OK so maybe I won’t see any doggie baby showers any time soon, but for many of us, pets are members of our family. So it makes sense to get them gifts, too!
I was asked to go shopping for a gift basket recently and report my experiences for a Collective Bias project. It occurred to me that if I didn’t have a dog, I’d have no idea what to get someone who was getting a new puppy. Just like I have no idea what human babies need so I normally get a gift card or go off their registry! Since puppy registries aren’t in vogue, here are some helpful hints:
- DO find out what breed your friend is getting. Is it large? Small? Does it have hair? (it wouldn’t make sense to get a brush for an Italian Greyhound, for example–I never brush mine because their hair is extremely short)
- DON’T buy clothes unless you get specific instructions on size. I am actually unable to get clothes at the regular store because the Italian Greyhound body is so unique – anything cut for regular dogs would fit very poorly.
- DO buy bandanas – they are super cute and since they go around the neck they fit a much wider variety of sizes.
- DON’T buy collars unless you are sure of the kind that they normally wear. Again, my Italian Greyhounds need a martingale collar since their heads are actually smaller than their necks and they would slip right out of a regular collar.
- DO buy collar charms or barrettes (if it’s a female dog with long hair).
- DON’T buy dog food. It is harmful for dogs to switch foods all the time, and most owners are picky about what they feed their furbabies.
- DO buy treats – especially in the puppy stage when they are going to training classes, a wide assortment is needed.
- DON’T buy toys with stuffing, unless you are sure that their dog is a light chewer. It’s the equivalent of buying a human child a drum set.
- DO buy toys that are “stuffing free,” or hardy.
- DO have fun! There are so many cute pet items available, it’s fun to shop for them.
I went to my local WalMart to buy toys and treats for a gift basket for my two Italian Greyhounds, and was a bit disappointed in the selection. You can see details of my shop here.
I went with the general idea of what my dogs like, and hoped to find some cute bandanas, toys, treats, and maybe a new collar. I did get a few toys and treats (Milk-Bone® Treats, Pup-Peroni Treats and Milo’s Kitchen Treats) but they didn’t have any bandanas or martingale collars. I was excited to get some new treats because my dogs are treat whores. They will do anything for a good treat!
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBiasThis post shared at I’m Lovin’ It!
Fantastic Do & Don’t giving list for pets! Thanks for sharing it 🙂