DIY : Holiday Gift Baskets for Pets

With the Holidays just around the corner your probably checking your list twice to make sure you have all your shopping complete. Did you remember to pick up a little something for Fido? For some people pets are considered part of their family, and even though they might not expect a present, it is always a welcomed jester. The question is, what should you buy. You will find plenty of holiday novolity items at your local pet store, however you might want to avoid buying these. Every pet is different, and not every pet likes the same thing. For instance what good is a tennis ball to a toy breed puppy, or a small squeaky toy to a large breed dog that could eat it?

Holiday gift baskets make wonderful gifts for pets, and they can be very practical as well. Making your own gift basket is simple to do. First think about the items the pet uses. Try to use brands that the animal is familiar with if you can when it comes to food or treats. Buy products that the pet owner needs so that you save them money in pet care products. For example, here are the items I placed in a gift basket for a dog.

6 Cans of Alpo dog food (this is what the dog normally ate)

A new food dish ( I happened to know that his dish needed replacing)

A small blanket (a 50" X 40" throw is great for dogs to )

A bottle of shampoo and conditioner

A kong (his favorite toy that he lost a few weeks before)

A new leash

and a gift card for $10.00 (to be used at a local pet store)

These were all items I knew he used, so not only was it a cute gift, it was a practical gift as well. I also like to use baskets that can be reused such as small wicker waste baskets. Waste baskets come in handy for storing toys or bones. If you really think about it, there is a lot of things you can fill a gift basket for a pet with. You can also use coupons for items like food, and find them easily at local discount stores suck as K-Mart or Walmart.

You are not limited to just making gift baskets for dogs or cats, you can make them for practically and pet. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

Birds: seed, new water & feed dishes, perch covers, mirrors & bell toys, millet sprays, treats, etc...

Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice, and other small pets: feed, Timothy hay, treats, chew sticks, hides, tubes, tunnels, and other cage additions, etc...

Lizards, Geckos, Snakes, and other reptiles: Hides, canned, treats, live feed, artificial plants & sticks, hides, extra UV light bulbs, etc...

These are just a few ideas to get you started. By making a basket with practical items that the animal uses your not only giving the pet a present, but your also giving it's owner a little extra gift as well. Gift baskets are also a great way to create a starter package for someone who might be receiving a new pet as well. If you handy you might also consider baking some pet treats, there are plenty of recipes online. Or perhaps you can make a pet sized quilt to add to your gift basket. The possibilities are endless.