Bonnie’s Christmas Gift Picks for Dogs, Cats and the People Who Love Them! Part One
Looking for great gift ideas for the dog- or cat lover in your life? Is there a special pet you want to surprise on Christmas morning with just the right gift?
‘Tis the season to deck the halls and spread joy and cheer … or panic because you still have so much left to do! I don’t have a single Christmas decoration up and so far have only purchased gifts for a couple of people, but rest assured, I’ve already done all the shopping for Harvey! And can I tell you, he is already snooping! Seriously, I found him downstairs rooting through some shopping bags…he’d better behave or he will be getting coal (Planet Dog style)!
While I am on the subject, when I shop for pet products I am very, very picky. For toys, I look for well made, long lasting, non-toxic, brain stimulating, American made fun. Except on a very rare occasion, I will not purchase toys made in China. For treats, I look for all natural or organic ingredients that are not only made in the US or Canada, but are also sourced in North America. Believe it or not, there is a big distinction, as there are very loose standards for pet products. In general, only a couple of ingredients have to be sourced in the US and then assembled in the US for the product to say “Made in USA”. That means that a good portion of the ingredients can come from China. The items listed below, both toys and treats, are ones that I own, trust, and wholeheartedly recommend.
I feel it is important to shop local and support small businesses whenever possible, so most of my shopping is done here in Annapolis at my favorite pet store – Pet Barn. They carry the best all natural and raw pet foods available, and have a fantastic assortment of toys, treats, gifts for the pet lover, and all the essentials for pets (beds, leashes, collars, harnesses, cold weather sweaters and jackets, etc). Be careful, it is really easy to get shiny object syndrome there!
So for all the dogs and cats (and the people who love them), here are my top gift picks! Part one is for the pets and part two is for the people!
Because Dogs just want to have fun:
Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snowball
Not all of us will have snow, but we can still give our dogs a snowball – a bouncy, buoyant, minty, non-melting snowball! Planet Dog is one of my all-time favorite pet product manufacturers. Everything is made with extremely durable, non-toxic material that is not only safe for your dog, but is 100% recyclable. Using a Chew-o-Meter scale, they rate all of their products from 1 to 5 Chompers, and the snowball rates 5 out of 5 chompers. If that isn’t enough, they have a 100% guarantee… so you can feel confident bringing this home to the toughest chewers. Planet Dog promises that no yellow snow was used in the making of this snowball and it is made in the USA. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Mazee
Just like people, dogs get bored. And, as I’m sure you have already discovered, most dogs really like to eat. So what could be better than something that not only gives them the treats they crave, but does so in a fun and engaging style? Like the snowball above, this is non-toxic, easy to clean, and made in the USA. It is not intended for puzzle play or chewing, so it is not rated on the Chew-o-Meter scale and some supervision is required. In our house, Mazee stays clean and filled with yummy treats, and is ready to be used on a moment’s notice as a leave-the-delivery-person-alone decoy! Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Coal
Perhaps your pup has swiped your sandwich, chewed your shoe, or shredded a roll of toilet paper … maybe Santa should put some coal in their stocking, Planet Dog style! Just like the snowball above, the coal is non-toxic, 5 out of 5 chompers, 100% guarantee and made in the USA. Harvey has several balls from Planet Dog, and I can assure you that they have taken a beating, but they are still in perfect shape and will last for years to come – now isn’t that better than the $1 tennis ball that will last a week if you are lucky?! Check it out at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Rudy, by West Paw Design
Another fantastic pet product manufacturer is West Paw Design. The majority of their products are third party certified safe toys, beds and apparel for dogs and cats and are made right here in the USA. Rudy has been a best seller for many years now, partly because he is so adorable and mostly because dogs love him! Our dog, Oliver, absolutely adored Rudy and made sure he was always near by. Rudy’s eyes and nose may not last long, but your dog is sure to have fun with this quirky Christmas reindeer. Available at West Paw Design
West Paw Design Guaranteed Tough Zisc Dog Toy
Zisc® is a durable, floating dog frisbee that goes the distance. It isn’t intended to be a chew toy, but will give you and your best friend countless games of fetch! It is made in the USA, 100% recyclable, BPA and phthalate-free, non-toxic and even dishwasher safe. Available in small and large. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
I’m a huge fan of interactive toys!
