It’s that time of year again! As the holiday season ramps up, shoppers everywhere are beginning their hunt for The Perfect Gift for everyone in their lives and hearts. And why shouldn’t our dogs be included in the gifting? They shower us with unconditional love year-round, so it’s only fair we return the favour.
Here at Red Dog Blue Kat, we know the joys—and struggles—of spending as much time as we can with our furry friends over the busy holiday season, so we’ve compiled this dog gift guide to help reduce time spent looking for the perfect gift and give you more time over the holidays to enjoy with your dog.
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Food & Treats: ‘Tis The Season of Eating
From all the tastiest treats to the fanciest dishes to eat them out of, we’ve collected some of our favourite products to include your dog in the holiday feasting this season!
Raw Bones
Not all bones are made equal, and ours are a step above the rest! RDBK has a bone for every dog, big or small, chompers or gnawers.
Forgive us for getting up on our raw-bone soapbox again, but giving your dog a bone 2–3 times a week is one of the best and easiest things to do for their dental health! In addition, their use as an enrichment activity is unparalleled. Turkey necks are a perfect alternative or addition to your dog’s holiday dinner, and with any luck, will keep them from begging at the table!
Plus, there’s a chance your dog will be your official greeter if you’re hosting your holiday gatherings this year, so why not start freshening up their breath ahead of time?
Personalized Slow Feeders
If your dog loves their food too much to breathe while eating, it might be time to look into a slow feeder. Slow feeder bowls can help reduce the risk of choking or bloating by slowing your pet down during their meals, not to mention they’re a great source of mental enrichment. But traditional slow feeder designs are a dime a dozen, so why not get something as unique as your dog?
AKOSUM makes beautiful slow feeders that can be customized with your dog’s name, fun shapes, or even a honeycomb pattern to make separating different proteins and supplements easy. They make incredible, Instagram-worthy meal displays!
These slow feeders are made with biodegradable, food-safe thermoplastic from corn, sugarcane, and sugar beets, so you can feel good about the environment while your pet feels good about their meal.
It should go without saying that these bowls require a bit more time to get into your hands, given their custom nature. Better get on it now if you want one in time for Christmas!
Dehydrated Treats
Suppose you’re looking for healthy options to add variety and texture to your dog’s meal. In that case, RDBK’s dehydrated treats are an excellent limited-ingredient and minimally processed snack that can boost any bowl! Plus, there’s a particular joy in being able to sneak treats in small, unexpected doses throughout the holidays. Seeing your dog get giddy at a familiar treat-bag crinkle brings joy to every pup parent's heart, and isn’t that what the festive season is all about?
Hitting the Winter Scene In Style
We like to think that special holidays require special outfits. Since you and all your guests might be dressing up a bit this season, why shouldn’t your dog?
Hand-Stamped Collar Tags
If you’re looking for a unique, durable collar tag, look no further! StampOutLoudShop on Etsy is a Canadian-based shop with an insane variety of tag designs.
Choose from three different metals (aluminum, copper, or brass), pick the shape of the tag (circles, hexagons, sunbursts, snowflakes, and so, so many more) and then select your design from over 200 adorable options! With selections like these, you can design a tag that fits your dog’s personality perfectly.
Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Okay, maybe we were stretching the truth a little when we said your dog would be hitting the winter scene in style. But to be fair, ugly Christmas sweaters are a style over the holidays. If you or your family plan on attending (or hosting) an ugly Christmas sweater party, then why leave your dog out of the fun?
Funky Tails doesn’t just sell Christmas sweaters for dogs—they sell matching ugly sweaters, so really, you could claim double points at your next Christmas sweater party! Not to mention you’ll be supporting a small BC business—what more could you want?
Home Decor
Sometimes it’s not enough to give your pooch all the special gifts. Sometimes, you have to decorate your home in a way that leaves no room for confusion about who is the most treasured family member. (It’s your dog. Obviously.)
Mini Nosework Hides
Nosework is an excellent enrichment activity year-round, but it really shines in the cold winter months when prolonged time outside becomes less and less viable. These mini hides by Nose and Hearts can fit multiple q-tips and have 4 holes at the top to vent the scent. This is great for dogs trained for a specific scent. They also have a magnet on the back for super sneaky hiding spots!
Despite not being a high-cardio activity, scent work engages your dog's other senses and works their brain—kind of like a raw bone does! Similar to the way that you can feel exhausted after a day of working at your computer but not exercising, nosework can tire out a dog in under an hour—perfect for when you can’t go out for a game of fetch but need a couch-potato dog before guests start arriving.
The Working Dog Bed
If your dog travels with you, either recreationally or to your worksite, or even if you just have a dog who’s “ruff” on their beds, then it might be time to look into a durable, travel-ready bed—like the ones from The Working Dog!
When simplicity and durability is the question, Working Dog beds are the answer. Made with a machine-washable 10-ounce cotton duck canvas cover or engineer striped denim, a sturdy zipper, and double-stitched and overlocked seams, this bed is made for all conditions. It even comes with a loop handle for easy transport and a polyester pillow—but the casings of all three bed sizes are designed to fit standard queen sized pillows if needed.
If you’re looking for a unique, hand-made dog bed from a Canadian creator that will last a lifetime, this might be the one you’ve been waiting for!
Have More to Give?
Sure, your dog doesn’t understand what Christmas is, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience their joy from an unexpected gift. After all, making our pets happy is one of the greatest things about being a pet parent!