You know what bugs me most about gift guides?
Seeing the same stuff – year after year.
As a blogger, this can be tough, but I want to make an effort to bring the latest and most unique items and ideas well worth beyond their years. So, a gift guide that keeps on giving year after year.
And as a dog mom, who treats her furbabies as her children, they deserve the same amount of recognition in the mom world. We are moms, too, regardless of what the shame-groups say and believe. It is very much the same love for a dog as it is for humans, and that’s what matters.
Whether you’re a dog mom or dog lover looking for gift ideas for other fellow dog moms or lovers, or you’re gifting for your beloved furbaby (no shame here, paw-ma), then I’m really excited that you stumbled upon this year’s PAW-fect gift guide.
The Pawfect Gift Guide For Dog Moms, Dog Lovers + Your Dog
mugs + tees
- Custom (dog) portrait mug – What could be better than a morning pick-me-up with a portrait of your pup’s face? Seriously, I don’t know, either.
- Custom (dog mom + dog) portrait mug – The sentimental cuteness of this custom mom and dog portrait mug would simply be too cute to drink from, honestly.
- Rescue dog mom mug – Because everyone needs to know it – so why not show it off? #adoptdontshop
- Dog facts mug (choose your breed) – Hilariously cute, and one you can happily read over and over again to distract you from a day’s work.
- Assorted dog mugs (set of 4) – These reminded me of a 90s cartoon (yet can’t think of which), but I couldn’t help but think these to brighten any dog-lovers day from the start of a sip.
- #DogMom Sweatshirt – A. I thought this hooded sweatshirt had a unique and feminine design, and B. the dog mom hashtag is life.
- Sorry, I have plans with my dog (Tee) – You don’t need an excuse when it comes to spending time with your dog, so you might as well apologize in advanced.
- Dog mom life is ruff (Tee) – Who am I kidding? It’s full of sloppy wet kisses, and dog hair. But it’s worth it.
- Is your house on fire, Clark? (mom + dog matching set) – The fact this classic Christmas movie sweater came with a matching set for your dog – yeah, that’s going in the cart.
- Dog mom sweater – It’s comfy, it’s bold – enough said – you could wear this number for days. If anyone notices the dog hair, just say it’s Love sprinkles.
accessories
- Donut bow-tie (also in neckties!) – If this isn’t nose-booping-cuote (say it with me – “cue-yote” – now say it fast), then I don’t know what is. **Psst, there are many more patterns to choose from, and they also come in neckties!
- Colorful canvas tote (choose your breed) – I’m not really a bag kinda girl, but if you saw me with one it would look like this.
- Dog mom fanny – UMMM… yes, these are back IN, my friends. Don’t listen to those who tell you otherwise. Do you even realize how EASY it is to whip out treats at the drop of a dime using these bad boys? Plus – heyo – hands free FTW!
- Custom dog portrait cell phone case – LBH, I’m all about having a custom portrait of my dog on anything. So why not the one thing I carry with me everywhere?
- Tell your dog I said “Hi” decal – Not going to lie, if I saw this on someone’s car, I’d stop them to let their doggo know I said what’s up.
- Pooch selfie (phone attachment) – If your dog is obsessed with balls (like mine) and isn’t the most photogenic creature that walked this earth, trust me… you want this.
- Wireless home camera (with phone app) *have it!* – there’s no need to spend hundreds on the Furbo camera in order to spy on your pooch at home. Granted, this one doesn’t dispense treats but – hey, it does what you want it to do. You can check in on and talk to your dog through the phone app while you’re at work, or let them know you’ll be home soon (when you’re stuck in traffic).
- Easy peasy rechargeable nail grinder *have it!* – Look guys, stooopppp wasting your money (upwards of $25 some places) having the groomer or someone else do your pup’s nails. Granted, if they’ll let you. But the grinder (or dremmel) has also proven to be safer and more appealing to skittish dogs over nail clippers. This isn’t rocket science. If you can do your own, you can do your dog’s.
- Plaid leash + collar with bowtie and bandana set – Want to spruce up your pup’s attire without all the actual glitz, glam or… clothing? These add just a subtle touch of style without going crazy overboard.
- Waterpik dog wash attachment – If you bathe your dog from home – DO NOT pass this one up. I promise you, it will save your life….and on water.
- I love pethead oatmeal paw butter – Cracked, itchy paw pads? If you notice your dog needs a bit more TLC when it comes to their feetsies, they likely need something soothing with moisture.
- CertiPUR-US foam pet stairs *have it!* – Arthritis can become one of the first signs of aging in your dog. They may not be able to get up on the couch or bed – or your dog might be too small to jump up – but you can retain that little bit of independence with stairs. Use them for your couch, their favorite chair or even the bed. They come in a range of sizes and styles to suit your decor.
- Petsies custom stuffed pet – Pricey, no doubt, but if you want a special way to remember your pet by… this is the way to go. This company goes above and beyond to customize a stuffed animal to be a replica of your pet.
home accents
- “Home is where the dog is” wooden sign – A good reminder for all the times you will be cleaning up accidents, sweeping dog hair, or wiping up muddy paws on your clean floor.
- “Hope you like dog hair” welcome sign – Some people will say screaming, crying or poopy sticky hands are a welcoming gift in their home, but I’d like to think that if you aren’t finding dog hair in your water, on your toothbrush or stuck to the inside of your fridge… you aren’t doing dog life right.
- “Royal” or custom pet portrait – Believe it or not, there’s someone in my very, very extended family (on my husband’s side) who is a dog whisperer, or connects with animals that have passed on. She actually did a reading for my mom’s dog, and said that he is of royalty. So, in a sense, I believe all pets are of royal descent. And when I found these custom royal portraits – I couldn’t let it slip by. They really do make the perfect gift for dog lovers.
- Personalized welcome doormat – Because if anyone is coming to your doorstep, they should know what they’re getting themselves into (jokingggg).
- Artistic portrait throw pillow – Playful, colorful, adorable. How can you get just one? So hopefully you have more than one doggo.
- Swiffer dust, hair and dander vacuum – Guys, guys, guys. If you can help it, let something do the work for you. This isn’t a floor vacuum per say, but it does filter the air, those flying dust bunnies, dander and dog hair floating around. Perfect for those months where they shed…. a lot.
- Slow feeder dog bowl (+ free collapsible bowl) *have it!* – Don’t overthink it – just get it. This will save your dog’s life. As a former vet tech, I witnessed multiple cases of bloat due to fast-eating, which can be fatal. So it’s true when they say you should give 30 minutes prior and after eating before engaging in rigorous activity. And this is especially for your beloved pets. These slow feeder bowls also improve digestion and keep your dog from gulping or inhaling their food, which can potentially cause health-related issues.
- Water drinking fountain *have it!* – I know what this is like – taking a sip of water from a glass that had been sitting all night on my nightstand. The water tasted like it had this dusty, musty chemical-like film settled at the top. Yuck. Well, think of that the next time your dog drinks from their regular water bowl. Call me crazy – I don’t care – but your dog deserves moving, filtered, circulating water as much as you do. It will encourage them to drink more, if you find that this is a problem.
- Reversible couch cover *have it!* – Save your couch, save your sanity. And save your money from having to buy a new one. Win-win! No, but seriously, from dog hair, dirty paws and dander to sweat, drool and dingle-berries (for real, though), if you want to keep your couch smelling like a couch instead of a dog bed… this helps.
- Dognut donut bed – All dog beds have the same function – said no true dog lover, ever. Some dogs don’t like beds at all (like one of mine, who prefers the hard, cool floor), while others love plushy, soft or tempur pedic-like beds (like my other, who can curl into a ball the size into a third of his actual size). You can’t treat all dog beds the same – dogs have the same need for personal comfort as you. And you know what this donut dognut bed offers? Comfort and security. That means your beloved pooch will associate his bed as a safe space for more than just sleeping.
- Car safety dog seater – My dogs love car rides. And I even had someone wave me down one at a red light, telling me a story of how someone’s dog went through the windshield in an auto accident. This has stuck with me ever since, and that was years ago now. So regardless of your doubts, your pet’s safety is more at risk than yours (if you wear your seatbelt). And they’re safety matters, too.
toys, treats + more
- Holiday pop-and-lock-it treat dispenser *have it!* – Literally just bought this for my dog, and it’s going in his stocking this year. If your dog is treat motivated, or needs mental stimulation when it comes to toys – this is another good one. These treat-dispensing toys will keep your dog occupied for hours – while you’re at work, or when you leave the house to run errands – which can relieve anxiety and separation anxiety.
- TropiClean Natural Flea + Tick shampoo *have it!* – Ditch the harsh chemicals from those flea and tick topicals. Unless you live in the southeast, like me, or in deeply rural areas you really don’t deal with fleas or ticks year-round or in abundance, yet I find that a monthly or bi-monthly flea/tick bath works just as well for my dogs, without all the chemicals that can be known to cause serious health-related issues, like seizures.
- Richard’s Organics Itch Relief + Healing spray *have it!* – From seasonal allergies, rashes, chronic skin conditions, hot spots, or flea/insect bites, this natural relieving spray heals the skin on contact and keeps itching and inflammation at bay (which is the cause for itchiness, BTW). This is a necessity to always have on hand when you’re a dog parent!
- Wear + tear-resistant animal toy – I’m always on the lookout for wear-and-tear resistant toys (hello fellow toy destructive dog owners). Sure, the simple poly-filled stuff is nice, but sometimes it’s quality over cuteness if you want toys that last.
- Plush sloth dog toy – On the contrary, my other doggo really enjoys the soft plushness of toys and takes delicate care of them. Yes, it’s really cute, actually. And well, this is a sloth so it’s the bomb-diggity.
- Maple wood intense chewer stick – I liked the idea of a stick, because both of mine love chewing on sticks. But those split, which can cause serious harm when ingested. But this one is durable and made with real maple wood. *Note: not intended for destructive chewers, and pets should be monitored when given any chew bones and have water available at all times.
- Stella + Chewy’s Carnivore Crunch duck treats (other flavors available) – GRAIN FREE… because literally the only listed ingredients are meat, pumpkin and fenugreek seed and tocopherols. These aren’t technically dog treats, BUT, when you purchase the meal bags you get more bang for your buck over the amounts that actually come in the treat bags. *Just something to think about next time you’re looking to buy treats – skip the TREAT labels and buy the meal bags.
- Donald Trump dog toy (other political figures available) – Comical, and maybe slightly offensive? Probably. But still funny as hell, and I had to do it.
- Doggie Lawn – Living in Florida, we deal with our fair share of hurricanes every.single.year. And every year I always forget what I am to do about letting our dogs out to potty in the midst of 50+ mph wind gusts. So when I found Doggie Lawn, I thought what a genius idea for those who live in condos or apartments. It’s the little luxuries if you have a pup who can learn to use the bathroom on a plot of grass on your enclosed patio or balcony, or in a space indoors when they do not have the ability to go outside. *Note: this is a subscription service – though can be canceled and catered to your specific delivery desires. Simply change out the grass pad as needed.
- Embark DNA test – For all the mutts out there, I think it would be interesting to know their breed(s) down to the wire. So this would make a fun gift for any new dog parent or dog owner with specific or mixed breeds. The test insights can deliver information based on health, origin, and ancestry (yes, connect with others whose DNA matches closely to your dogs!)