They stimulate your dog’s brain, give them a little exercise, and slow down the eating process. I use them for Harvey as a rainy day activity, because everyone who has a very active dog knows how important a little mental stimulation can be! My all time favorites are by Nina Ottosson. They are very well made, and with proper care, will last for years. They come in both wood and plastic, but personally I prefer the wood – wooden toys are made of Swedish Karlit MDF Board, which is the cleanest and brightest on the market, and is the only one in all markets that are certified (No. 147,301 & 147,302, and approved in accordance with the Swedish and California’s tough rules for composite panels applicable environmental and health standards) – this is important because these games will be used by both my dogs and your dogs. Something to keep in mind is that they have various different levels of difficulty, so if you have a young dog, you may want to start with a level one or level two. But it you have a real smartypants on your hands, go for the level three. And if your dog is elderly or just a bubble shy of plumb, you may want to stick with a level one 😉
If you have a dog who, for whatever reason, is on bed rest, these toys are absolutely fantastic!! Because even dogs who are recovering from illnesses and surgeries need to have a little fun in their lives!
Following are my two picks:
Nina Ottosson Wooden Dog Worker
Dog Worker is my favorite because it can be modified to accommodate level 1,2, & 3, which is great if you have no idea which level your dog is. These puzzles are not intend to be a pet sitter, but rather something you use to spend time interacting with your dog. It can take a little time for your dog to figure out exactly how these puzzles work and they may get very frustrated trying to get the treats out. Rather then let them scratch and bark and get frustrated, have them watch you do it. Have patience and give them guidance on how to do it and eventually they will get it! For our resident smartypants, level 1 was a piece of cake, level 2 was pretty easy, but level 3 was a real head scratcher! Seriously, for a dog who usually learns things rather quickly, this one took a couple of months before he really “got it”. He would get lucky and get the treat, but it took a while (and lots of human demonstrations) for him to really make the connection that what he was doing that was actually working. The pride that he shows when he does it now is fantastic!
Nina Ottosson Wooden MixMax Puzzle
We haven’t tried this one yet, but I have it on good authority that Santa will be placing it under the Christmas tree for Harvey. The MixMax is the newest puzzle by Nina Ottosson, and it looks like it will have endless possibilities, so I’m pretty excited about that! The red and blue are two different levels, so keep that in mind when purchasing. Also, please note that the the above picture features TWO puzzles, each sold separately.
These puzzles, along with several others are Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Bubbletastic Bacon Bubble Blower*
The Bubbletastic Dog Bacon Bubble Machine blows a ton of bacon bubbles for you and your bacon lovin’ best friend to enjoy! Just when you thought life couldn’t get any baconier… by Bubbletastic Available at Amazon
*Please note* This is made in China, and while it says that the bubbles are 100% non-toxic, I’m always a little leery. Also, you will want to use this outside because the bubbles will leave a slight white residue. Perhaps experimenting with homemade, non-toxic bubble recipes is a good option, because there is no doubt about it, doge love bubbles!
Canines for Veterans toy gift bucket by Harry Barker*
“You’ve heard of a triple dog dare, now let us show you a triple dog win! More than just a fun pack for your pooch, a portion of the proceeds of this gift set go to the Canines for Veterans. First, Canines for Veterans rescues dogs from shelters. Second, they work with military inmates to train the dogs for service. Finally, the dogs are paired with wounded veterans for a life of service. A triple win for pups and heroes alike.” Available from Red Envelope
*Please note* While this item is for a great cause, the toys are made in China
For the Old Soul
Old Soul Slobber-Wick Squeaky Buddy
Old Soul Slobber-Wick Squeaky Bone
Old Soul Orbee-Tuff Orbee with Treat Spot
Old Soul Orbee-Tuff Bone
As the fur on our sweet Oliver’s muzzle grayed and the years rolled by, it became harder and harder to find toys to attract his interest. He no longer wanted to chew, his hearing was almost gone – so the squeaky toy had little appeal, fetch wasn’t very fun because his eyes were old and tired – getting old is tough! But giving our aging pets something to do, something fun, or something comforting is more important than ever. That’s why I was thrilled to discover Planet Dog’s Old Soul line! Do something wonderful for the old soul in your life and fill their stocking with a few of those wonderful, made in the USA products! Available at Planet Dog
One for the road:
H2O4K9
The original Stainless Steel Water Bottle for Dogs. 100% BPA-Free. Perfect for walks, hikes, road trips, dog parks, etc… Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
RUFFWEAR Beacon Clip-On Safety Light
Safety first! Many will travel with their pets for the holiday season, and our pets will naturally be curious and want to explore all the sights and scents. Harvey pulled a Houdini on me and slipped out of the yard at my parents to chase a deer and I panicked! I absolutely could not see him, and I knew a car speeding by certainly wouldn’t be able to, either. Thankfully he has a pretty good recall and came right back, but I’ll never take that chance again. He wears a harness that he can’t slip out of and it has a beacon on it! Available at Amazon.
