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Gifts for the Best Dogs in Your Life

December 1, 2022 By Leticia

The links in this gifts for the best dogs guide are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. 

Confession: I never had a dog growing up but now can’t imagine life without ours! Oliver, our first Yellow Lab, was a gentle giant alpha male who was fiercely protective of us when our kids were young. Goldie is our second dog. She’s a loyal, loveable girl whose has calmed with age. Murphy is our 7-month-old Chocolate Lab pup who we rescued at 8 weeks old. His endless energy is on display most of the day unless he’s fast asleep. Our dogs are beloved family members who provide endless joy and comfort.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Gifts for the Best Dogs in Your Life

Gifts for the Best Dogs

While our four-legged friends are happy with food and attention, items that provide enrichment can make them happier, healthier, and create a stronger bond between you. While there is a multitude of items for dogs on shelves, not all are created equally.

Gifts for the best dogs in your life should allow them to engage in innate behaviors, such as playing, chasing, smelling, chewing and scavenging. I always look for well-constructed toys that are made of durable materials. They may cost more initially but both of our dogs have been chewers and shredders who have been known to destroy plush toys minutes after getting them!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Here is a list of gifts for the best dogs in your life, tried and tested by Goldie and Murphy, of course!

Bpawser Light Up LED Dog Collar ($13.39)

Over the years of owning dogs, we’ve tried a lot of rechargeable light up LED dog collars and these are our favorites. Instead of a thin piece of plastic tubing that the LED light goes through, these feature a 1” light up area that is covered by soft but durable mesh fabric that provides a lot more visibility for your dog. Each collar can be recharged with an included micro USB cable,  comes with 3 modes (fast flashing, slow flashing, and stable glowing) and are available in medium or large in a variety of colors (neon green, pink, and blue- Goldie’s is pink and Murphy’s is green). We’ve had this brand of light up LED collar since July and they’ve held up beautifully on nightly dog walks, even when we accidentally let our dogs swim with them!

Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket (currently $27.99 on Amazon, regularly $44.99)

If you have a dog who loves to swim, give you and your dog with the gift of security that comes from having an Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket. We own two of these for each of our water loving Labs who love to swim right off the dock when we’re at our beach house. I love that these come in bright colors (Goldie’s is red and modeled below, Murphy’s is orange) for visibility and have three straps to custom fit the life jacket for your dog. Making sure the life jacket is secure is important, especially when you grab them by the top handles to assist them out of the water. You want to be able to firmly grab them without the life vest slipping around their bodies. I know from experience!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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This is another product that is worth every penny because it helps keep our two furry swimmers safe when they’re swimming within eyesight, riding along in a boat, or paddling next to us. Highly recommend!

Puffer Hug for Dogs ($19.99)

Dogs love hugs and Puffer Hug for Dogs is a stylish accessory that helps keep them warm and cozy. Available in 2 sizes, Puffer Hug for Dogs has a detachable vegan leather strap and is made of machine washable red nylon. When you purchase products from Puffer Hug, 15% of online sales go towards improving children’s mental health programs, including the Center for Childhood Resilience at the Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. You really can’t go wrong with buying from Puffer Hug and getting a hug for your dog and supporting children’s mental health through your purchase!

PupRug’s FauxFur Orthopedic Dog Bed ($189)

Memory foam beds are dog #goals for every sweet pup to have sweet dreams. The modern and luxurious design of PupRug Faux Fur Orthopedic Dog Bed is exactly what your blends nicely into your home while the design provides ultimate support for your four-legged friend. Made of human-grade memory foam to help ease join pain and provide maximum support, PupRug Faux Fur Orthopedic Dog Bed also features a removable machine washable bed cover, waterproof foam cover, and a non-skid rubberized bottom.

Dyson Pet Grooming Kit ($69.99)

Vacuum your dog? Yes, thanks to the Dyson Pet Grooming Kit! The pet groom tools attach directly to your Dyson cordless vacuum and instantly sucks up hair as you brush your pet. We’ve used these attachments with Goldie and Oliver (not Murphy because he doesn’t have his undercoat yet). They work beautifully on pets with medium and long hair and are worth every penny for efficiency!

Marlie Mist Pet Odor Eliminator (currently $19, regularly $29)

When things start to smell a little doggy, reach for Marlie Mist. This all-natural odor neutralizer is made with pet-friendly essential oils. The paraben and sulfate-free spray can be used on pet beds, furniture, pillows, carpets or rugs, blankets, or anywhere else your furry friend hangs out. It comes in great scents like Grapefruit & Sandalwood, Holiday Peppermint & Rosemary, Chamomile & Lavender, and Fresh & Unscented. I think this would be great to spray in the car from time to time to help it smell less doggy!

Hyper Pet Doggie Pals ($16.95 and up from Amazon)

Goldie has been known to shred plush toys but her Hyper Pet Doggie Pal penguin is a favorite toy that she has treated with love since she got it. Doggie Pal is a motion activated dog toy that wiggles and barks but is covered with a plush cover. When turned on, Doggie Pal is activated by shaking, rolling, or throwing. It makes funny sounds and erratic movements for 10 seconds then stops.

It sounds bizarre but there’s something about the sound and movement combination that Goldie loves. She’ll pick up her Doggie Pal penguin and carry it around the house gently. She knows she can drop it to make it wiggle and make noise. She’ll leap after it as it skitters across the floor before it stops. Unfortunately her darling penguin is no longer available but this year she’ll get new HyperPet toys in her dog stocking from Gigi Seasons.

Zoo Snoods (from $19.99)

We humans love sweater weather and dogs are pretty cute in sweaters too but Zoo Snoods are an even better way to keep your pup warm and looking great in colder weather. Zoo Snoods are an animal-themed knit hood for dogs designed to keep your pet warm on cold and wet days and ears protected from mud and moisture.

There are 20 different adorable knit animal snoods for dogs (fox, lion, unicorn, panda, giraffe, reindeer, etc), dinosaurs, alien, insects, and sharks (great white and baby shark!) to choose from to cover your dog’s head and ears. You can also get a matching sweater to keep your dog toasty warm on winter walks or just around the house.

Goldie has the lion Zoo Snood and Yellow Zoo Sweater ($15.99-$19.99) to match and it’s absolutely adorable when she wears it! I keep trying to get a photo in her matching set but she’s just too active to pose for a good photo!

SodaPup Treat Dispenser and Chew Toy ($13.99)

Most dogs love their food and SodaPup treat dispensers are a great way to keep them occupied. SodaPup’s treat dispensers come in a variety of fun shapes (Goldie has the corn on the cob one) and are perfect for hiding kibble inside to encourage them to forage for food. The all-natural rubber compound is non-toxic to dogs and made of some of the most durable rubber I’ve seen on the market. While no toy is indestructible, I’ve been impressed by how well this toy has held up. Bonus that SodaPup dog toys are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and made in the USA! SodaPup items are available on Chewy where you can buy two and get the third item free. 

Personalized Dog Collar from L.L. Bean ($24.95)

When we first got Goldie, she would jump the fence to play with her best dog friend. We always worried that she might not stop at her best friend’s house, choosing to explore the neighborhood instead. With your dog’s name and your phone number of choice embroidered on the personalized dog collar from L.L. Bean, it’s easier for strangers and neighbors to see your dog’s name and know how to get in touch with you. The personalized pet collar comes  in red, blue, and pink and you can choose the embroidery thread color. There’s also a lime green color with a reflective strip (also $24.95) that can be personalized. We’ve always been fans of L.L. Bean’s high quality products and this durable collar is a must-have for all dogs.

Embark Dog Breed + Health Kit (currently $139, on sale from $199) 

Save up to $60 with code JOY

When we rescued Goldie, Lab Rescue told us she was half Labrador, half Golden Retriever but no one can really be sure with rescues. An Embark Breed + Health dog DNA test enables a dog owner to learn about their pup’s breed, ancestry, health, relatives, and more with just a simple cheek swab. Embark’s research-grade DNA genotyping platform looks at over 350 breeds and more than 210 genetic health risks that help understand your dog’s health history.

Embark is the best kit for dog owners who want a complete sense of their pet’s health to share with their veterinarian. Results can also help owners discover and connect with dogs that share DNA with yours thanks to the world’s only canine relative finder, free with purchase. Learn more about Embark and save $60 on Breed + Health and Purebred Kits with code JOY

SodaPup LickMat Bundle ($26.99 for 2 on Amazon)

Has your dog tried a lick mat? Relatively new in the dog enrichment space, the idea behind lickmats are to spread soft foods into the surface so your dog can lick the food out of the mat.  Licking triggers their foraging instincts and activates their brains, keeping them mentally engaged and entertained. It also has a calming effect that helps reduce separation anxiety as well as unwanted behaviors caused by boredom (like destructive chewing). Since licking stimulates the production of saliva, the use of lickmats can also promote fresh breath and healthy teeth and gums, as well as improved digestive health.

SodaPup’s jigsaw mat is made out of durable, rigid, dishwasher safe rubber. The complex pattern that retains foods better. SodaPup reports most dogs will use the jigsaw mat for up to 45 minutes compared to 10-15 minutes for competing designs. Pro tip- You can stick it in the freezer to make the licking last even longer.

Bodhi Dog Bath Brush ($9.99)

Goldie tolerates bath time with a hose in the yard or standing in the shower and I like to think Bodhi Dog Bath Brush makes her bathing experience better. This rubber curry brush slips on your hand and features soft rubber tips for gently scrubbing away dirt, dead skin, and loose fur. They don’t pull on your dog’s hair hopefully making bath time more spa-like for your four-legged friend.

Halo Collar ($699 with code HALOFREEDOM, normally $999)

The Halo Collar is a smart collar system designed to keep dogs safe. Co-founded by Cesar Millan, Halo Collar utilizes proprietary technology & dog psychology to provide a wireless smart fence, smart training, GPS tracker and activity tracker combined into one easy-to-use smart collar. It instantly create wireless fences right from your phone to keep your dog safely inside without a Wifi or cellular connection. The Halo Collar communicates with your dog using customizable Prevention Feedback at the right time. Fences calculate when your dog is near the boundary to prompt them to turn around. As soon as they stop or turn back, the collar even uses Encouragement Feedback to say ‘good job’! The Halo Collar also uses GPS and GNSS location tracking to keep them safe. This helps make it easy to locate them should they ever wander too far. The purchase price of Halo Collar does not include the monthly Halo subscription plan. Three different levels of subscription plans range in price from $4.49-$29.99/month).

I hope you enjoy this year’s picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

2022 Holiday Gift Guides

AGE APPROPRIATE GIFT GUIDES

  • Toddlers & Preschoolers
  • Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2, ages 5-8)
  • Tweens (ages 9-12)
  • Teens (ages 13+)
  • College Students (inspired by my first year college student!)

SPECIALTY GIFT GUIDES:

  • STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-tween)
  • Best Subscriptions for Kids, Teens & Adults
  • Gifts for Teachers
  • Gifts for People Who Love Their Dogs (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)

FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES FROM LAST YEAR

2019 Holiday Gift Guides

Need other ideas? Here’s a look at last year’s gift guides :

  • Toddlers and Preschoolers
  • Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2, ages 5-8)
  • Tweens (ages 9-12)
  • Teens (ages 13+)
  • STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-tween)
  • Best Age Appropriate Advent Calendars for Kids
  • Fair Trade Holiday Gifts
  • Gifts for Unplugged Family Fun
  • Gifts for Teachers
  • Best Gifts for Unplugged Fun
  • Gifts for Outdoor Adventures
  • Gifts for Gadget Lovers
  • Gifts that Give Back
  • 9 Gifts that Make it Easy for Families to Give Back

I hope you enjoy this year’s picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

Samples were received to facilitate this post and affiliate links are included. No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.

