If you’re looking for a gift for your favorite four-legged friend or a special dog owner in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about purchasing a gift that’s both dog- and dog-owner-approved.
When it comes to finding the perfect gift for a dog owner, you should do a bit of research first. To help you narrow down your search, here are a few things to consider before you go shopping for your canine-loving comrade.
Breed: If you’re shopping for the pooch specifically (as opposed to buying a personalized gift or accessory for the dog owner), it’s a good idea to consider the breed of your giftee’s dog before heading to the checkout line. For example, if you’re thinking about buying a harness or a carrying case, you’ll need to consider the pup’s breed and size.
Dietary restrictions: If you’re planning on buying doggy treats or grooming supplies, you should ask about any dietary restrictions or allergens beforehand. According to VCA Hospitals, the most common food allergens in dogs are proteins—particularly those from dairy products, beef, lamb, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, and gluten.
Personality: Dogs are just like humans in that they each have their own individual personalities—that only get better with age. Before you hit the pet store, think about what your giftee and their pet like to do together. Are they energetic individuals who enjoy weekend hikes through the wilderness (Border Collies, Siberian Huskies, and German Shepherds), or are they more laid back (Basset Hounds, Chow Chows, and English Bulldogs)? The answer to this question should help guide your search for the perfect gift.
Living quarters: In addition to the dog’s breed, dietary restrictions, and personality, you should take their living situation into account as well. While a frisbee may be ideal for dog owners who have a large backyard or live near a park, a squeaker toy may be more suitable for dogs who live in an apartment or smaller space.
Product details: Read up on the product before you buy it to ensure the gift is a good fit, no matter the dog’s breed or size. Pay special attention to customer reviews, product ingredients (if any), sizing options, and the manufacturer’s reputability.
Message: Once you’ve done the research, ask yourself: What do I want this gift to say? If you know the person well enough, grooming products and the like may be OK, but if you’re not too familiar with the owner, these gifts could send the wrong message (e.g. that their pet is dirty). If you’re worried, err on the side of caution.
We’ve come up with a shortlist of the best gifts for dog owners in 2021. See our top picks below.
Don’t want to gamble on whether or not the pooch in question has any dietary restrictions? Avoid the headache and get your giftee a dog treat maker instead! This non-stick treat maker is designed to hold eight “bones” and includes a recipe guide so your recipient can create all-natural doggy treats at home.
During the holidays your special pup is sure to receive plenty of toys, so why not get ahead of the game and get their dog mom (or dad) a doggy toy box? This dog toy storage box by Top Paw is cute and functional measuring 11.5” deep and 10” wide.
Give a gift that keeps on giving! BarkBox sends its members a themed subscription box each month for just $35. Each box includes treats and toys that relate to the theme. For example, November’s theme was titled “Home Fur Thanksgiving.” It included a plush turkey named Turkey Tim and Turkey Begs (squeaky tennis balls that look like drumsticks), among other items.
BarkBox offers a variety of subscription options, including month-to-month, three-month, six-month, and 12-month prepaid subscriptions. You can also gift a one-time purchase if you’re not interested in paying for a monthly subscription.
What dog owner wouldn’t want a custom wrapped canvas print of their pooch? PetCanva offers customers the option to choose between 50 backgrounds and four sizes (8”x10”, 12”x12”, 16”x20”, and 30”x40”). Just upload your photo, approve the artwork, and wait for the shipment to come in!
Speaking of pet portraits, this gift list wouldn’t be complete without our very own Pet Photo Saver—AKA the ultimate gift for pet lovers everywhere. Pet Photo Saver is a 16Gb storage backup device that plugs into your smartphone instantly saves photos of your pet.
To get started, download the free app from the app store, plug in the drive, and let our Pet Facial Recognition Technology do the rest! What’s more, once your photos are downloaded, you can share them with friends and family or create personalized items and gifts via the Pet Photo Saver app.
Pet Photo Saver can store up to 4,000 pet photos or up to 140 minutes of video. Pet Photo Saver is compatible with iPhone 5 (and newer generation phones including iOS 10+) and Android OTG (Android 5+). It also works with iPads, excluding the iPad Pro Plus 12.9".
Pet Photo Saver is the digital photo album for your pets! Making it easy to find, organize, and relive all of your favorite moments with your pet in one place.
Digital Pet Photo Album brought to you by the makers of Picture Keeper, Pet Photo Saver is a digital photo album for your pets—making it easy to find, organize, and relive all of your favorite moments with your pet in one place.
Just download our free app from the app store, plug in the drive, and our Pet Facial Recognition technology does the rest. Pet Photo Saver automatically finds all of your pet photos and videos within minutes. Once it’s finished you can share photos and videos of your furry friend with friends and family members through the app.
