2020 Holiday Gift Guide: Dog Gifts for Your Spoiled Pup
*AD – Gifted
This post contains gifted items. All opinions shared here are my own.
It’s that time of year when we’re all working hard to complete our Christmas shopping lists. For dog parents, this includes searching out the perfect dog gifts to spoil our furry friends. After all, they give us so much! Today, I’ve put together a list of toys, treats and other items that are sure to bring joy to your pup this holiday season.
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If you’re like me, you refer to your dog as your best friend, your confident, your protector and your fur baby.
They give us everything they have and ask for very little in return.
This holiday season, they deserve to find something extra special waiting for them under the tree too!
Sure, you could gift your pup a simple bone or a tennis ball and they would be beyond excited. That’s one of the reasons that we love our dogs so much…
They find true joy in the simplest of things.
But there is something to be said for the joy that we, as dog owners, feel when we find that extra special gift for our pups! Right?
Each of the items on this list has been tried and tested by our two pups, Daviana and Indiana.
They were a big hit in our home, and I’m sure that they will bring happiness and joy this season to your pup(s) as well.
Better still, they are all available for purchase online!
So, let’s start shopping…
Related: ‘Stocking Stuffers for Pet Lovers: 20 Gifts Under $20‘
Dog Gifts Your Pup is Sure to Love This Holiday Season
Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Toys
A recent addition to our household, we shared on Instagram just last week that we purchased a couple of different Outward Hound puzzle toys for the dogs.
These toys are great because they not only keep your dog busy, but they also offer mental stimulation.
Our boy Indiana isn’t overly interested in toys but the incorporation of his favourite foods into this game made sure that it was a big winner.
There are a variety of different levels available, ranging from Level 1: Beginner with simple one-step actions to introduce your dog up to Level 4: Expert which requires multiple actions in a correct order to earn their treat.
This is not only a fun toy, but it is also a great way to feed your dog if they have a bad habit of eating their food too quickly.
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
Speaking of dogs that eat their food too quickly, the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl has been a permanent fixture in our house.
We first purchased one for Indiana in the summer as he would INHALE his food without a second thought.
After seeing how much it helped him (and considering the dangers associated with bloat), we made the call to purchase one for Daviana as well.
Not only do these bowls slow the pups down, but they also turn mealtime into playtime as they ‘hunt’ their food around the dish.
Collar Town Custom Collar
If you follow Shed Happens on social media, you may have noticed that both of our dogs have been rocking some new collars.
We were on the search for lightweight collars that the dogs could wear around the house so that they would always have their ID (better safe than sorry).
That’s when we discovered all the fun, unique collars made by Collar Town.
The best part? It’s a local small business!
I am always a big fan of shopping small businesses whenever possible.
While they specialize in martingale style collars, they also offer house collars and standard dog collars.
You can choose from their selection of ready to ship collars in different styles and colours or have one custom made in the size and design of your choice.
Dressing up for the holidays? They are currently offering a wide variety of festive holiday patterns!
KONG Squeezz Ball
There are few toys as highly sought after as the traditional tennis ball for dogs. What about a tennis ball with a twist?
The Squeezz ball is made by the KONG company, a brand that’s well-known for their durable toys.
It has also been a major favourite of Daviana’s throughout her life (and still is today).
These fun, squeaky balls are also available in a variety of fun colours, making it easy to spot them out in your yard.
Walkabout Harnesses Jawz Traction Booties
My girl Daviana is now 12 years old, meaning that she is officially a ‘senior dog’.
However, she seems to have missed the memo somewhere along the way… She refuses to accept that she’s getting older (and I’m totally okay with it).
Constantly on the go with the energy of a young pup, she’s not ready to slow down.
Unfortunately, we hit a snag. Our house is 90% hardwood floors, and she has been finding it increasingly difficult to maintain traction.
Luckily for her, she recently won a contest on the Modern Dog Magazine Facebook page. The prize? A set of Jawz Traction Booties from Walkabout Harnesses.
My girl is back to running around the house and living her best life!
If you’re shopping for a senior dog this season, this a great option that could make a world of difference for your pup.
Related: ‘5 Benefits of Homemade Treats for Dogs (and Other Pets)‘
Outward Hound Granby Life Jacket
Do you have an outdoor loving dog? If not, why not consider picking up gear for your future adventures.
