#91. Gifts for the Dog in Your Life

There are so many awesome gift ideas out there for dogs, I had a hard time picking which ones to select. I recommend you read where it is manufactured to make sure it is from a place you are comfortable with. Some places have more regulation on what is safe for pets (lead, or small removable parts that could be consumed, unsafe or not recommended ingredients ). Be a smart shopper & always monitor your pet with any new toy or chew, if it could cause harm throw it out before it does. My boys are different in the types of gifts they want to receive. Echo is a lot easier, he enjoys chew items & stuffed toys, rope toys but no interest in balls. Hunter really only cares for things he can chew or eat. Hunter will pick up a toy, but usually just to get Echo to play with him.

All natural one ingredient Bully sticks are a nice option for dogs, never known a dog who didn’t enjoy these if they like to chew. One of my dogs favorites for sure.

Redbarn is a brand I have bought numerous times for my current dogs & previous dogs. They come in a variety of lengths & thickness, so can be for a small dog or a larger dog.

Raw bones are something my dog also really enjoy a lot. My neighbor buys his 8 lb puppy a raw bone from the store every pay period. I recommend when you give a raw bone you keep the dog in an area where the floor is easy to clean & not allow them on the furniture. If not a digger you could give it to them outside. These bones are raw & there is some meat so it can stain carpet, or furniture(blood). I give my dogs ones that are at least 5-8″ long as they are 45-52 lb dogs. I usually buy them at a market that has a butcher & sometimes fresh & sometimes frozen. I have given them to my dogs both ways. I usually allow them 45 mins of time to chew then I put them in a baggie in the refrigerator till the next day. Some dogs can get an upset tummy if they eat too much at one time. I give the bones for an hour the 2nd day & once the outside meat is gone then I just leave them out for them. My Vet recommends raw over cooked bones because the risk of cooked ones splintering. I have seen some do that especially rib bones.

Two of my previous dogs (Sam & Sydney) both loved balls of any type, to fetch & or chew on. This might be a nice option if you have a ball dog in your life. One Christmas my brother-in-law gave my dog Sam about 25 tennis balls at once, it was really a fun Christmas surprise for him.

This toy is like several in one, so can help with boredom & energy.

Echo has several of these all over the house, because they have little or no stuffing they last longer in my home. He sometimes removes the squeaker, which I think he does to figure out what is in the toy. These have been big hits in my house.

I have this one in my home, but honestly it is put away because Echo will take all the stuffing out & he will destroy it. Maybe when he is older, he loves to carry something stuffed when he is excited.

For the dogs in your life that love to fetch this is a great indoor fetch toy. Chuck-it makes quite a few fetch toys, but this being a soft ball it is safer for inside.

Puzzle toys are a great way to occupy your dog while he figures out how to get to the treats. There are many different types for every level of dog smartness. Sadly not all dogs are real smart, just like with people. It is good to challenge their brains & keep them sharp whether they are 1 or 10 years old. Mental exercise is good for dogs & can use up more energy than physical exercise. As I am writing this, it is cold & we have lots of snow where I am, so my dogs don’t stay outside for long to use up physical energy. I have several different puzzle toys for my dogs.

Another great way to use their brains & help relax dogs is a snuffle mat like the one above. My dogs have one & they enjoy it so much. There are places to hide treats or kibble & then your dog gets to search & get rewarded for his or her work. These come in a variety of sizes & styles for small to large dogs. They are cloth so most are able to be tossed in the washer, read to find this out before you buy. My dogs can do this together, but if you have 2 or more dogs you may need one for each & use in separate rooms if any dog is food aggressive or possessive with toys or food.

If your dog is overweight then you may want to use part of your dogs meals in a snuffle mat or a puzzle toy so you don’t overfeed them. Just like with humans it is not healthy to be overweight, so please consider this with these types of items.

I hope you found some good ideas for gifts for your beloved pups & are learning & enjoying my blog. My goal is to help pets to live better & to thrive & not just survive. I like to blog & use my 20+ years experience fostering pets & a lifetime living with them to help others with their pets. On my home page in the upper left corner you will see 3 lines (show) & if you click there you will find a Table of Content which will give you a list of all the posts I have written (91 now) about a variety of pets. You then can return to the main page & scroll down to find the ones you want to read. I am open to suggestions of topics to write about, so you can comment with an idea or email me at echoinggreatpetcare@gmail.com My goal is to reach as many people as possible in as many places as possible. You can help me by sharing my blog on your social media platforms, emailing it to friends or family. Visit often, You can add a comment, click the like button at the bottom of the posts. If you subscribe you will get a notice when I publish a new post (1-3 times a week), but you won’t get spam. Thank you, I appreciate all my subscribers & visitors, Debbie