Make your dog’s holiday special with the best gifts for dogs! Check out this fabulous list of interactive toys, mental stimulation toys and games, and grooming essentials they’ll absolutely love.
- These are truly the best gifts for dogs
- Quick note about human food
- The best gifts for Dogs Toys for mental stimulation
- Lickin’ Layers
- WOOF Pupsicle
- Pupsicle Treat Tray Mold
- Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Puzzle
- Bob-A-Lot
- Wobbler Toy
- Hide A Squirrel, XL
- Hide A Squirrel, Small
- Replacement Squeakin’ Squirrels
- Snuffle Ball
- Interactive Treat Dispenser
- Challenge Slider Treat Puzzle
- Dog Treat Puzzle
- Smart Treat Puzzle
- Splash Pad
- The best gifts for dogs Interactive toys
- Tug Toy
- Rope Toys
- Ultra Fetch Stick
- Squeakair Ball
- Recall Training Agility Lead
- The best gifts for dogs Chew toys for aggressive chewers
- Benebone Ring – Bacon Flavor
- Benebone Fish – Salmon Flavor
- The best gifts for dogs Treats & meal time stimulation
- Fun Flow Feeder Bowl
- Lick Mat
- Zuke’s Dog Training Treats
- Charlee Bear Crunchy Treats
- PB & Banana Treats
- Grooming supplies make great gifts
- TropiClean 2-in-1 Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
- Tearless Shampoo
- Kong Zoom Groom Bath Brush
- Furminator Deshedding Tool
- Grooming Gloves
- Hypoallergenic Wipes
- Upright Deep Cleaner
- Celebrate your dog with the best dog gifts
- The best gifts for dogs are fun to buy and use
- Frequently asked questions about the best gifts for dogs
These are truly the best gifts for dogs
The holiday season is the perfect time to spoil the four-legged members of your family.
Dogs bring so much joy to our lives, so why not treat them to something extra special for the holidays (or any time of year!)?
I have spent one billion hours testing out the best gifts for dogs over the past several years for longevity and value and these are the very best of the best.
I am beside myself knowing how much your dogs will love these picks, too.
Quick note about human food
In many of the toys, I share how I will add things like peanut butter, pumpkin puree, carrots, bananas, apples, and blueberries.
First, always check with your vet about what YOUR dog can have.
I give small amounts of each food individually before ever combining in the event of allergies. Always use appropriate caution and care when introducing your pooch to human foods.
The best gifts for Dogs: Toys for mental stimulation
My FAVORITE category of dog toys are ones for mental stimulation.
Dogs need mental stimulation just as much as physical exercise. Engaging their brains can reduce boredom, add to their quality of life, and even prevent naughty behavior.
I have tried probably 5x the amount shown below and these ones are the BEST ONES.
Lickin’ Layers
My most favorite one of all. This toy has three layers and the layers spin. You can add kibble or treats and your dog can move the layers to get them all. BUT, my FAVORITE way to use this is to add one serving of my dog’s food (so it’s a meal), a little peanut butter and pumpkin puree, and then add about 1 cup of water then FREEZE it. Once it’s frozen, it’s an easy 45-60 minutes of entertainment for my dog. THE. BEST.
WOOF Pupsicle
This thing is awesome (and it goes with the yellow molds below). This green ball has two parts that screw together. You unscrew it and add in a frozen mold, then re-screw and give to your pup. Depending on the age of your dog, this can be 10-30 minutes of entertainment.
Pupsicle Treat Tray Mold
This mold will make four frozen treats for your dog. My favorite method is to add a swipe of peanut butter in each mold, a handful of kibble, maybe some pumpkin puree, and sometimes a piece of a carrot, banana, or apple. Top with water. Freeze and pop one out at a time to go with the green pupsicle mold above. I even bought a second mold so I can “batch” 8 at a time so they’re always ready to go.
Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Puzzle
Goodness I love this. Just like the ones above, I add some combination of peanut butter, pumpkin puree, apples, bananas, carrots, and blueberries, then water and freeze. I have two of these and they make for a perfect 10-20 minute boredom buster.
Bob-A-Lot
This toy is magnificent. It’s weighted on the bottom and bobs around. You unscrew the yellow lid to add your kibble/treats, then you adjust the window on the purple part of the toy to adjust how quickly the treats are dispensed (a wide open window = treats come out quickly, a narrower window opening = the treats come out slowly). There’s even a second adjustable window under the yellow cap to adjust difficulty level, too.
