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While it’s fun to treat your furry best friend year-round, the holidays are a perfect time to shower your pooch with presents. In fact, a 2021 study by OneVet found that 32% of pet parents will pick at least two gifts for their fur babies, with an average spend of around $50. There are thousands of dog products on the market, but we’ve rounded up and reviewed our all-time favorites that will be sure to spoil the special dogs in your life.
Canine Journal’s Guide To The Best Dog Gifts For 2024
These gifts are hand-picked and used by our team’s pups and dog experts. So you can be tail-waggingly confident that they’ll bring holiday joy to homes (and dog houses) across the country.
Note: A few of these companies provided free samples for our team in exchange for an unbiased review. We’ve noted where we have firsthand experience with any of our recommendations.
Halo Smart Collar: Training & Invisible Fencing In One
If you’re in the market for a new fence for your dog, you may want to consider the innovative Halo 4 Collar smart fencing system backed by the popular dog expert Cesar Millan. This wireless system uses GPS to keep your dog in check and has some additional cool features you won’t find in other wireless fencing products. It has a built-in activity tracker that keeps track of the number of walks your dog takes, time spent active vs at rest, etc. Every new Halo collar also includes Cesar Millan’s 21-day training program to teach your dog how to adapt to the system (and many other indoor and outdoor training tips). It’s a bit pricy but brings a lifetime of happiness for you and your pup!
Pricing: $599
Our readers can save $25, and get the new collar for only $574 using this link (no promo code needed).
Embark Dog DNA Breed Identification & Canine Genetic Health Screening Kit
View on Amazon or Embark’s Website
Are you wondering what breed (or breeds) make up your pup? Want to help predict what may be in your dog’s health future? Are you trying to determine the age of your rescue pup? Dog DNA and health tests are a fun and informative way to get to know your dog on a whole new level. New for 2022 Embark now offers an age test to measure a dog’s chronological (calendar) age using DNA methylation (with 98% accuracy to estimate within 5 months). Now, what dog wouldn’t want that on their Christmas list!?
Canine Journal team members have used Embark and other dog DNA tests to better understand their rescue pups and are big fans. We think it’s the wave of the future and encourage you to give the gift of knowledge and health to your favorite furry friend this season.
I tested my rescue dog, Sally, with an Embark DNA test. Her results said she was 47.5% Coonhound, 24.5% Mastiff, 14.2% Labrador Retriever, and 13.8% German Shepherd. I loved being able to read more about her breed makeup, including breed descriptions and behaviors. Embark goes above and beyond with the detail it provides in its reports, giving information about related breeds to the breeds that make up Sally.
– Kimberly Alt, Rescue Dog Mom and writer at Canine Journal
Read Our Full Embark Review and Best Dog DNA Kit Review
Pricing: $134.00
BarkBox Subscription Box
BarkBox’s Website | Super Chewer Website
BarkBox is the gift that keeps on giving. With a BarkBox subscription, your pup will get a box full of goodies delivered straight to your door each month. This seasonally-themed monthly subscription box includes a curated selection of exclusive toys and all-natural treats made in the USA with the option to add other dog-related products.
You can pick from a 1, 6, or 12-month subscription and get free shipping. Each box comes with more than $40 worth of products that will be equally as exciting for you and your dog to open each month. BarkBox even guarantees 100% happiness with every box. Bark! also offers a Super Chewer box for puppies and dogs who need tougher toys.
Sally’s favorite toy they sent is the Snuggle Buck toy, which features a spiky squeaker ball disguised as a reindeer. She can whip it around, chew on it, fetch it, or play tug of war with it. It’s a great toy for her playstyle. She also received Best Fiends Fetch, two squeaky tennis balls disguised as The Grinch and Max, and Sam The Snowman, designed for super chewers and is a squeak and fetch toy. So far, they’ve all withstood her playing.
