10 Best Gifts for Dog Lovers

When you’re a dog owner, you are constantly on the hunt for the essentials to keep your pet happy and healthy. From optimal feeding vessels to safety gadgets, the list of basics can easily build up. To help out the dog owner and dog lover in your life, add to their mix of necessities with a useful gift. And if you’re buying for the dog owner who’s got it all, perhaps a novelty gift that celebrates their love for their fur babies is also a welcomed option. Whether you’re gifting the dog or the human, we’ve got you covered with the choice items below.

Choosing the Perfect Gifts for People Who Love Dogs

Before we dive into the best gifts for dog owners and dog lovers, it’s a good idea to decide if you want to go practical or novelty. No matter what, we know you’ll lean toward thoughtful options. Once you’ve decided which route you want to take—useful or fun—one of the most important things to factor in is safety. Make sure the product you’re purchasing is not only safe for the dog, but also the rest of the household. If you are gifting a gadget, gather other buyers’ feedback by reading reviews. Skim for things like efficacy, quality, durability, and if something caused anyone—dog or human—to be ill. You should also vet the brand and retailer. Favor well-known brands that guarantee their products have been tested or gone through quality assurance, for instance. 

Beyond safety, some products may be limited to dog size. Know the breed of the dog you’re buying for so you can assess if there are specific size needs.

When in doubt, include a gift receipt if the gift is not custom or personalized so no gift goes to waste if it’s not quite the right item for your gift recipient. 

Gifts for Dog Lovers: What Made the List?

The tricky thing about gift shopping for dog people is knowing that your gift has to check all the right boxes for both the recipient and their pup. Talk about pressure! So we combed the gift offerings at pet shops, boutiques, online retailers, and beyond to come up with options rated tops by dogs and dog parents alike. Here’s what made the list:

Our Top Picks

• Best Dog DNA Kit: Embark
• Best Dog GPS Tracker: Tractive GPS Dog LTE Tracker
• Best Personalized Gift for Dog Lovers: A Custom Pet Portrait from Paint Your Life
• Best Puzzle For Dog Lovers: Mesa Puzzles
• Best Automatic Dog Feeder: Petlibro Granary Automatic Pet Feeder
• Best Grooming Gift for Dogs: Pride + Groom The Mid Kit
• Best Funny Gift for Dog Lovers: Best Friends by Sheri Flamingo Dog Bed
• Best Gifts for New Dog Owners: BarkBox Subscription
• Best Customized Dog Book: Where’s Your Dog? The Wild Ride to Your City/State Personalized Dog Book from Yappy
• Best Gift for Stressed Out Dogs: Penelope’s Bloom CBD Dog Treats

10 Best Gifts for Dog Lovers

Best Dog DNA Kit

Our pick: Embark

Decode a dog with the high-rated Embark dog DNA kit. Developed by veterinarians, Embark can identify a dog’s overall breed mix with Embark’s Breed ID. After performing a 30-second swab on your pooch’s inner cheek, you mail the swab using the free return label to receive accurate results within 2-4 weeks for any of the 200,000 genetic markers. For an additional cost, you can do the Breed + Health Kit, which not only identifies the dog’s breed, but also physical traits and genetic health risks.

Highlights

• Your dog’s family tree will be made available to you.
• Research surveys are provided with results.
• You’ll get access to a mystery relative finder. 

Things to Consider

• It’s pricey at over $100 for the Breed ID and nearly $200 for the Breed + Health Kit. Be on the lookout for deals as they will sometimes go on sale.

Best Dog GPS Tracker

Our pick: Tractive GPS Dog LTE Tracker

Save $10 on a Tractive GPS device with the code VETSTREET10

We love this GPS tracker for dogs because it can notify you if your dog wanders too far from your home with its virtual fence. And if your dog does happen to get lost, this tracker, which can easily attach to his collar, can locate him across the globe. Activity monitoring is also provided showing your dog’s fitness levels, while comparing him to similar dog breeds. 

Highlights

• Track your dog across the world.
• With live mode, you can receive location updates every 2-3 seconds.
• 100% waterproof and adventure proof.
• You can also use it to set activity goals for your dog.

Things to Consider

• You have to pay $5.39+ per month to use this product, so if it is a gift, consider subscribing your gift recipient for a certain amount of time.
• The battery lasts seven days, so it will need to recharge weekly.

