Somewhere between 70 and 95 percent of Americans give their dogs Christmas presents, according to various surveys. Chances are you’re among them. Bring any of these options home for your dog, and he’s sure to feel he has struck canine gold.
Subscription gift boxes will delight dogs with toys, treats, chews, and more. You can order just one or have recurring deliveries, kind of like a fruit-of-the-month club except with boxes that contain games, cuddlies, and other goodies for your canine pet. Some companies will even customize orders with your pet’s preferences in mind.
BarkBox (barkbox.com) sends out “themed” boxes, each with toys, all-natural treats, and a chew, starting at $23. Other subscription boxes to consider are BoxDog (boxdog.com), which offers such items as a lightweight jacket dogs love, a doggie backpack, homemade toys, and treats; Rescue Box (rescuebox.com) with its treats, chews, and toys and its commitment to paying it forward by contributing food to shelter animals; and Pet Treater Dog (pettreater.com), which sends delicious between-meal goodies along with toys like an adorable stuffed monkey for cozy cuddling.
Interactive Toys will engage your dog’s restless, inquiring mind and thereby help dampen anxiety as well as boredom. For instance, Bolt Bite’s lightning bolt-shaped chew toy does triple duty as something to be fetched, a puzzle from which to extract
treats, and something to be safely gnawed on thanks to the gizmo’s reinforced rubber middle. $13.00 on WildOne.com, petco.com, and other sites.
Outward Hound’s Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy hides critters that make a squeaking noise inside a lidded plush toy; the dog’s job is to ferret them out. Available in themes from birds to hedgehogs in small to extra large sizes, and from $9.60 to $30.47 on amazon.com. Outward Hound’s Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Game has 30 compartments from which dogs can retrieve treats by sliding, lifting, or flipping components. $13.48 on amazon.com
Security blankets — what dog wouldn’t love one? These often come with some nice dog-friendly features. For instance, Canine Coddler Original Weighted Dog Blanket envelops with a compression action that calms and soothes. Comes in sizes ranging from small to large for $79.99 to $99.99 on amazon.com (The small size weighs 5 pounds and thus is not for little dogs.)
The Snuggly Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy, while not a blanket per se, still offers a lot of security. It’s a white Labrador toy with self-warming and heartbeat features that reassure. Machine wash and air dry. $38.64 on chewy.com.
Another good option in this category is the Thundershirt Classic Dog Anxiety Jacket. It swaddles your dog for a calming fix that helps him through stressors such as fireworks, car rides, and general anxiety. Available in colors from heather gray to pink and in sizes XXS to XXL for $33.53 to $44.95. Available on thundershirt.com, amazon.com and other sites.
Crates and beds provide your your dog with his own own personal space to rest and “get away from it all.” They come in a range of sizes and shapes, with various features to fit your dog’s size, stage of life, and personal needs. For instance, the Green Pet Shop’s Blue Cooling Mat cools and comforts overheated and/or arthritic dogs with its pressure-activated gel. Comes in medium to large for $59.99 to $68.76 on amazon.com.
A second possibility for “a space of his own” is the MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate —a foldable metal crate. The 18- to 48-inch models come with a divider to accommodate your dog’s growth from puppyhood to adulthood. Be sure to put in padding to rest on and a blanket or sheet to cover all but the doors so your dog has a sense of privacy in his own personal space. From $22.99 to $95.99 on amazon.com.
Finally, while your dog may already have a bed, Casper makes human-grade beds for dogs with the addition of bolsters along their perimeter for comforting support. They come in sizes small to large for $125.00 to $225.00 on amazon.com.
Adult education courses aren’t something you can put under the tree, but they are among the best gifts you can give your dog. They allow you to bond better with him and offer fun, fitness, and the opportunity to focus on something he enjoys. Adult education for dogs comes in the form of agility courses, Rally-O, flyball, Frisbee competitions, and more. Different classes suit different dogs’ temperaments and abilities, and it’s easy to look them up and see which are offered in your area. It takes commitment, but you will end up with a much happier — and more well behaved and less anxious — pet.
