‘Tis the season for gift giving. If you’re like us, you include your pups (and those of your family) in holiday gift exchanges. And, you’re likely to appreciate receiving dog-themed gifts and gifting those to your fellow dog parent friends.
Gifting your pups
The most important part of gifting your pups is to consider their personalities. Like us, their interests may change as they get older.
Once upon a time, Cookie enjoyed getting toys as presents. Now, all she wants is food. So we ensure Santa Paws leaves a treat or a chew for Cookie. Chip enjoys the food, but he also LOVES toys.
If you have amassed an insane toy collection (as we have), keep some out of rotation. So, come Christmas, we save a large box and fill it with new-to-Chip toys that we will swap out with some of the toys he’s currently playing with. He may still get something new, but since the chaos of opening gifts is half the fun, we like to do this to bring joy without breaking the bank.
The holidays can also be a good time to refresh some of their staples, like upgrading their bed (or adding to the beds scattered in each room), harnesses, or collars.
We took advantage of Ruffwear‘s (I’m an Amazon affiliate and may earn based on qualifying purchases) Black Friday sale and purchased new harnesses for Cookie and Chip. We love these harnesses because they’re among the few brands that ensure a proper fit (hooking further down the body) without constricting shoulder movement. The Flagline model (I’m an Amazon affiliate and may earn based on qualifying purchases) also has a top handle that can be handy if you need to aid your pup in getting in/out of the car (or navigating a hike for the more adventurous). They have a back and front clip for the leash. Ruffwear harnesses are also great for tripawds since they go over the head and clip in the back – no balancing is needed like with step-in harnesses.
The pups have an extensive collar collection, but I can’t help buying a new one or two whenever 5 Dog Designs opens their Etsy shop. Their collars are cute, funny, and high quality. They have great BOGO deals (part of the reason we have so many) and even have a “recycling” program. I haven’t taken advantage of that yet, but I have a collar in mind to swap the next time they re-open.
Gifting Pawrents
Like gifting your pups, it’s important to know your dog-loving friends. If you’re gifting their pups, it may be harder to know what to get them if you don’t know their pawrenting habits.
For instance, pawrents are becoming more particular about the quality of treats they feed their pets. Be cautious about purchasing highly processed treats (commonly found in major pet retailers). Instead, look for high-quality, small-batch, single-ingredient treats.
Similarly, when it comes to toys, do you know their personalities? Some dogs destroy toys just by looking at them or tend to chew off certain parts that can become a hazard.
A safe bet can always be a gift card to independent pet stores or retailers like Chewy and Amazon, with a broad product selection. Dog-themed clothing, mugs, etc., are always welcome. Even if you think they have too much, we’ll always disagree. Great retailers on this front include I’d Rather Be With My Dog, Dog is Good, Teddy the Dog, and Life is Good. (You can find similar products at discount retailers such as Home Goods and TJ Maxx.)
Joy of the Season
Giving presents to the dog pawrents, or their pups, in your life can be a challenge. Most pawrents would also appreciate donations to rescue groups or charities that are meaningful to them.
We are fortunate to be able to afford gifts for our pups (and ourselves). And while we don’t need gifts, some folks insist on gifting us. Donations (monetary or otherwise) to the rescues where we adopted our pups (e.g., A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Rescue, Barking Outloud) or to those fighting canine cancer (e.g., National Canine Cancer Foundation) are also appreciated.
Happy Howlidays to you!
pawrentingtails.com 
Happy Holidays to all dogs and their pawrents
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