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The 10 Best Dog Gifts

When looking for the perfect gift for your favorite canine, you may notice that you have nearly limitless options.

Dogs are the most popular pets in the United States, and pet product manufacturers have flooded the market with new products to meet the high demand.

You can find gifts as inexpensive as a cup of coffee and as expensive as premium electronics.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has in-depth reviews of the best dog gifts, so whether you need a gift for your family's dog or a gift for a friend's pet, we have you covered.

Reviews

Best Overall: Flying Squirrel Dog Toy by Chuckit!

  • Toy as a gift
  • Color: Orange/blue

We evaluated several excellent pet products, but the Chuckit! Flying Squirrel Dog Toy took the prize for the best overall dog gift. Playing frisbee with your dog is a fun activity that also provides important exercise, but standard frisbees are hard on your dog’s teeth and can cause dental problems.

The Chuckit! toy is made of soft polyester that will not cause your pet any pain or irritation when he or she bites down on it. It has raised edges that are easy to grab after your dog has coated the toy with slobber, and it floats, making it ideal for playing in the pool or pond.

When the sun goes down, the toy’s four glow-in-the-dark paws illuminate it. We like Chuckitsturdy !’s construction and lightweight material, as well as the low price. Our only concern with the toy is its durability in the presence of destructive dogs.

Chewing dogs can rip the fabric faster, but because the product is inexpensive, purchasing replacements is not a financial burden.

Pros

  • Canine teeth are not harmed.
  • Affordable
  • floats on the water
  • Luminous in the dark

Cons

  • Chewing can cause material damage.

 

Best Value: Port-A-Bowl Pet Bowl by Outward Hound

  • Water bowl as a gift
  • Color: Gray/green

Our pick for the best dog gift for the money is the Outward Hound Port-A-Bowl Pet Bowl. When you have to carry a bulky water bowl with you, providing water for your dog on the trail or in the park is a hassle. The Outward Hound folds flat and easily fits into a pocket or backpack.

It can hold water or food and has a handy side pocket for storing your dog’s favorite treats. The Por-A-Bowl holds 6 cups of water to satisfy the thirstiest pets, whether they are small or large. If you use it for wet food, keep it clean by washing it in the dishwasher with cold water and a mild detergent.

The product is a travel-friendly temporary water bowl, but it should not be used as your dog’s permanent bowl. The fabric eventually becomes saturated and begins to leak after filling the bowl with water. However, when you’re outside, the wet fabric should not cause any issues.

Pros

  • Excellent value
  • Folds flat for convenient storage
  • 6 cup water capacity
  • There is a side pocket for treats.

Cons

  • When a bowl holds water for an extended period of time, it leaks.

 

Tractive GPS Dog & Cat Tracker

  • GPS tracker as a gift
  • Color: White

If you live with a clever dog who can escape when you turn your back, you can use the Tractive Dog and Cat GPS Tracker to keep your pet from wandering too far. The tracker communicates with a connected device, allowing you to draw virtual boundaries around your property.

When the dog approaches the border, the device alerts you, and the collar emits a clicking sound to warn the dog not to go any further. When you get close to the animal, the tracker lights up to help you find it in the dark.

It’s extremely useful for dog owners who live on a property without a fence, but some customers were disappointed that it requires a monthly subscription fee to function properly.

Pros

  • Shows the location of your pet on a virtual map.
  • When the dog approaches the border, the device makes a clicking sound.
  • A connected device controls it.

Cons

  • The subscription fee raises the price.

 

Dog Paw Wax Musher’s Secret

  • Paw wax as a gift
  • Color: White

Dogs who spend extended periods of time outside must deal with hot pavement, scorching sand, ice-covered rocks, frozen vegetation, and other paw irritants. Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax can help protect your working dog’s paws.

The wax is composed of natural ingredients that form a semi-permeable seal around the pads while not inhibiting perspiration. It contains beeswax and vitamin E, which help to relieve tired paws and prevent cracking.

Although dog owners with active puppies are pleased with the product’s performance, a few dogs experienced allergic reactions to the wax. Although it is not a common occurrence, it is best to consult your veterinarian before using the wax on your puppy’s feet.

Pros

  • Protects paws from rough terrain.
  • To relieve tired feet, vitamin E and beeswax are used.
  • All-natural food-grade oils and waxes

Cons

  • Some dogs developed allergic reactions.

 

Furbo Dog Camera: Tossing Treats, Full HD WiFi Pet Camera, and 2-Way Audio

  • Pet camera as a gift
  • Color: White

If you’re looking for high-tech pet gadgets, consider the Furbo Dog Camera. It enables you to keep an eye on your dog while you’re away and interact with the voice controls. It connects to your WiFi network and displays a 1080 HD image of your house on your phone.

The Furbo app allows you to communicate with your pet and give them treats. The camera is ideal for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety and look forward to your return from work. It also allows dog owners to see what their pets are up to during the day when the house is empty.

However, some customers had difficulty keeping their devices in sync with the camera, and others complained that the video signal occasionally lagged.

Pros

  • Treats are distributed at breakneck speed.
  • Notifies you of barking

Cons

  • Expensive
  • The camera does not properly sync with the devices.

 

Dog Breed Identification and Health Condition Identification DNA Test

  • DNA test as a gift
  • Color: N/A

Discover your dog’s breed history and investigate potential health issues with the Embark Breed Identification and Health Condition Identification DNA Test. It examines 210 genetic health risks and contains information on 350 breeds, including wolves and coyotes.

After swabbing your dog’s cheek, you send the sample in for testing. After a few weeks, you’ll know whether your dog is a pure breed or a mix. Most customers were pleased with the DNA test, but some complained that the results took too long to arrive or were inaccurate.

The test provides valuable information about your dog, but the cost may be prohibitively expensive for some dog owners.

Pros

  • 350 breeds are screened
  • Identifies 210 genetic health problems

Cons

  • Expensive
  • The results are delayed.
  • Some results appeared to be incorrect.

Choosing the Best Dog Gifts: A Buyer's Guide

We’ve discussed several excellent dog gifts, but you should consider a few more factors before making your final decision.

Preferences of Pet Parents

Consider the preferences of a friend or family member’s pet before purchasing the first appealing product you see. Are they bothered by squeaky toys or jingly gifts?

Will a premium gift outperform the gifts they’ve given their dog? To avoid conflicts or hurt feelings, look for gifts that are appropriate for the owner’s age, personality, and preferences.

Gifts for Specific Breeds

Unfortunately for owners of large breed dogs, many toys and devices are designed for smaller dogs. We looked at several products for all dogs, but the sweater, ball launcher, squeaking cow, and bucket of balls were only appropriate for small to medium-sized breeds.

Although larger dogs may be able to play with the toys safely, the manufacturers recommend only using the toys for smaller puppies to avoid choking hazards. If you have a large beast in your home, carefully read the product warnings to ensure the toy or equipment is safe for your pet.

Customer Support

If you’ve used Chewy before, you’re probably aware of their excellent customer service and willingness to go out of their way to assist their customers. When you have a problem with a pet product, you may have to deal with the manufacturer’s customer service representatives, which can be far less pleasant than speaking with Chewy.

Some businesses will only respond via email, while others may take weeks or months to respond. Hopefully, you will not need to contact a manufacturer about a problem, but if you do, brace yourself for a minor ordeal.

Conclusion

The products we reviewed are among the best dog products available this year, but our favorite is the Chuckit! Flying Squirrel Dog Toy.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) liked how light it is, making it safer for your dog’s teeth than a frisbee, and how it floats and glows in the dark.

The Outward Hound Port-A-Bowl Pet Bowl is our best value pick.

It fits easily in your pocket and expands to hold 6 cups of water.

In the end, we appreciate that you selected BestForPets (bestforpets.org) among dozens of other websites to learn about the best dog gifts.

Hopefully, this article has assisted you in selecting the best product for your pet.

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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