If you’re getting ready for the holidays, you may be making a list of gifts to give your family and friends this season. Of course, you won’t forget your fur baby during the holidays. Don’t worry, you are not alone as the majority of us will spend a lot of money on our dogs at home. How much ? We went to the experts to find out.
Every year we spend more on our pets. Of course, there are more pets in our homes than ever before. According to American Pet Products Association, pet ownership has increased significantly in the United States. In the first year of the survey, 56% of American households owned a pet. By 2023, 67.3% of American households will own at least one pet. The majority are dog owners, who now live in 69 million households. The organization believes pet owners will collectively spend more than $109.6 billion on our pets this year. Yes, that number is correct: billions with a B! Do you think this seems too much? Well, in 2020 we spent $103.6 billion on our pets in REAL dollars. It makes sense that this number continues to rise.
The survey showed that 95% of pet owners will give their pet something for Christmas. Most pet owners will spend at least $36 on their pet, while some will spend well over $100. To make your pet shopping easier, here are 10 products and items to offer your pet. Here are some finds that our animal-loving staff discovered for themselves. They’re presented in no particular order, just a handy list to get you started on your holiday pet shopping.
Our list of the 10 best Christmas gifts for dogs is here!
1.Glyde™ Mobility Chews
We started with Glyde because it’s a meaningful gift for your dog’s joint health. We have many more fun gift ideas, but if you consider the cost of your dog’s health, you’ll understand how it only takes pennies a day to keep a dog active. Check this graphic on how Glyde is money invested wisely in your dog’s health! Unfortunately, 80% of dogs will have arthritis at 8 years old, and some dogs will be much younger than that (20% are diagnosed at 1 year old!). Glyde is a natural joint supplement that combats the signs of arthritis. What sets Glyde apart is the proven levels of ingredients such as those from New Zealand. Green-lipped mussel (GLM), Glucosamine and Chondroitin. GLM has many health benefits, but is particularly effective as an anti-inflammatory for joints. If you have a dog, you know how much they like to be active and the cost of protecting their joints isn’t that high when you break it down. If it’s only the best for your dog, you’ll need the best joint supplement with proven properties. ingredient levels in Glyde. Plus, you’ll probably give your dog treats for Christmas. Glyde is NOT a dog treat! But it’s so delicious and good for them that they might think so!
2. Special holiday clothing
Let’s be real: we love dressing our dogs in silly outfits. It makes us smile. Now, some are more extreme than others, but you can definitely find the outfit to your liking for your furbaby. Add a tasty treat to your dog when he puts the outfit on, and it’s a win/win. Make sure you have your camera handy when putting them into the outfits. If your dog is like mine, you have to act quickly! Check out these images of the dogs all decked out for the holidays.
3. Maze Feeding Bowl
If your dog is like mine, he can’t eat his food fast enough. Dogs, especially puppies, learned to fight for their food and eat as quickly as possible when they were with their mother and siblings while nursing. However, as they get older, eating fast can cause a variety of problems, including vomiting and bloating. Additionally, dogs who eat fast can eventually have weight problems. The goal is to slow down their eating, to better satiate them. Enter the dog maze bowl. This pattern requires them to work to get every morsel out of their dog’s plate. Find your perfect dog maze bowl.
4. Leg washers
Winter is the perfect time of year for muddy paws to enter our lives. How do you clean them? There is a relatively new way to do this: the paw wash. What we love about them is the fact that you don’t need to put your dog in the sink or bathtub, just dip a paw into the special paw washer. Since there is a wide variety, we suggest purchasing ones that match the size of your dog and then the price. This item is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased online or at your favorite big box retailer. Fluent Woof did some research on the best dog paw washers, with reviews!
5. Animal Trackers and GPS Collars
Why rely on your neighbors to help you find your dog when you can rely on your phone in real time? Additionally, pet trackers have come a long way to be more affordable. Some use GPS and others use Bluetooth. Be sure to check the distance within its range. Some trackers have an alert you can activate if your pet leaves a safe zone, such as a fenced yard. Others have smaller alert zones and are more for if your pet is lost somewhere in the house. PC Magazine reviewed on the best pet trackers and collars.
6. Subscription service
There are all kinds of subscription services. There is even a subscription service that will find a subscription service FOR YOU! So, once you have your favorite subscription service, you might also think about getting one for your dog. You can shower them with toys, treats and more. Did you know you could also offer them a healthy subscription? When you subscribe to Glyde Mobility Chew, you protect your dog’s joints all year round. Simply add a Glyde subscription to your cart and renew it as often as you like: every 30 days, 60 days, or even 120 days apart. This is a great gift for dogs because Glyde helps keep your dog active and young!
7. Harness or collar
Collars and harnesses come in all styles and colors. For added functionality, if you have a larger dog, get a harness with a handle on the back. This makes it easier to grab them if they start to wander away. Another tip for walking your dog is that your harness has a leash clip on the back AND the front. If you have a larger dog, he can easily pull you if you attach the leash to the back. A quick adjustment to put the leash on the front and you find that they can’t pull as easily. This has been a great addition to this dog walker’s harness line! Shop for harnesses and collars at your favorite store or online.
8. New dog beds
If your dog has been lying on a dog bed so much that he might as well be lying on the floor, it’s time to replace your dog bed. It’s a good idea to buy new dog beds at least every 2 years, so they can support your dog. It’s the perfect time of year to buy a new dog bed. There are many to choose from! You can get high-end dog beds that cost between $100 and $300 or cheaper beds at your local big box store that only cost $30 to $50. Dog beds were designed to do more than just provide a place to lie down. Ideally, the dog bed of your choice will look great AND provide support and comfort for your dog. You can give your dog a calming bed that is a large circular cushion. Some dog beds are raised to keep your dog off the ground. A nice, soft dog bed helps relieve sore joints in dogs of all ages. We loved this article from The Strategist who reviewed dog beds based on dog size, age and sleeping habits.
9. Puzzle toys and mats
Squeaky toys can only go so far. Dogs love the idea of chasing their treats. Enter adorable puzzle toys where dogs have the opportunity to get squirrels out of the trunk or aliens out of the spaceship. They all make interesting squeaks, to the delight of your dog. There are some at all levels, from the easiest to the most difficult to solve. There are also puzzle mats where you can stick treats in different pockets for your dog to search for. THE Spruce Pets has reviewed the best Dog Puzzle toys for your dog!
10. Pet Cameras
There are many ways to see what your pets are doing when you’re not around. Depending on your budget, you can have a simple camera to log in and see what your dogs are doing. Or you can get a high-end camera that lets you talk to your dog back and forth and hand out treats. Simply configure the camera, install the system application on your smartphone and enjoy communicating with your pet. This group has tried several pet cameras. at a variety of price ranges.
What else?
No matter what you give your fur baby for the holidays, take time to enjoy the gift of their time and be grateful for the memories they give you. What do you give your pets during the holidays? Let us know in the comments on our social media accounts. Enjoy the holiday season and your pets too!