Best Gifts For Dog Lovers: 13 Ideas To Woof About

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works.

Dog with party hat: Best Gifts for Dog Lovers

Are you shopping for a holiday or birthday gift for someone who is a huge dog fan? Or perhaps you’re looking to get your pet sitter or vet a little something for the holidays, but don’t know where to start.

These gifts for dog lovers are sure to please both dogs and their parents alike. Coming up with gift ideas for dog owners can be a challenge, especially if you don’t own a pet. But these ideas are great for any occasion, including dog Christmas gifts! Read on to see our top 12 dog gift recommendations for the dog lovers on your list.

Dog DNA & Health Test

Embark Dog DNA Test

View Embark Dog DNA Test on Amazon

What could be better than finding out the breeds that make up your dog? A Dog DNA and health test can help with this and can also help detect potential risks for diseases that are passed down through the puppy’s parents.

Once the recipient receives the DNA kit, they’ll simply swab the inside of the dog’s mouth then mail it back in a prepaid envelope. Then, in less than a month, they’ll get a detailed report back including a copy that can be shared with the vet.

While there are many DNA kits on the market, our pick for best Dog DNA Kit is Embark.

Price

$159.00

Petsies Pillows

Visit Petsie’s Website

Lily & Barley with their faces on a pillow.

Petsies pillows are an adorable way to personalize home decor and give pups a plush place to snuggle. You can upload your own design or pick from one of their templates and add a pet photo.

They have a quick turnaround time (seven days) and are made and printed in the USA. Petsies also make custom stuffed animals of your pet, pet-shaped pillows, and other gifts, including socks, keychains, and more.

If you’re looking for a custom printed gift at an affordable price point, Petsies is a perfect option.

Our Personal Experience

“We ordered a custom throw pillow from Petsies with our two adorable dogs’ on it. We also added a cute little saying about the unconditional love they bring into our lives. The pillow arrived quickly and is even cuter than we imagined! It makes a wonderful addition to my office, where I can always see their cute little faces, even when they are not actually there. This would also make a great gift for your pet-loving friends. Such a sweet and personal touch.”

– Michelle S., Canine Journal

Price

Square & small pet-shaped pillows start at: $49

Pet Fleece Blanket

Pet Fleece Blanket

View PetCanva’s Website

What better way to commemorate your canine’s cuteness than on a cuddly blanket to curl up together on the couch? PetCanva takes a photo of your pet (or pets) and turns it into art that you can print on a variety of high-quality products, including fleece blankets.

Just upload a well-lit photo, and within two days, you’ll receive a design of your pet from PetCanva’s art team. You can then pick the background and see a digital mockup of your gift with various pattern and color options. Once you submit your order, the product prints and ships to you in about a week. PetCanva offers free shipping, or you can pay an additional expedited shipping fee. PetCanva products comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Our Personal Experience

“We got the opportunity to try out PetCanva and were super impressed with the process from start to finish. The artwork turned out beautiful (not cheesy at all). You even have the option to download a digital file for an additional fee. We printed a photo of our dog, Georgie, with his brother on a fleece blanket. I picked a more neutral background, however, they have many options to choose from (solid colors, text, patterns). The blanket arrived within a week. It’s super soft, and the size is substantial.”

– Sadie C., Canine Journal

Price

Starts at $84.95 for a Twin/Full Blanket (other custom gifts available)

Pet Vacuum

Dyson V8 Animal+ Vacuum

View Dyson V8 Animal+ Cordless Stick Vacuum on Amazon

Pet hair? Don’t care!? But guests just might. Well, you know what doesn’t suck is a vacuum that is specialized to suck up pet hair and debris. This is just the thing your pet loving friend needs in their life (but probably would never buy for themselves). We reviewed several vacuums for pet hair, but the Dyson V8 Animal+ Cordless Stick Vacuum is one of our favorites (and used by our co-founders). While not the most glamorous gift, your friends will thank you for helping them later. And, next time you visit, you might be thankful too!

We got the Dyson Animal Cordless Stick to replace our corded stick vacuum, and having the freedom to move around so easily is life-changing!! It also cleans up every dog hair it meets and somehow makes cleaning, dare I say, a little fun. I would strongly recommend this for anyone seeking a new vacuum, but especially pet owners. – Michelle S. Canine Journal

Price

$399.99

Pet Cam

Pawbo

View Pawbo on Amazon

Pet Cams are the purrr-fect gift for someone who loves their pet because it allows them to take their pup with them wherever they go! Just plug in the camera and connect it to WiFi.

Depending on the camera, the app may allow them to have two-way communications with their dog (which is especially ideal for dogs with separation anxiety who can be troublemakers while away).

There are a number of live video cameras that range in price and features, but our favorite for dogs is the Pawbo because it has a built-in laser dot chasing game, treat dispenser, and multiple sound effects (cat, birds, etc.). It’s on the pricey side, so be sure to check out our full Pet Cams review to learn more about the other camera options, too.

Price

Check Amazon for availability

Dog Fitness Tracker

Fitbark and iPhone

View FitBark on Amazon

Fitness trackers are all the rage these days, but did you know they make them for dogs too? You can even sync them up with human activity trackers to have everyone’s data all in one place.

The small tracker clips onto the collar (or comes as part of a collar). Then it syncs with your smartphone’s app to transmit data including the dog’s activity level and sleep patterns. Other tracked health information may include heart rate and more.

Not only is it fun to compete and make sure they reach their activity levels, but it can also help dog owners detect potential illnesses when there is a change in behavior. Our top pick is the FitBark which comes in a cute little bone shape in a variety of colors. This is a great idea for the active dog lover in your life.

Price

$69.95

Automatic Dog Feeder

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder

View PetSafe Feeder on Amazon

An automatic food feeder might sound like a modern luxury, but it’s actually a great solution for busy pup parents (or those who don’t like to get out of bed to feed their pet, ha).

The PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder allows you to schedule up to 12 meals in advance which could reduce the burden on a dog sitter (or the need/cost altogether if the pet has a doggy door to relieve itself).

Another benefit is the slow release feature which helps dogs who tend to gobble down their food too fast (an unhealthy and potentially dangerous habit). This item comes in at a higher price but comes with a stainless steel bowl (and it’s dishwasher safe too!). And if you’re feeling extra generous, you can even throw in a dog food auto-ship service!

Price

$89.95

How Does The PetSafe Feeder Work?

Check out the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feeder in action in the short video below.

Pooper Scooper

Nature’s Miracle Jaw Scoop

View Jaw Scoop on Amazon

Sh*t happens, and when it does your dog-loving friend will be thankful they won’t have to bend over backward to pick it up thanks to Nature’s Miracle Jaw Scoop, our #1 pick in our Best Pooper Scooper. It’s lightweight, picks up from all surfaces, and has non-stick plastic, so your friend won’t be stuck in a stinky situation. It’s an affordable and memorable gift idea!

Price

Check Amazon for availability

Donate To An Animal Shelter

ASPCA Giftcard

Donate to the ASPCA

Making a donation on behalf of your friend in her dog’s honor is an excellent alternative to standard gift-giving. Consider local shelters or the ASPCA (read our interview with ASPCA’s CEO to learn about some of the great work they’re doing to help shelter animals all over the country).

Most animal rescue organizations have online donation forms that allow you to pick the amount. As an added bonus, the ASPCA even lets you pick out a card design to be emailed or mailed to the recipient!

Price

Varies (you select the amount you wish to donate)

Dog Adult Coloring Book

Dog coloring book

View Doodle Dogs on Amazon

Coloring books are a fun way to de-stress after a long day. Your friend can doodle away while curled up with a cup of tea with their pet (or wine — we’re not judging). And they can even frame their artwork or put it on the fridge!

The Doodle Dogs adult coloring book features 68 pages of hand-drawn designs for all difficulty levels (perfect for kiddos too!). And with a low price tag, you can brighten your friend’s day without spending a lot of green. This option may even leave room in the budget to throw in some markers to go with it!

Price

$6.99

Dog Gift Basket

Dog Gift Basket

Visit Gift Baskets on Amazon

They make gift baskets and boxes for just about every interest, and dog loving is no exception. Amazon.com offers a number of different doggie care packages to provide the ultimate gift for a dog fanatic.

A basket might come with an assortment of treats, toys, cleaning, and care products and some may even include a custom item to create a memorial item from Fido’s paw print! Most come packed up nicely in a pup-tastic basket or cute dog-themed box. There’s no doubt you’ll stay out of the doghouse with this set of unique gifts for dogs!

Price

$39.99 ($39.99 / Count)

Dog Canvas Print

Canvas on Demand Boxer Print

Visit Canvas On Demand Website

Did your dog-loving friend recently buy a new house? Dog-inspired art is a thoughtful idea to spruce up their doghouse. The designs come in all sizes and designs, including modern prints (like the one pictured, pun intended) to more traditional Art Deco pieces.

Canvas on Demand sells high-quality prints, and you can browse by breed or search the database of collections from hundreds of artists. Don’t know what your friend’s taste is? You can give a gift card and let them decide.

Price

Varies by design and size

Dog Mobile Phone Case

Shutterfly Dog iPhone Case

Visit Shutterfly Website

Have a friend who loves to talk while walking their pup? A personalized phone case puts their pup where all eyes can see when they are out and about. Using Shutterfly, just upload a photo (tip: you might find a good one on social media) and then select a design and phone type to get it underway.

The phone cases are made with scratch-resistant plastic in case your friend drops it at the dog park. And don’t worry they have cut out holes for the camera so they can continue to snap away (while the dog smiles back at itself on the back of the phone).

Price

$44.99

Pet Sitting Service

Rover gift card

Visit Rover.com Website

Last (but certainly not least) is one of our favorite ideas: giving your pet loving friend pup sitting services via Rover.com. Depending on the amount you select your friend can redeem for a variety of services including dog walking, grooming and overnight stays. Users can search for qualified dog sitters who can watch after their pup at a moment’s notice. They even have the option to have sitters drop off, pick up or stay in their home. This is a gift that both your friend and her dog will no doubt appreciate!

Price

$25, $50 or $100 increments

Tagged With:

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments