving their own dog an altar feels like returning the favor.

Keeping other dogs safe around the altar

• Food. Keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts and anything with xylitol (sugar-free candy, some breads and peanut butters) off the altar. Pan de muerto and sugar skulls are not dog food either.
• Bones. Do not leave cooked bones on the altar; they splinter.
• Candles. A happy tail can knock a candle over in a second. Use LED candles or keep flames high and supervised.
• Marigolds. Tagetes marigolds can upset a dog’s stomach and irritate skin if chewed. Keep them out of reach of curious noses.
• Old offerings. Don’t give living dogs treats that sat out for days; throw them away after November 2.

If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435, US; a fee may apply).

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