Wobbler Toy
This is similar to the toy above (weighted bottom and treats dispense through the hole), but the window isn’t adjustable. This is ideal for younger puppies who need treats to come out easily. But, I also use it with my bigger dogs by adding a small stuffed animal or tennis ball into the toy so that the treats take a little longer to come out.
Hide A Squirrel, XL
This toy is adorable! The little plush squirrels “hide” in the log and your pup has to use their paws and mouth to get them out. Once they’re out, you can pop them right back in. Each of the squirrels squeak for extra fun and excitement. Sometimes I even add a sprinkle of kibble inside for extra fun.
Hide A Squirrel, Small
The same toy as above, just for small breed dogs or baby puppies.
Replacement Squeakin’ Squirrels
If your puppy ruins any of the squirrels, these replacement squirrels are perfect for keeping the fun going.
Snuffle Ball
OBSESSED with this. I had tried several snuffle mats, but my dogs tore them apart pretty quickly. This on the other hand rolls around making it trickier for them to disassemble. Tuck kibble or treats into the flaps of the toy, then invite your pup to get them out. This toy is a BLAST! I use it sometimes when I’m watching TV and add more kibble when it runs out. AND, I toss it in the washing machine, too. Cannot love this more.
Interactive Treat Dispenser
This one our most recent addition that we have been loving for several months now! Add treats into the toy, and your pup pushes the toy around to get pieces to fall out. It’s hard to tell in the photos just how cute this toy is.
Challenge Slider Treat Puzzle
This was my first intro to mental stimulation dog puzzles and it was love at first sight. This toy is FANTASTIC! There is a tray on the bottom that slides out with 24 little cavities for kibble or treats, and after you fill it, you slide it back in. Then, your dog slides the blue pieces with their nose or paw to open each space one at a time. This toy is fun!
Dog Treat Puzzle
This toy is similar to the one above, but a little trickier for dogs who need an extra challenge.
Smart Treat Puzzle
This one is the simplest of them all and the perfect introduction to mental stimulation puzzles for young or new puppies. You simply add some kibble or treats into each of the cavities, add the little tube, and then invite your puppy to push the tubes over to get to the treats. Simple and precious.
Splash Pad
It’s 52 degrees while I type this, but before you know it, warm weather will be here and this splash pad is a blast! It connects to your hose and you control how high the water goes by how much water you let in. And – LOL to the photo – but this doesn’t spray water 10 feet in the air like the photo. It can go above the dog’s heads, but you can also make it really low for younger or smaller pups.
The best gifts for dogs: Interactive toys
Interactive toys strengthen the bond between you and your dog, turning every moment into meaningful play.
The long leash is one of the greatest pet ideas because you can play long-distance fetch at the park. Whenever I share me using it online with my puppies, I get 745874835 messages asking for the link. (AND, I throw it in the washing machine all of the time.)
Tug Toy
I was gifted this tug toy years ago and it’s wonderful. I keep this at a high level so that it’s only for tug time (versus leaving it low and accessible where my dog might rip it when I’m not looking). Such a fun toy for tug and the handle and wonderful for the human on one side and the dog’s mouth on the other. Plus, it’s machine washable.
Rope Toys
Large, classic ropes for tug. I have gifted these several times as well!
Ultra Fetch Stick
This fetch stick is a blast and a fun variation to playing fetch with a ball. It’s inexpensive, easy to clean, and stands out really well in green grass. Oh, and it just just the right amount of weight to it that you can make it go far!
Squeakair Ball
This was another gift years ago that I love sooo much. These squeaky tennis balls are fun for fetch, and I always buy the large size so they’re larger than regular tennis balls and don’t pose the same kind of choking risk.
Recall Training Agility Lead
One of the best purchases, ever. I have the 50-foot version of this leash and I use it nonstop. I use it at the park, at the lake, at the beach, at the river, etc. It’s perfect for long-line fetch, recall practice, and keeping dogs on a leash but letting them go out and explore at bodies water, too. It’s fantastic, AND I toss it in the washing machine when done and it comes out beautifully.