We introduced our pups to the canoe, and they LOVE life on the water.
However, you can’t be too safe! That’s where this life jacket from Outward Hound comes into play.
Anytime we head out on the water we wear our life jackets, so why wouldn’t we take the same precautions for our dogs?
These are easy to put on, comfortable and will give you peace of mind.
Carlson Pet Products Portable Pup Travel Bed
Another great product for your upcoming outdoor adventures, this travel bed will ensure your dog will be comfortable wherever your travels may take you.
Better still, it easily folds up into a convenient travel bag.
What better option for dog gifts than a product that encourages you to get out and explore the world together in style?
West Paw Zogoflex Toys
Another great option for those heavy chewers in your life, West Paw has created a whole line of toys using their special Zogoflex material.
This includes fetch toys, tug toys and treat toys, meaning there is an option for every dog.
They are fun, bright colours and float, making them great toys for that dog that loves to go swimming in the summer. They are our favourite lake toys!
West Paw backs their products with the Love It Guarantee, offering a one-time refund or replacement if you aren’t happy with the performance of the product.
Top Paw Weave Orthopedic Mattress Dog Bed
Are you shopping for an older pup that is no longer as interested in dog toys?
If so, another great option would be a new pet bed. After all, who doesn’t love to be comfortable when they take a relaxing nap?
We purchased the Top Paw Weave Orthopedic Mattress for Daviana over a year ago and now we’re looking at getting a second for Indiana.
It has been a total win for both dogs!
Related: ‘10+ Dog Toy Storage Ideas to Complement Any Décor‘
PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher
Do you have an active dog that always wants to play? If so, this one’s for you!
The PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher is a great way to entertain your dog both inside and out with 9 distance settings and 6 angle settings.
Our girl Daviana may be a senior dog, but she has the playful energy of a young puppy.
It took all of 30 seconds for her to fall completely in love with this toy. We’re now working on teaching her to load it herself as well.
With motion detectors and an automatic rest mode, this ball launcher will allow your dog to burn off all that excess energy while also prioritizing their safety and well-being.
@shedhappensblog Dav's new FAVOURITE toy ? ##petsoftiktok ##petthings ##dogtoychallenge ##dogtoyreview ##fetch ##doggosdoingthings
♬ ALL IN – ZaeHD & CEO
KONG Wild Knots Toys
My mother has always found the best dog gifts during the holidays, with a gift for each pet in the family under the Christmas tree for our family celebrations.
A few years ago, my mother picked up a flamingo toy from KONG.
What we didn’t realize at the time was that we were bringing home her all-time favourite toy and would bring it to bed every night (for over 5 years now).
Mingo (as we affectionately call it) is part of the Wild Knots line of toys. They are soft, cuddly toys with a skeleton of knotted rope.
The extra rope reinforcement means that they are durable, holding up for years (even if it now looks like it has seen FAR better days).
Since bringing Mingo home, we have purchased another toy from the Wild Knots line, a green special-edition holiday bear last year.
Other options include a monkey, pig, rabbit, dragon, elephant, hippo, camel, and more!
With so many different colours and styles, there is something for every pup!
PetSafe Drinkwell Pet Fountain
Pet fountains provide a number of great benefits for both you AND your pup, providing an ongoing supply of fresh, clean water.
While they are an investment (one of the more costly items on this list) you won’t regret it!
The Drinkwell line of fountains from PetSafe (which is what we use) comes in a range of sizes from the small 1.8L (ideal for small dogs and cats) right up to the 7.5L (for multi-pet homes like ours).
To top it all off, the fountain is easy to clean. What’s not to love?
Chuckit! Zipflight Dog Toy
Daviana LOVES playing frisbee out in the back yard with my husband for hours on end.
However, I have found that cheap, plastic frisbees break quickly and can cause irritation along the edges of her mouth when she is catching them.
If that sounds relatable, your list of dog gifts needs to include this Zipflight toy!
These toys are both soft and strong, meaning that they are durable and perfect for long play sessions.
Whether your dog is big or small, old or young, there are so many great options available!
As I mentioned at the start, each of these items are already used and loved here in our home. They are tried and tested, earning the Daviana and Indiana stamp of approval.
Curious as to what new products are gracing their wishlist this season?