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Filed Under: Gift Guides Tagged With: gift guides, gifts for dogs, holiday gift guides

Previous Post: « A Parent’s Guide to Giving the Best Teacher Gifts (by a teacher!)
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Hi! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama! I'm an award-winning blogger, Washington, DC area mom of teens, middle school computer science teacher, and education consultant.  Read more...

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DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 #StJudeHeroes #legacyteamnuun 🏝 #Haiti

Leticia Barr
It’s the season of giving! 🎁 When @toyotausa It’s the season of giving! 🎁 When @toyotausa heard I was supporting a local Girl Scout troop by donating toys to their Toys for Tots toy drive this holiday season, they stepped up in a big way! They provided me with a gift card to shop for more toys and loaned me a 2024 Tundra Platinum Crew Max to make my delivery! 🛻 Thomas and I packed up our donations and loaded 4 huge boxes, a giant shopping bag full of toys, and more into the 6.5 foot truck bed. 🧸 When we arrived at the collection point, the Troop was ecstatic to see all the things in the back of the Tundra! 🎉 Huge thanks to Toyota for helping me give even more to local kids and families this holiday season! Hooray for #ToyotaSeasonofGiving! ❤️💚❤️ #sponsored #ToyotaPartner #toyotatundra #toyotatundracrewmax #toysfortots
Still on that half marathon high! 🎉Mondays are Still on that half marathon high! 🎉Mondays are always better when you have new race bling to start your week! 🏅 I hope the start of your week goes well too! 💕
#medalmonday #stjudeheroes #runwithstjude #memphis #stjudememphismarathon
✅ = Half marathon #6 🎉 Yesterday was a gorgeo ✅ = Half marathon #6 🎉
Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Memphis for a race! The weather was absolutely perfect and my favorite part was running through the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital campus to soak it all in at mile 10. 🏃🏻‍♀️ Along the route were patients, former patients, and their families who are so incredibly grateful for the support of Heroes like me who fundraise, train, and run to ensure that no child dies in the dawn of life. 💕 I never go into any race with expectations. All I want to do is start the race having met my fundraising goal, have fun on the course, and cross the finish line.🏅So thank you for helping me accomplish those 3 goals. 🎉 This weekend St. Jude Heroes raised $14 million dollars to help St. Jude end childhood cancer. The $5,100 you helped me raise this year is part of that and I could not be more grateful! Thank you for allowing me to do what I do and run to support St. Jude. ❤️ I'm already looking forward to running in Memphis again next year! Who wants to join me? I’ll fundraise if you want to run with me! I’d be thrilled to be your race buddy if you want to run a 5K or 10K and promise to be the best cheerleader ever! 🙂 #stjudeheroes #runwithstjude #stjude #stjuderun #memphis
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to run If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to run St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, here’s a look at the experience! 🏃🏻‍♀️My favorite part is always running through the campus of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital! ❤️Today I saw patients and their families lining the race course through campus cheering their hearts out for us Heroes. It was such a good reminder of why I choose to run this weekend year after year! 🥰 #stjudeheroes #runwithstjude #stjudechildrensresearchhospital #memphis #halfmarathon
✅= $5,000 fundraising goal met! 🎉🎉🎉WE 👏🏼 DID 👏🏼IT! 🎉🎉🎉 
It is the best feeling in the world going into tomorrow’s race having bypassed my original fundraising goal by an additional $1,000 and knowing how many of you are cheering for me! ❤️Half marathon #6, I’m coming for you! 🏃🏻‍♀️💪🏼🏅And yes, I had to go back for another photo just like yesterday’s but with my updated fundraising total! 😍 #stjudeheroes #runwithstjude #stjude #memphis #stjudememphismarathon
