It’s the Giving Season - Don’t Forget Your Pet!!

Christmas is just around the corner (it is a week from tomorrow)!! I bet most of you are pretty well finished with your shopping…..but did you get something for your pet? If you did, you aren’t alone! Most people consider their pet to be part of the family, and buy them presents during the holiday season. For my old dog, we would always buy her soft treats and a hard bone to chew on and keep her busy while we were opening presents! In my post today, I am going to tell you about neat holiday gifts out there for you!!

The gifts you can buy your pet can have just about any price, and the amount you spend is completely up to you. After all, Fido will never know the price - and even if you told him, I still don’t think he would care!! First I am going to start off by telling you about small, relatively inexpensive gifts.

The gifts you are looking at will of course vary depending on what size dog you have, as well as his personality. The following is a list of small, inexpensive items you can buy for your pet!!

• Bone-filled stockings: these stockings come already filled with raw hide bones for your dog! They are available for small, medium, and large sized dogs. The cost ranges from about $1.50 to $15 depending on the size of the stocking.
• Cat toy stocking: this is filled with an assortment of cat toys, and the prices changes depending on how many toys are included. Range is from $1.50 to $4.00.
• Holiday themed chew toys: this include snowmen, Santas, reindeer, and anything else you can think of! Check out your local pet supply store for prices. Just make sure you are buying a practical toy for your pet! Don’t buy something he will have in shreds within a few minutes, you want it to be something he can play with for awhile! Also, keep the size of your dog in mind when purchasing. If you have a large dog, you don’t want to buy him a small chew toy, he could choke on it!

Now, let’s step up to the medium priced items. These items are a little more expensive than what I mentioned above, but if your pet has been extra good this year, they are gifts you could consider!!

• Pet purse: if you have a small dog or cat who absolutely loves to go out with you, consider buying a pet carrying bag! Find one big enough so your pet will fit comfortably inside, and with straps sturdy enough to hold him as you walk. Prices for this item range greatly, so it’s best to shop around and find a style and size you are comfortable with.
• Does your pet love to play in the snow? Think about getting him a ski jacket or parka for outdoor use! This is an especially good idea if you live in a cold climate and have a short haired dog! You can take him outside, play in the snow, and you know he will be nice and warm inside his coat. Again, prices on this item range depending on the size of your dog and the weight of the coat.
• One other item you may want to consider is a new crate or bed. Check to see if his is getting worn out, it may be past time to replace it! You can get any style, any fabric as long as it is machine washable, very easy to take care of, and of course your pet is comfortable sleeping on it!

Ok, so maybe this year you’ve got a little bit more money than usual to shop with and you want to splurge on your pet. Now I’m going to tell you about gifts that are on the high end of the price scale!

• Remember that bed I mentioned earlier? Well, now your pet can have the same mattress you do! Selling at various locations is a Simmons Beautyrest dog mattress. The price on this is around $100, but your pet is sure to get a goodnight’s sleep on it!
• What about those large dogs who love to go everywhere with you? Consider purchasing a bicycle trailer he can ride in as you pedal!! This attaches to any bicycle and you can cart your pet around in style! This costs around $200, and would be great for incredibly active people who are outdoors and biking a lot!
• Ready for something outrageous? How about a $7,500 diamond collar? The collar contains about 6 carats of diamonds, and are sure to outshine anything!

It is the season for giving, and your pets aren’t any different. The only thing I ask is that you take a second and think about shelters around the country that are overcrowded and barely have enough money to stay open. Please visit my donation page , this is your chance to help out shelters that really need it!

Please send pictures of your pets with their holiday gifts, or dressed up for the season to: dsheffler@petstrong.com

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!