Thinkers
Thinkers come in several different flavors, but Harvey’s favorite is the salmon. They kind of stink, but trust me when I tell you that your dog will do just about anything for them. The come in long sticks, but I use sharp kitchen sheers and cut them into little pieces to use for training. I save these for the things that Harvey has a hard time with, like mailmen coming to the front door, or trimming toenails. Just remember, dogs think that the stinkier things are, the better they are! They use only the best all-natural and organic ingredients that will assist in your pets nutritional needs, without any artificial preservatives, meat by-products or meals, and have natural ginkgo biloba to help nourish brain function in your dog. With the exception of some of our natural preservatives (which they import from Europe), all ingredients used in Plato treats are from North America. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Beams Pure Icelandic Catfish Skins
More stinky goodness! Beams are made from pure, wild-caught Atlantic Catfish skins, from the clean ocean waters of Iceland, dried into savory, chewy sticks. They’re guaranteed to satisfy the pickiest of pups and are the perfect treat alternative to dried chicken snacks. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Good Dog Chicken Pot Pie
These bite-size bones are the perfect training treat for dogs of all sizes. With a short, simple ingredient list, Sojo’s Chicken Pot Pie recipe will have your dog doing back-flips for more. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Himalayan Dog Chew
Himalayan Dog Chew is a very long lasting dog chew. They are made by boiling yak and cow milk and then dried for several weeks to create a hard chew. Dogs must work the end of the treat for hours, softening it with their mouths before small parts of it can be slowly scraped off. It is 100-percent natural with no preservatives. As with most treats, I don’t recommend leaving your dog alone with them, just in case. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
For the discerning Cat:
West Paw Design Hair Ball Catnip-Filled Cat Toy with Bell
Okay, this one cracks me up! What’s better fora cat than Hairball fun! Fuzzy faux fur, USDA organically grown catnip and an attention grabbing bell combine to create a realistic hairball, designed to give your kitty hours of enjoyment. Made in the USA. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
West Paw Design Dazzle Catnip-Filled Bird Cat Toy with Bell
This is one bird your cat is allowed to play with! Stuffed with 100-percent premium organic catnip with a metal bell safely sewn inside. Made in the USA. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Yeowww Catnip Tub
High-grade, 100% organically grown catnip. Yeowww! Catnip packs a punch even for the most high-maintenance or older finicky cats. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
PURRfect Crunchy Feather Cat Toy
Cats just love feathers, but they also love crunchy, wiggly things – this toy has it all! The only thing required is a human to provide hours of kitty cat fun. All feathers are natural and naturally treated and there are no metal parts. Made in the USA. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
The Original Scratch Lounge – Worlds Best Cat Scratcher – (Includes Catnip)
THIS is on every cat’s wishlist! Scratch Lounge revolutionizes cat-scratch technology with its 3-sided scratcher, and extra large surface area for all sizes of cats, while allowing them to satisfy their scratching and instinctual need to nest. Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
The Honest Kitchen Smittens
Dehydrated Icelandic haddock for cats – cats love it!! Available at Pet Barn in Annapolis, 410-573-0404
Welcome the holidays—and your guests—with a special doormat by artist Stephen Huneck. Available at In the Company of Dogs
Every Dog (or Cat) has Their Day!
Treat your your furry friend to a day in the spotlight – schedule a photo session with Bonnie Grower Photography. They captured your heart, let me capture their spirit! Gift certificates available for any amount.
Did you find this article helpful? Do you have a favorite pet product? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
Stay tuned for Part Two – gifts for the person who loves animals!
Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie
