So often we think about gifts as an object, but gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Giving the gift of an experience will be remembered for years to come. Plan a dog-friendly hike, a pet-friendly picnic, or a weekend camping adventure. There are many great resources to find the perfect pet-friendly spots for hiking, camping, and parks. BringFido.com is a great resource for pet-friendly travel across the United States and all over the world. While international travel may be out of your gift giving budget, it is fun to see all the places you could go!!! When giving an experience gift frame a photo, download a brochure or find a small accessory you can wrap with a note that tells you pet-lover all about the experience. For some ideas visit our Outdoor Pet Shop!

When we think about gift giving, running through your recipient’s hobbies or passion is a great place to start. If they are a huge football fan, nature enthusiast, or cyclist, tie it together with a pet-friendly product or event to create the ideal gift. Choose a dog football, pet jersey, or bowl that features their favorite team; a book, pet-friendly hiking accessory, or a dog saddlebag filled with their favorite treats; or a pair of dog goggles, fun graphic tee, or bike accessory.

Everyone loves a good party, why not plan on with pet’s in mind. Make it pet-friendly and change this up a bit by including pet treats, pet-friendly decor, and games. The surprise is truly the gift and the party is the fun part for everyone. We love planning, hosting and attending a pet party and if your pet-love does too, make it a group gift and get everyone involved. Not sure where to start, here is a great article – Plan a Pet Party.

Homemade goodies are a gift that goes straight to the heart and goes right to the tummy. When you make it yourself, not only do you feel a sense of accomplishment, but so does everyone who gets to enjoy your gift. Create a batch of homemade dog treats, make dog-friendly birthday cake and one people-friendly cake, or whip up a batch of organic pet food. It is important to know if there are any pet or people diet restrictions and to do your homework on what is safe for pet. Search the internet for great recipes, pick up a pet-cookbook, or start with a pet-treat kit. Start with our Pet Kitchen Shop to be inspired.

Everyone loves to be pampered and that includes pets and their people. Offer to wash, dry, and style your dog-lover’s buddy, give a gift certificate at your local pet spa or groomer, or gather pet grooming supplies and make a gift basket. Some pets need a lot of grooming and owners spend a lot of time and money grooming their pets, one of these kind ideas will be much welcomed. To browse around visit our Pet Grooming and Spa Shop!

Entertaining our pets is something we all love to do, so something a little different is a welcome gift. Set up an obstacle course fit for your dog-lover’s dog breed with treats hidden away for each goal met, obstacle course supplies, or a book on training are all fun ideas especially for pet-lovers with pups who have lots of energy and are ripe for learning new things. Obviously not a great gift for all dog-lovers, this one is a little specialized, but it makes training fun and it is a gift that keeps giving. Visit our Outdoor Pet Play Shop to find inspiration if this gift idea hits home or choose a book on dog tricks and challenge them to show off what their pup learns.

A great gift to give if you are a photographer or have a passion for taking photos. Plan a photo shoot, give a gift certificate from a local photographer who specializes in pet photography, or order a large canvas print of a great photo they added to Instagram or Facebook. Not sure where to begin pick up a book on dog photography like Dogtography and your gift will also enhance your pet photography skills. Snapfish.com is a great resource for photography printing and we love allover canvas prints they feature. Here are some great tips from Shotkit.com that will take your pet photos to the next level.

For those of us who have to travel without our pets, have the added worry about their care is always there. We don’t want to inconvenience anyone, but we also don’t want to leave our pets with someone they don’t know or who we don’t trust. Tucking away an offer of a weekend of sitting or a week of house and pet sitting might just be the best gift ever. A gift that has no cost to you, but is worth so much. Here is a fun Dog Sitting Certificate you can personalize.

Art speaks to each one of us in its own way and art also communicates what cannot always be said with words. If you are looking for a unique gift for someone who is truly passionate about their pets, a particular dog breed, or all animals, consider a piece of art. Commission a local artist to paint a custom dog work, purchase a piece of art by a famous dog artist, like Sally Muir, or choose a reproduction piece of animal art that fits your pet-lover’s vibe. Find a local show that features artist with who specialize in dog art like The Dog Show, attend Art Show for Dogs, or find a local pet artist featured at a local gallery.
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There are more gift choices than ever for dog-lovers, but nailing the right one is the key. A dog themed gift seems simple, but not all gifts are created equal and just grabbing something with a paw on it doesn’t fly with us. Make it personal like a Set of High Ball Glasses from our Pet Beverage Shop, Bookends for book-lovers from our Pet Bookend Shop, or something to wear from our Pet-Lover Fashion Shop.