What do you buy the dog who has everything? In this blog, I share some of my favourite must have practical gift ideas for dogs.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always spoiling my girls! Treats and toys here and there, I just can’t resist. So when it comes to birthday or Christmas presents, I often struggle to think of something a bit different to get them.
I don’t want to waste my hard earned cash on something that will just sit in a cupboard and never see the light of day. Or on something that will be torn to shreds in five seconds flat! I always try to buy them something practical that they can actually use.
The Challenger Cube – from £13.99 at Ruffle Snuffle
Dog enrichment toys make a fabulous gift and can make mealtimes and treat times so much more fun! Rather than just plonking your dog’s food in front of them in a boring bowl, why not get interactive and feed them their kibble from a Snuffle Mat or Snuffle Cube?
Letting dogs forage for their food has not only been proven to relieve anxiety and stress, but provides hours of fun! [Not just for dogs, but for us as spectators!]
Dogs love to sniff! They find it highly satisfying and self-rewarding. The very act of sniffing promotes feelings of calm within our dogs.
I’ve been a huge fan of snuffle mats for some time now. However, we’ve recently discovered the Challenger Cube made by Ruffle Snuffle, and boy these are a whole new level of entertainment!
The colourful and beautifully handmade felt cubes have three pockets on each side in which to hide tasty dog treats. The deeper you bury the treats in the pockets, the longer it keeps them occupied for.
Like all Ruffle Snuffle products, the Challenger Cube is built to last and is highly robust. After a good few hours of being thrown around, pawed, clawed and bitten, they showed absolutely no signs of wear.
The cubes are available in 4 sizes and are machine washable.
Personalised Fleece Dog Blanket – £19.95 from My Posh Paws
You can never have too many dog blankets! I’ve lost count of the number that we have dotted around the house.
These personalised blankets are one of my all time favourites though. Super soft and light weight, these fleecy blankets make the perfect gift for dogs of all ages.
Featuring a gorgeous appliquéd spotty bone and your dog’s name, what’s not to love? They are ideal for high-days, holidays or just lounging on the sofa days.
These blankets are available in a range of colours and measure 72cm x 100cm. Just enough room for you to snuggle under too!
Ruff and Tumble Drying Coats – from £28.95 at Distinctive Pets
I love Ruff and Tumble products. I’ve used their dog drying coats for years on Pops; they are fabulous quality and wash like a dream.
Their Velcro fastening means they are easy to put on and take off, and can be adjusted for a tighter or looser fit. [They also double as a great thunder-jacket on bonfire night].
Made from a soft towelling material, the double layered drying coat dries your dog’s fur in no time. Preventing furniture and car interiors from getting wet and soggy.
For really wet days, the drying coat also has a built in snood to dry off damp ears and provide that extra snuggle factor!
The drying coats are available in a variety of tasteful colours and range in size from XS to GSD.
Ruff and Tumble Drying Mitts – from £18.95 at Distinctive Pets
Ruff and Tumble also do a range of drying mitts, just perfect for drying paws, legs and heads! They are luxuriously long, [even for people like me with gangly limbs], and come with convenient little hooks so you can hang them up to dry.
Made from a double layer of towelling cotton, the mitts are ‘one size’ and come in a variety of colours. You can either choose to twin with your dog’s drying coat, or go for a mix and match combo like me.
Both the mitts and drying coats come in a handy little drawstring storage bag. Distinctive Pets sell a fabulous range of dog products, toys and treats.
Nestology Dog Bed – from £45 at Lupo’s Nest
Here at Dotty HQ we have been huge fans of Lupo’s Nest Dog beds for a while. [In fact we have four of their beds – is that a tad excessive?]
However, their latest range of beds, called the Nestology, is our favourite yet. Both Pops and Gerts love it. I have to say, having given it a little try myself, it is rather cosy!
These pillow style beds are available in a range of eye-catching fabrics, and are handmade to order here in the UK. Available in two sizes they make a lovely addition to any home decor.
Made from a thick, wipe clean canvas material, they don’t just look great, but are practical too. They feature a study zip so the outer cover can be removed and machine washed. They are deep filled with a virgin fibre filling to provide support and comfort for your slumbering pup.
Personalised Canvas Dog Toy Storage Bag – £28.95 from My Posh Paws
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the majority of the dog toys in our house belong to Gertie, my puppy. But no it’s, soon to be 15 year old, Pops who is the toy fanatic!
As a two dog household we have toys coming out of our ears, so having somewhere to store them is essential.
These storage bags are perfect. They are made from 100% natural cotton canvas and come with two heavyweight rope handles for easy transportation.
Embroidered in a choice of colour with a cute paw print design and your dog’s name, what pooch wouldn’t love to receive one as a gift?
Sophie Allport Design Double Sided Dog Blanket – from £19.99 at Designed for Dogs
I love Sophie Allport fabric! With a soft faux-sheepskin fleece on one side and a gorgeous design on the other, these blankets are perfect for home and hound!
Available in range of dog-breed designs and other patterns they ooze luxury and sophistication.
As well as these gorgeous blankets, Designed for Dogs also sell a range of dog accessories, dog beds and gifts for dog lovers. All their products are handmade in the UK and are machine washable.
Are you feeling inspired by our must have practical gift ideas for dogs?
I hope we have managed to inspire you with some of our favourite must have practical gift ideas for dogs.
When it comes to to birthdays and Christmas, who do you spend more on your pup or your partner? Let us know in the comments below!
A huge thank you to the fabulous brands who have gifted us some amazing products in return for an honest review.
Woofs and Wags
Kate, Pops and Gertie
xox
I love this and we have the cube and the Sophie Allport toy. The cube we have to put outside sometimes as Patch goes so crazy for it!
Pops and Gerts absolutely love their cubes! Sarah made a small one for Gerts and a larger one for Pops!x
Some fantastic luxury items on this list.
I’m definitely going to get Bertie the challenger cube.
He will love it so much! They really are hours of fun.
Thanks for reading the blog x