Check out their Amazon Wishlist (on Amazon.ca) for more ideas and inspiration…
Have you already found the perfect dog gifts for your spoiled pup? If so, we would love to hear about them in the comments below!
Great gift ideas! My spoiled “pups” have a lot of these already, or else very similar products, but I’m going to check out the collar company you mentioned. A dog can never have too many collars right!? My senior dog especially LOVES opening presents. I don’t think he really cares what’s inside, he just likes ripping up the paper haha.
I ADORE the house collars that we got from them. They are lightweight, easy to clean and hold their slider tags perfectly so that I know that they always have ID on them. However, they also loosen up whenever they are put under pressure, so if the pups were to get them caught on something and pull, it would loosen rather than choking them. It makes me feel FAR safer because you just never know…
Whenever I visit a pet shop I always want to buy everything in there for my babies! My mom is gonna make them clothes for Christmas, can’t wait to see it! I’d love to buy all things on this list for my dogs x Thank you for the gift guide!
I am the same way – my pets definitely don’t hurt for anything… They are spoiled, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Oh love all these, thanks for posting!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Thank you!
This is such a fun and cute gift guide for dogs! Thanks so much for sharing all you recommendations
Thank you!
Oh wow, there are some totally gorgeous presents here that I know any dog would be more than happy to get for Christmas. I will share your post – it’s inspiring
PS I love the grippy slippers. I can imagine the ‘fun’ fo walking on a floor like that is my sock so know this could be a huge plus for sliding paws.
They have made a WORLD of difference for our Dav girl. She’s getting older and we watched her slowing down as she moved around the house out of fear that the would fall, slipping as she tried to stand up on the hardwood floors, etc. Now she’s running around and playing like a puppy once again!
What a great list! You inspired me to order new Kongs and a West Paw toy for my dogs. They are going to love them! My dogs love the puzzle you featured as well as the bowl!
They deserve a little treat, right? I may have made some purchases while putting the gift guide together… lol
Great guide! I am always in the lookout for puzzle toys for my boys. I wouldn’t go for automatic ball launcher though: I think they might get a heart attack or a stroke because they can do what we call a ‘loan playtime’, we once played fetch for two hours straight: my hands got tired, they wanted more
They actually took that into consideration when designing the ball launcher. It has an automatic ‘rest mode’ cycle so that it keeps the dogs from getting too worn out. I’m happy for that feature as well. I don’t think Dav would ever stop playing lol
oh wow! you totally changed my mind about it. I think it might be a great investment for my busy working days (I type it with a freshly put god toy on my lap)
It REALLY helps us, that’s for sure! Dav girl’s energy is never-ending and when she gets bored, she’s either throwing toys at me (literally) or getting into mischief.
The booties look so comfy, I’d buy that for every dog friend I have. Winter is tough here in Canada, especially for pets.
Yes, it is! We are currently in the process of shopping for a winter coat for our one dog. He doesn’t have the thick double coat that our girl has to handle Canadian winters hahaha
We love the Chuckit Zipflight toy. Plastic Frisbees would cut my pup’s gums. This toy is easy on their gums but still durable. I do take it away when we are done playing to make sure she doesn’t try to gut it.
Will need to check out some of the other items you suggested.
Thanks
Bonnie
Yes! We love it for the same reason. Plastic frisbees have cut Dav’s gums before, so we were excited to introduce the zipflight to her… even more excited to see her fall in love with it!
What beautiful dogs. These are fab ideas. We’ve struggled with what to get my dog this year because he’s only recently got a new harness, a new bed, a new blanket – the lot!
I’ve been in that position a few times, where we feel like it’s hard to find something that they don’t have – but then I look around and find that there’s always something new showing up in the pet industry hahaha
Here I go again wishing I had a dog! I love ALL of these ideas and especially the ball launcher. What an incredible idea for a gift. I really hope someday in the near future I can tell you all about a new fluffy addition to my family and then I can buy all of these awesome things lol.
I can’t wait to celebrate with you when that time comes! Super exciting!
What great gift ideas! I’ve never shopped for a dog before so this post was perfect to review.
I LOVE shopping for our pets – more than most people lol!
I’m spending Christmas by myself this year..well not alone completely because I have two dogs and two cats So I might have to pick up some of these as presents for my fur babies
They make GREAT holiday companions! There is something about watching them enjoy the gifts that we give them that never fails to cheer me up.