If you are getting ready for the holidays, you may be putting together a list of gifts to get your family and friends this season. Of course, you wouldn’t forget your fur-baby during the holidays. Don't worry, you aren't alone.
According to the Animal Medicines Australia, Australians spend an enormous $12.2 billion per year on their furry family members. With over 40% of Australian homes including pets, most of those homes will be purchasing something for pets over the holidays. Surveys have shown 95% of pet owners are going to get their pet something for Christmas. Most pet owners will spend at least $36 on their pet, while some will spend well over $100.
To help make your pet shopping easier, here are 10 things you didn’t know you needed for your pet, until now. These are some finds our pet-loving staff have discovered on our own. They are in no particular order, just one convenient list to help you get started with your holiday pet shopping.
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 it: the paw washer. What we like about them is the fact you don't have to put your dog in the sink or tub, just plunge a paw in the special paw washer. As there are a big variety, we suggest getting ones that fit by the size of your dog and then the cost. This item is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased on line or at your favorite big box retailer.
Why rely on your neighbours to help you find your dog when you can rely on your phone in real time? Plus, pet trackers have come a long way to be a more affordable. There are some that use GPS and others that use Bluetooth. Be sure you check the distance in its range. Some trackers have can alert you can turn on if your pet gets out of a safe zone, like a fenced in yard. Others have smaller alert zones and are more for if your pet is lost somewhere in the house.
There are a variety of pet carriers now available. Some are push strollers, some are designed to wear on your back and some are designed to wear on your side. If your dog is reaching a status where you still want them to come with you, but they don’t have the stamina to keep up then you might want to consider getting a pet carrier. For the variety in types, sizes and prices, check out this overview by Pet Life Today.
There are collars and harnesses in every style and color. For functionality, if you have a larger dog, get a harness with a handle on the back. This makes it easier to grab them, should they start to pull away. Another tip for walking your dog is if your harness has an attachment for the leash on the back AND the front. If you have a larger dog, they 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 they can't pull as easily. This has been a great addition to this dog walker's harness portfolio! Purchase harnesses and collars at your favorite retail location or online.
There are a few subscriptions out there. I tried Bark Box and my dog loved it. The themes are always fun and the dogs get a big kick out of opening the box to find out what’s inside. There are subscriptions tailored for little dogs and big dogs. It includes interesting treats and toys every month. This often saves a trip to the pet store at least once in a while.
If your dog is like mine, they can’t eat their food fast enough. Dogs, especially puppies, learned to fight for their food and eat as quickly as possible while they were with their mom and their siblings during nursing. However, as they age, eating fast can cause a variety of issues including vomiting and bloat. Plus, dogs that eat fast can eventually have weight problems. The goal is to slow down their eating, filling them up in a better way. Enter the dog maze bowl. This pattern makes them work to get every morsel out of their dog dish. Find your perfect dog maze bowl.
Squeaky toys can only go so far. Dogs love the idea of hunting for their treats. Enter adorable puzzle toys where dogs get the opportunity to grab 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 on every level, from easy to difficult to solve.
Activity and movement are important for humans, so it makes sense they would be important for your dog too. FitBark has made a great activity tracker so you can track your pet’s activity, sleep quality, distance, calories burned and overall health and behavior. What's nice about this tracker is you can keep an eye on their health too, even detecting skin issues. It's a wearable on the collar, so your dog hardly knows it's there.
There are a variety of ways to see what your pets are up to when you aren’t there. Depending on your budget, you can have a simple camera to tune in and see what your dogs are doing. Or you can get a higher end camera that allows you to do 2-way talking to your dog and dispense treats for them. Simply set up the camera, install the system’s app to your smart phone, and enjoy communicating with your pet. This group did the work of trying out several pet cameras at a variety of price ranges.
No matter what you get your fur-baby for the holidays, take time to enjoy these gifts and be grateful for the memories they provide. Enjoy the holiday season and your pets too.