Giving gifts to dog owners is exciting for everyone — you, the dog and its owner. But it is an art form. You want to give the person (and dog) something useful, something they don’t already have and something they wouldn’t necessarily get themselves. From a DNA kit for muts to dog-specific tennis balls, here are 15 products that check each box.
1. Nite Ize LED Collar Light
Price: $6
From: amazon.com
For dog owners who venture to dark place with their dogs. Pair it with a headlamp for humans for a nice one-two punch.
2. Wild One Tennis Balls
Price: $10
From: wildone.com
Most match-ready tennis balls are not great for a dog’s mouth since they’re made of an abrasive felt that can damage gums and teeth. These are fine, and they’ve got a rubber core for extra bounciness — because why not.
3. K&H Self-Warming Crate Pad
Price: $10
From: amazon.com
K&H’s crate beds are affordable and vet-reocommended. Starting at $8, you can get them in self-warming or odor control varieties and they come in a few different colors.
4. Ikea Lurvig Cushion
Price: $20
From: ikea.com
Ikea’s new pet collection houses lots of stain-, odor- and water-resistant materials, but this little cushion is probably the most useful item in the bunch.
5. Outward Hound Puzzle
Price: $20
From: amazon.com
Have you ever watched a dog solve a puzzle? This is fun for man and man’s best friend.
Gear Patrol Magazine Subscription
Price: $39
From: store.gearpatrol.com
Gear Patrol Magazine is a deep dive into product culture. Inside each issue, you’ll find seasonal buying guides, rich maker profiles and long-form dispatches from the front lines of product design. Get four print magazines — delivered quarterly — with an annual subscription.
6. Goughtnut
Price: $21
From: amazon.com
This circular chew toy has no weak points. It also floats in water and bounces on the ground. But the best part is that if your dog somehow manages to chew through the durable outside layer, Goughnuts will replace it.
7. Aesop Animal Wash
Price: $39
From: nordstrom.com
Dog wash from Aesop falls firmly in the want-but-wouldn’t-buy-yourself camp. That’s why you get it for them.
8. Atlas Pet Lifetime Leash
Price: $54
From: atlaspetcompany.com
Made of climbing rope with a woven structure that provides greater resistance to chewing, Lifetime Leashes are guaranteed for, well, life. But if a pup does somehow destroy it, Atlas will replace it for life.
9. Stutterheim Dog Raincoats
Price: $60
From: stutterheim.com
Everyone who’s bought clothes for dogs before knows dog clothes aren’t for the dog — they’re for the owner. And if you know a slightly vain dog owner who faces the elements regularly, why not get their dog a coat from a famous brand?
10. WagWellies Boots
Price: $65
From: wagwear.com
Dog boots. Boots for dogs. These adorable slip on boots protect paws from glass, snow and other things a dog doesn’t have to time deal with.
11. Dandy Dog Supplement
Price: Varies
From: lovedandy.com
Dandy is a new company that designs treats and supplements for dogs based on their breed, activity levels, environment and more. You’ll need to know a little about the giftee and the pup in question to order, but it’ll be worth it.
12. Embark Dog DNA Test
Price: $129
From: amazon.com
Ever want to have a better answer to “what kind of dog is that?” This is it. Pup owners can swab the dog’s mouth, mail it away and receive a breakdown of their dog’s genetics in a few weeks.
13. Filson Dog Bed
Price: $295
From: filson.com
There’s dog bed and then there is Filson’s enormous, cushy, wonderful dog bed. Not just for big dogs.
14. Dyson Cordless V8 Animal Vacuum
Price: $300
From: amazon.com
Dyson’s powerful last-gen vacuum is definitely more for dog owner rather than dog. The “Animal” variant comes with an extra head that better catches excess fur.
15. SpotOn Invisible Fence Collar
Price: $1,495
From: spotoncollar.com
Just in case you’ve got $1,500 to spend on a dog, this is what you should get. It’s a collar and invisible fence system that allows dog owners to establish a walled yards anywhere.
American Bench Craft Personalized Leather Dog Collar
Price: $55
From: store.gearpatrol.com
Your dog deserves a classy gift. Get your pet’s name engraved on the riveted brass plate on this American-made veg-tanned leather collar. There’s a space for their home address and a phone number, to make sure they always find their way home.