Best Personalized Gift for Dog Lovers

Our pick: A Custom Pet Portrait from Paint Your Life

Save $60 on Paint Your Life pet portrait with code VETSTREET60

Dog owners are a special breed of pet-obsessed. Dog lovers undoubtedly make their pooches members of the family, like they’re their own kids. You’ll often see portraits of pooches in the home of dog lovers, so if one of your dog lover friends does not have one yet or you know there’s a spare wall in their home that needs adornment, this customizable pet portrait will make the perfect gift. Simply upload a photo of a beloved dog, and they’ll create a quality piece of art that showcases their wonderful face.

Highlights

• Choose your own artist and medium, such as watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, or oil
• Review digital proof and request modifications to ensure you’re happy with the finished portrait
• Available in a wide array of sizes, up to 48 by 72 inches 
• Free standard shipping within the U.S. on most orders (expedited shipping for a fee)
• 100% money back guarantee (within 30 days of receipt of order)

Things to Consider

• Expect to pay more for high-quality and attention to detail
• Make sure to measure to ensure the finished product will fit nicely in the desired space 

Best Puzzle For Dog Lovers

Our pick: Mesa Puzzles

From the folks at Mesa Puzzles comes 500 reasons to spend the night in the company of dogs. Jigsaw puzzles have made an epic comeback because they are fun, relaxing, and bring people together. What makes Mesa Puzzles unique is its urban vibe featuring the mood, atmosphere, and style of New York City with a canine theme. Imagine what would happen if the cast of characters from the television show Friends suddenly became dogs, and that’s what Mesa Puzzles is all about. As a bonus, your recipient can frame it for a fur-ever keepsake.

Highlights

• Makes an ideal gift for friends and family who love dogs and puzzles
• Brings dog-loving people together to solve and socialize 
• Dogs of all shapes and sizes are featured in each puzzle
• Three-pack of puzzles can be split into separate gifts 
• Each puzzle is 500 pieces 
• Nicely priced for gift giving any time of year
• Made from recycled paper

Things to Consider

• Puzzles are available in 500 pieces only
• You may have a hard time parting with the puzzle (and snag one for yourself)
• A small variety of designs

Best Automatic Dog Feeder

Our pick: Petlibro Granary Automatic Pet Feeder

This innovative product from Petlibro is really a gift for the dog and the human. The Granary Automatic Pet Feeder dispenses food to pets when owners are away. The feeder can also perfectly portion meals on a schedule for dogs that need a little help with weight control. 

Highlights

• Available in two sizes: 3L (black) and 5L (white)
• Can be scheduled at the pet parent’s convenience—up to six times a day with varying portion sizes.
• Use the record-your-voice feature to set personalized messages to play at meal time
• Detachable design for easy cleaning; the stainless steel bowl in the feeder is dishwasher safe.
• USB-C power supply and battery backup

Things to Consider

• Suitable for small to medium dogs
• Fill with dry pet food only
• Some users found the initial setup and programming to be tricky

Best Grooming Gift for Dogs

Our pick: Pride + Groom The Mid Kit

Help the pet parent in your life pamper their pooch with this waterless shampoo and brush gift set from Pride + Groom. The lightweight foam shampoo is perfect for those in-between-bath moments when a pup’s coat just needs a little pick-me-up. Plus, the included bath brush helps detangle fur and get rid of debris in the undercoat. A luxurious gift many pet parents won’t buy themselves, this set is sure to be a hit.

Highlights

• Set includes waterless foam shampoo and a bath brush.
• Shampoo is great for extending the life of a grooming session.
• Bath brush helps detangle and stimulate natural oils in the skin.

Things to Consider

• If this specific set doesn’t strike you, Pride + Groom has several others available.
• Higher price point.

Best Funny Gift for Dog Lovers

Our pick: Best Friends by Sheri Flamingo Dog Bed

Gift this cute, micro-plush dog cave bed to your favorite pet parent with a pint-sized pup. This showstopper gift will surely be the topic of conversation. We love the pink flamingo, but there are other cute options too, like a unicorn or a mouse.

Highlights

• Dogs will find the soft micro-plush fabric, fiber-filled reversible cushion, and pet-safe foam construction super comfortable. 
• Its removable bed cushion is easy to clean in a washing machine. The entire bed is also safe to machine wash.
• Lightweight and easy to transport.
• Available in other whimsical designs, like a mouse or a unicorn.

Things to Consider

• Comes in one size that is only suitable for small dogs (and cats) up to 15 pounds.