– Kimberly Alt, Rescue Dog Mom and writer at Canine Journal
Read Our Full BarkBox Review and Dog Subscription Box Review
Pricing: Starting at $35 per month
PartyAnimal PartyPack
Does your dog have a birthday coming up? Why not spoil them with personalized party decor of your dog? Simply upload a couple photos of your dog’s face, enter your dog’s name, age, size and gender, and you’ll receive a box full of goodies made just for your dog with everything you need to celebrate.
The pack includes, a custom embroidered felt birthday hat with your dog’s name and their age, 2 matching party hats featuring your pup’s face and birthday age for you and a family member to wear, a banner with your dog in a custom birthday hat, an embroidered birthday bandana with your dog’s name and age, a 4 piece set of personalized treat toppers with their face and new age, a 40-inch balloon with their age, a 50 balloon arch kit, and even send an electric balloon pump for quick and easy installation. To top it off, they even include step-by-step instructions for putting the party elements together and a bonus personalized pack of 4 stickers featuring your dog’s face!
They offer free shipping and an annual subscriptions to save 20%. Each PartyPack is personalized and handmade to order, so purchase at least 2 weeks before their big day to ensure you’ll receive it in time! Best of all, 10% of net proceeds from every PartyPack goes directly to dog rescue-focused charities.
PartyAnimal was kind enough to send me a PartyPack for Georgie’s 4th birthday celebration. I was so impressed with everything. From the quality of the box and products, to the quantity of items that are included. The box has a magnetic flap for easy opening and closing and all the items are nicely wrapped inside a tissue lining, so it feels super special. Each party product is individually wrapped, so you can keep them protected when not in use. The hat and bandana fit him perfectly and the little sticks to put in a doggy cupcake were so cute and fun party favors for his friends. He definitely felt the love on his 4th birthday. I highly recommend getting your dog a PartyPack for their next special day.
– Sadie Cornelius, Cavalier King Charles dog mom and marketing for Canine Journal
Pricing:
- One-time purchase: $98 for a single PartyPack
- Annual subscription: $78 per year (20% off)
King Kanine CBD Dog Treats
CBD oils and treats are quickly becoming the biggest trend for pups. Why? Their healing benefits naturally help with many physical and mental conditions, from arthritis to anxiety. There are a growing number of new products hitting the market, but our top pick is King Kanine’s Kalming Krunch. Their CBD-infused cookies come in three flavors, including Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, and Honey Oats. All products are made in the USA, thoroughly tested in a certified lab, and derived from non-GMO, organic hemp.
My dog Bella has arthritis, and we have noticed more mobility and energy since adding King Kanine’s CBD oil and treats to her regimen. She also seems to have fewer yelps from pain when our other dog jumps on her hip by accident during play.
– Michelle Schenker, Rescue dog mom and Canine Journal Co-Founder
Read Our Full King Kanine Review
Pricing: Starting at $39.99 for oil (75mg) and $42.99 for 30 treats
Snoozer Dog Bed
Known for their Cozy Cave®, Snoozer makes a variety of dog beds for every pup. They offer orthopedic loungers, plush, luxury sleeper sofas, and everything in between. They even offer stairs to make human furniture more dog-accessible and lookout car seats to help your dog stay comfy in the car. All of their products are designed with comfort in mind. These products are definitely an investment, but the quality is superior to others we’ve tested.
Even the most skeptical dog, who was previously a non-dog-bed pup, fell hard for the Snoozer Forgiveness Pet Sofa. Lexie snoozes on it all day. We tried a couple of other beds with her in the past, but she wasn’t interested. With the Snoozer, she is continuously curled up in a deep sleep against the bolstered sides. Made with high-quality, soft fabric, it is sturdy and has a removable, machine-washable cover. Thanks Snoozer for converting our Cavalier!
– Michelle Schenker, Rescue dog mom and Canine Journal Co-Founder
Pricing: $97.95
GoBone Interactive Smart Toy
GoBone is the world’s first “Smart Bone.” It keeps your dog active for up to eight hours. Santiago Gutierrez created the GoBone to keep his pup Rufus playing while he was busy at work. Using your smartphone, you can control and record videos of your dog playing with the GoBone.