🎉$4,875 🎉During my flight, my seat mate aske 🎉$4,875 🎉During my flight, my seat mate asked me if I worked for St. Jude after noticing St. Jude Heroes embroidered on my jacket. When I told her I was in town for St. Jude Memphis Marathon and I ran to raise money, she opened her purse and dug around for the cash she had. 💵 She was very familiar with St. Jude’s mission from her involvement in her college sorority and is a regular donor. Even though she had just donated, she handed me a bunch of bills and wished me luck with my race 🏃🏻‍♀️I’ll be adding her gift to the total I had when I picked up my race bib. It was such a thrill to pick up my bib to see you’ve helped me surpass my original goal of $4,000 and to be so close to my new $5,000 goal! ❤️ #stjudeheroes #stjuderun #runforstjude #halfmarathoner #nuunambassador
Put on my running shoes And I boarded the plane To Put on my running shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain 🎶  It is SO good to be back in Memphis! ❤️ Every year I think this might be my last race but the minute I get off the plane and start walking through the airport, I remember my why. My why becomes more apparent as I drive into downtown and past the @stjude campus where children and their families stay during their treatment for life threatening childhood illnesses which is free thanks to donors like you who ensure they never have to pay for treatment, housing, food, or travel. ✈️ At St. Jude kids get the best care, care that I could only hope for if my kids were to ever get sick. And that is my why. 🩺 On the St. Jude campus there are moms just like me who face the unimaginable every single day. I run for them so they can focus on helping their child live. ❤️‍🩹 I know if I was a mom of a patient, there would be an army of Heroes who would fundraise, train, and run for me and my sick child. I also run to give them hope which is something so many families have thanks to donors like you. St. Jude leads the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. When this is your why, it’s hard to stop which is why I just keep going. ❤️#stjudeheroes #runforstjude #memphis #whyirun #nuunambassador
It’s almost St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend! ❤️ This will be my 6th half marathon & 9th race benefiting @stjude kids and families. 🏃🏻‍♀️As a race veteran, you’d think my goal would be to improve my time but honestly, my goals are to raise money as much money as possible and to run for those who can’t. If you haven’t already donated but would like to, see the St. Jude link in my bio to make a tax deductible donation of any amount. 🙏🏻 I’m so so close to $5,000 and with your help, I know I’ll get there! Thanks in advance for any amount you can give and get ready for lots of race related posts and stories over the next few days! Sorry not sorry! 🏃‍♀️❤️🏃‍♀️
#stjudeheroes #stjudemarathon #runforstjude #stjudememphismarathon #stjuderun #stjude
How do you teach computer science concepts like th How do you teach computer science concepts like the cloud? 💻Through hands-on, interactive learning experiences like the ones offered for free at @AmazonWebServices Skills Center in Arlington, Virginia. 🏢 AWS Skills Centers provides free, fun ways to learn more about the cloud and job opportunities. Visit the link in my bio for more information and to plan your visit to the Skills Center! 🚘AD #computerscience #cloudcomputing #STEM #amazonwebservices #awsskillscenter
Thankful for a week filled with family, food, outd Thankful for a week filled with family, food, outdoor fun & being photobombed by my favorite girl. 💕 #thanksgiving #family #optoutside
Find a friend who will join you at OrangeTheory in Find a friend who will join you at OrangeTheory in the morning, celebrate the workout with lunch, and take ridiculous selfies with you and @theholdernessfamily after more bubbles and bites. Thank you @lisatasch for being that friend! I adore you! 🧡💪🏼🥂And huge thanks to @westfieldmontgomery for inviting use to meet Kim and Penn! They’re just as wonderful as you’d imagine them to be! 🎄#friends #holidays #westfieldmontgomery #moco #mocomd
Every day when their boy leaves for school, these Every day when their boy leaves for school, these two follow me upstairs and jump on his bed. 🛏️ One watches the driveway from the window and the other stares out the door, ready to alert the other if he comes returns. It’s the sweetest thing! 🐾 I reassure them he’ll be back later but I’m not quite sure what this pair is going to do next year when he heads off to college. I guess we’ll pass the days until the kiddos come home with long dog walks and console ourselves with treats. 💔  #chocolatelab #yellowlab #labrador #puppylove #rescuedog #labrescue #momlife
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