Great Gift Ideas for Dog Owners

If you know somebody in your life who is a dog owner, which many of us do, then you may be thinking of what to give somebody on their birthday or during the holidays. I'm a dog owner myself, and here are some great ideas to get you started.

1. Pet Store Gift Cards
As a pet owner myself, I can definitely make use of a gift card to my dog's favorite stores, like Petco, Petsmart and Burton's Total Pet. Gift cards can really go a long way for the recipient. It's also a fun time for the owner to bring their pet into the store while shopping. I do it all the time with my dog; he looks forward to pet store trips with me. A gift card could help fund dog food, treats, grooming supplies, toys and more. This would be a great gift for a new dog owner as well, to help them get started with buying supplies.

2. Personalized Photo Frame
If you know somebody, like me, who loves to take numerous pictures of their dog, then a nice personalized picture frame might be a great choice for your next dog lover's gift. Personalization Mall and Pet Joy are both great websites for such gifts.

3. Reusable Shopping Bags and/or Tote Bag
In today's world, more and more people are going "green", and reusable shopping bags are becoming more popular. You have a couple options for this gift idea. First, you could purchase a bunch of reusable shopping bags for the dog lover's favorite pet store, (I have about 10 for Petco alone!) or search online for websites that offer personalized tote bags. Again, Personalization Mall is a great website for this idea too. My dog eats a mixture of dry and canned food, so when we stop by the pet store to stock up on his canned food, it's nice to know I have a reusable bag to put all of the cans in, rather than a bunch of plastic bags that risk ripping and having the cans fall everywhere.

4. Items for Outside
From welcome mats to flags, there's a huge amount of choices for the outdoor dog lover in your life. I came across a really cute welcome mat, that says "Wipe Your Paws" in the Drs. Foster and Smith catalog. I've also seen flags in front of people's homes, with particular dog breeds on them. If the dog lover you know is also a gardener, you could give them a garden welcome sign, with the dog breed on it.

5. Gift Basket of Treats and Toys
I think this is a great idea to give to a new dog owner, who is just bringing home their new puppy or adult dog. Somebody who never had a dog before will need supplies including a brush, bowls, dental care supplies, and more. If it's a puppy, you can also include puppy "pee" pads for housebreaking, as well as a variety of chew toys to help the puppy through the teething stage. My dog as a puppy was a big fan of Nylabone chews for puppies, and now, as an 80 lb adult dog, he loves Purina Busy Bones and Pedigree Jumbones. Dentastix are also great for the teeth, as an occasional treat. In the gift basket, you could include coupons for dog treats, food and pet store in-store coupons. Owning a dog can be pricey, and coupons are always great to have on hand.

6. Doggy Day Spa and Grooming Gift Certificate
Doggy "spas" and grooming shops are great if you don't have the means of bathing and grooming your dog in your own home. For me, I bathe my dog and do all of his brushing, dental care and ear care at home, but take him to the groomer for nail care - one thing I don't dare try on my own. Services at such places can be pricey, so it would be a generous idea to give the gift of a certificate to your dog lover friend. The dog is sure to love going to the spa, just like we do! If you live in the Pittsburgh area, I HIGHLY recommend Precious Paws Salon, with 2 locations in the area.