Best Gifts for New Dog Owners

Our pick: BarkBox Subscription

New dog owners won’t necessarily know what to buy their dogs. A monthly subscription box like BarkBox can really help them procure and curate toys and treats their dog will love. Choose from two gifting options on the site: one where you fill out a questionnaire about the dog so the boxes are customized for them, or an eGift card that is sent to the dog owner so they can complete the survey. 

Highlights

• Price of each box starts at $23, and the recipient will receive over $40 of value in items. 
• Each month’s themed collection will include roughly two innovative toys, two all-natural bags of treats, and a chew item.
• If a dog isn’t happy with the items, pet parents can chat with the customer service department to make things right.

Things to Consider

• You’ll have to know enough about the dog for the survey if you’re gifting the box rather than sending your gift recipient the eGift Card to redeem, which feels a little more impersonal. 

Best Customized Dog Book

Our pick: Where’s Your Dog? The Wild Ride to Your City/State Personalized Dog Book from Yappy

From the creative customizers at Yappy, here’s the perfect gift for any occasion: an ingenious, one-of-a-kind personalized book featuring your (or your recipient’s) special dog! This must-have book is designed to unleash your inner canine detective while paying tribute to your pooch. 

Unlike any other custom book on the market, Yappy’s “Where’s Your Dog” inserts the dog of your choice into personalized, colorfully illustrated scenes. This book will keep dog lovers busy for hours on end and is geared for children and kids at heart. 

Tailor-made with your dog’s likeness and name and infused with illustrator Rod Hunt’s custom scenes, your dog is the main character of this tale. Featuring 30 fun pages and 12 select scenes, your job is to find the dog hidden in the intricate illustrations. 

Remember the Where’s Waldo craze? Yappy’s personalized dog book is Where’s Waldo gone to the dogs and taken to a whole new fun canine level. Available only at yappy.com, this book is sure to leave a lasting impact in the minds and hearts of every recipient. 

Highlights

• Personalize it with your selected city and state for an additional touch
• Panoramic book format opens beautifully to a double-page spread 
• Features creative hidden characters and objects to find in addition to your dog (i.e., Brad Pitbull, Steven Spanielberg, the Golden Bone award)
• Over 450 breeds from which to choose

Things to Consider 

• Not available in digital format; softcover or hardcover only
• Limited number of mixed breed illustrations available 

Best Gift for Stressed Out Dogs

Our pick: Penelope’s Bloom CBD Dog Treats

If you want to make a dog parent happy, consider the gift of calmness for their pooch. All Penelope’s Bloom products are third-party lab tested for potency, effectiveness, and safety. Infused with CBD in every product, Penelope’s Bloom only uses human-grade ingredients combined with CO2, which is the purest and cleanest method of extracting hemp oil.

If you aren’t sure what the recipient’s dog would like or need, consider the stress and anxiety bundle which contains a variety of products. From the daily moisturizer to the CBD oil and treats, nothing says ‘I care’ like full-spectrum, lab-tested products for good canine health.

The Stress and Anxiety bundle has been designed for all aspects that may trigger a dog’s stress or anxiety, so you’ll have every base covered. Penelope’s Bloom products are ideal for dogs who get stressed from traveling, loud noises, changes in routine, fireworks, grooming, veterinary visits, and more.

Highlights

• Penelope’s Bloom offers a variety of products to meet the needs of all dogs, all ages, all shapes and sizes
• Every product contains vegan, human-grade ingredients
• Contain no GMOs
• Products generally take effect in 45 to 60 minutes
• Made in the United States

Things to Consider

• You’ll need to know the weight range of the canine recipient to order the right CBD oil dosage
• Remind your recipient to check with their veterinarian before starting the dog on anything new

Tips for Giving Gifts to Dog Lovers

While the art of gift giving is universal, gifting to dogs and dog lovers is a whole different animal. Here are some additional tips to be a successful dog gifter:

• Breed and size matters in most cases. Know the dog breed and size you’re gifting for.
• Always consider safety, not just efficacy, when giving gifts for dogs. There may be items out there with marketing gimmicks. Don’t fall for it. Make sure you’re buying from a reputable brand or retailer by doing your own research and reading thoughtful reviews. Be on the lookout for items that have little to no ratings, not just low ones. 
• No hard feelings. Provide a gift receipt so your gift recipient can have the option to return or exchange the item if it truly won’t suit their needs.