The best gifts for dogs: Chew toys for aggressive chewers
My labs have loved these and they can withstand aggressive chewing.
Benebone Ring – Bacon Flavor
Benebones are consistently on lists for people’s favorite dog toys, and they definitely can withstand your toughest chewers. They can get poky, but it has never seemed to bother any of my dogs.
Benebone Fish – Salmon Flavor
Same brand as above, just a different shape. These come in a bunch of fun shapes and flavors.
The best gifts for dogs: Treats & meal time stimulation
These are some treats that I love AND some fun ideas to make mealtime more interesting (and longer lasting).
Fun Flow Feeder Bowl
If you have a dog that eats too quickly, a slow feeder bowl could be perfect for you. Add your dog’s normal meal amount into the bowl and watch how they can’t inhale their food the same way as when it’s in a normal bowl.
Lick Mat
These lick mats are wonderful! They have suction cups on the back, so you can attach these to a wall or window. I use these by spreading on thin layers of peanut butter and pumpkin and freezing. I normally attach these to my back window. Note: Your dog will drool when they use these, so make sure you do this above an easily wipeable surface (ex: concrete, tile floor, linoleum, etc.). I have even seen people stick these to the shower wall when bathing their dogs.
Zuke’s Dog Training Treats
These little treats are perfect for training! They’re small – smaller than a dime – and come in tons of flavors + different sized bags. I have tried several of the flavors with my dogs and have purchased the salmon one many times.
Charlee Bear Crunchy Treats
Another fun treat for dogs that are fun for variation. These ones are crunchy!
PB & Banana Treats
I discovered Bocce’s Bakery this year after discovering their treats at Costco. They have so many adorable flavors and designs for the holidays, too.
Grooming supplies make great gifts
Grooming gifts aren’t just practical – they’re a thoughtful way to show your love.
TropiClean 2-in-1 Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
I have tried a ton of dog shampoos and I love this one the most by a landslide. While everyone loves a dog who smells like fresh shampoo from a mile away, dogs’ noses are much more sensitive than ours and those overly perfumed shampoos can be overwhelming to dogs. This scent is gorgeous and makes your dog smell amazing without making them smell like they walked into a perfume factory.
Tearless Shampoo
And this shampoo is perfect for baby puppies or for washing your older dog’s face. I always joke that this is the shampoo I use when it’s time for the facial time of the bath.
Kong Zoom Groom Bath Brush
This rubber scrub brush is perfect for massaging in shampoo during baths AND can help with getting extra fur out. I still have and use the one we bought for my pet dog back when I was in middle school 20ish years ago.
Furminator Deshedding Tool
The best dog brush there is. The Furminaor has been a legend forever and it’s still the best thing I have ever used. I love, love, love this brush.
Grooming Gloves
These textured gloves are great for using when bathing your pup for an extra deep clean and brush. These are also wonderful for using outside in lieu of a traditional brush sometimes. It doesn’t replace a brush, but it’s a fun way to switch things up.
Hypoallergenic Wipes
I leave these in the car in case my pup’s paws get dirty when we’re out and about. These probably won’t be bad to leave by the front door for when you come home from walks, too.
Upright Deep Cleaner
This thing is the love of my life. 😂 Dogs sometimes have accidents, and this cleaner makes cleaning the messes a breeze. I also use these just for general cleaning, too. I couldn’t imagine having puppies without this.
Celebrate your dog with the best dog gifts
Dogs bring unconditional love, loyalty, and joy into our lives every day.
Buying them thoughtful gifts is a way to celebrate the special place they hold in your family.
It’s also an opportunity to thank them for the immeasurable happiness they bring to your home (and heart!).
The best gifts for dogs are fun to buy and use
From brain-teasing toys to cozy grooming supplies, there are plenty of options to make their tails wag.
This guide is all about finding the perfect gift that matches your pup’s personality and needs.
I cannot wait to hear what your dog loved!
Frequently asked questions about the best gifts for dogs
My experience with these gifts have been with labrador retrievers. For many of the toys, they come in sizes to best suit the needs and sizes of your dogs.
Dogs need mental stimulation toys to prevent boredom and destructive behavior, encourage problem-solving skills, support emotional well-being, provide physical and mental exercise, strengthen the bond with their owners, and aid in training and cognitive development.
Through purchasing and test lots and lots of toys over several yeatrs.
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