We love that it’s made in the United States (in Santiago’s home state of Texas), using FDA food-grade and eco-friendly materials. While it comes with a hefty price tag, it pays for itself in no time compared to the cost of a pet sitter or constantly replacing destroyed items from a bored dog. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about them breaking the outside because it’s completely replaceable.
Pricing: Check Amazon for availability
This is definitely one of those toys you should see in action. Check out this video from Fox 4 News in Dallas where the founder demonstrates the GoBone with his dog on live TV.
PetPlate Human Quality Dog Food Delivery
Have your pet’s favorite meal delivered right to your doorstep, and never worry about running out of dog food again. There are many products on the market that prepare and ship high-quality food regularly. One of our favorite subscriptions is PetPlate.
The company makes fresh meals with natural ingredients, including meat (turkey, chicken, lamb, or beef) cooked with loads of fresh veggies (e.g., carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash).
At first, we tried it out to see how our dogs would react to such a treat. But, as it turned out, our dog Lily, who used to be a very finicky eater, immediately gobbled her PetPlate food up and ate the mixed-in kibble as well! She went from a dog who only ate one of two meals every day to a member of the clean plate club every time! This was enough to convince us to add PetPlate to our regular feeding routine.
– Michelle Schenker, Rescue dog mom and Canine Journal Co-Founder
Learn more about PetPlate and get to know its founder.
Pricing: Starts at $34.58/week (based on the portion for an adult dog weighing 21-30 pounds).
HandsOn All-In-One Grooming & Bathing Gloves
Are you looking for something inexpensive that’s good for humans and dogs alike? These HandsOn Gloves are small enough to stuff in Fido’s stocking and allow pet owners and their animals to bond during bathing and grooming with a more gentle massage. The scrubbing nodules on the fingers and palms give a deep clean, and dog hair does not stick to them (unlike traditional grooming brushes). HandsOn Gloves’ patented and trademarked design works while wet or dry, keeping your pup happy.
They’re available in Black and Green and come in hand sizes S-XL. They even come in kid sizes so they can lend a helping hand with pets. I tried the medium, and it fits true to size, thanks to the adjustable Velcro around the wrists.
HandsOn sent us some gloves to try, and, we must say, they are life-changing! We love how the gentle rubber bumps relaxed our pup while scrubbing her during ordinarily stressful bath time. They also got off tons of hair, reducing shedding (during bathing but also on dry fur too). We’ve tried several other brushes (including rubber ones that conform to the coat), but none come close to the HandsOn Glove. Its triple-action magic (cleaning, massaging, and hair-removing) works great.
– Sadie Cornelius, Cavalier King Charles dog mom and marketing for Canine Journal
Pricing: $24.99
Aromatherapy Deodorizing Soy Candles
Gerrard Larriett’s collection of aromatherapy candles makes the perfect gift to reduce your pup’s anxiety (especially when traveling or having guests over).
Thunderstorms frighten Gerrard’s dog, Dada. After months of research, Gerard discovered that aromatherapy is an effective and natural way to help pets de-stress due to their acute sense of smell and herbs’ healing properties. In addition to stress reduction, the candles also combat unpleasant odors.
There are more than a dozen candle scents available. Each one burns up to 40 hours and is handmade in the USA with all-natural soy wax.
Pricing: $22.00 ($3.67 / Ounce)
More Woof-tastic Gifts (For Pet Parents)
We hope you enjoyed these gift ideas and that your furry friends will get everything they deserve this holiday season. And be sure to check out our guide for the dog-obsessed humans on your list too.
Why Trust Us
Sadie’s love of pets started from an early age with her childhood Cocker Spaniel and cats and is a dog mom to a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She has tested and gifted dozens of dog gifts for more than a decade and has dog sat for friends and family her entire life. She loves celebrating dog birthdays and milestones and considers her dog an important member of the family. Sadie has covered dog-related topics for Canine Journal since 2012. Her dog advice and expertise have appeared in many notable media outlets, including The New York Times, Forbes, People, Reader’s Digest, Apartment Therapy, and dozens of regional news organizations.
