I dug around for about a week to come up with these gift ideas for dogs and dog lovers under $10 and under $20 (or close to it). Keep scrolling down to reach links to fellow bloggers who posted gift lists in their areas of specialty as well.
{I’m sorry to report that all the photos for this post got lost in a massive blog photo glitch.}
Top Pick for 2009
If you are pressed for time this holiday season. I’ll say up front that my number one find this holiday season is a Nina Ottoson toy under $20. It’s an interactive-food toy that’s weighted, so it always uprights itself. And, it’s rubber, so unlike her other more complicated food-puzzle toys, dogs can play with it unsupervised. For those of the right generation, think of it as a Weeble for dogs.
** UPDATED 11/30/09 **
I just learned that this toy is made of *hard* plastic, like the Buster Cube, not of rubber, like so many of the other food-delivery toys. That means it is noisy, noisy, noisy … if you have hard-surface floors. So, take that into account in your purchase decisions.
Dog Gifts Under $10
Premier Busy Buddy Twist and Treat ($9.99 on Amazon)
Because it’s good to rotate food delivery toys to keep life interesting.
Kong ($7.64 on Amazon)
Because everyone needs a few extra of these original, classic food-stuffable toys at the ready in the freezer.
Egg Babies Platypus ($6.56 on Amazon)
I admit it. I just wanted the chance to use the word platypus, but if your dog likes these plush pull-something-out puzzle toys, then I’d guess that pulling “eggs” out of a platypus would be fun.
Dog Gifts Under $20
Nina Ottoson Pyramind Toy ($17.95 from Clean Run)
As I said in the intro, I had no idea you could get ANY Nina Ottoson puzzle toy on a budget. That it’s designed by her and affordable makes this our top pick of the season.
Kong Dental Toy ($11.57 on Amazon)
I like this shape better than the classic, which (even with frozen food inside) is WAY too easy. The narrow opening requires much more work. I pull the rope out and put the food in the middle.
Alligator Squeaker Mat ($14.99 at Petsmart)
I guess this is the squeaker version of bubble wrap. I cannot imagine the various shades of crazy this would make my dogs. But, it seemed funny enough to make the list.
Dog Lover Gifts Under $10
I had a MUCH harder time finding gifts under $10 for people, so I’ll say that there are a handful of inexpensive things I know most active dog people always need:
- Lip balm
- Poop bags
- Training treats
- Sunscreen
So, my advice? Get some pretty gift bags, buy this kind of stuff in bulk and make your own gift packages.
Dog Lover Gifts Under $20
Gentle Leader Treat Pouch ($13 on Amazon)
This is the style we use. What makes this so much more functional than other styles is snap-buckle belt that comes along with it. It has NEVER come loose or fallen off, and I cannot say that about 99% of the bait bags I’ve had over the years. I also like the one-touch closure.
[Ours has been broken for ages (we’ve had our pouch for years), but when it worked it was WAY cool.]
There is a zippered pocket on the back, where we keep our poop bags, and there is a little velcro pocket on the front that can hold a clicker.
Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals (By Karen Pryor)
($16.50 on Amazon) I have not read this book, but I would like to. So, I’d guess there are other dog people who would too.
Karen Pryor Clicker Training Starter Kit (book, clicker, dog trick training cards)
($19.95 on Amazon)
If you know someone who is new to clicker work, but who would love to learn more about shaping tricks, @donnajones on Twitter recommended this option.
Vet Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Protecting Your Pet’s Health (by Dr. Louise Murray from the Vet Confidential Blog) ($16.50 on Amazon)
PLUS, for every copy sold between Nov 15 and Dec 15, a donation in the amount of author royalites will be made, and if you use the link to Amazon, they will make a donation as well to the Darlington County Humane Society in South Carolina.
In accordance with new disclosure rules for bloggers, let me be clear that I have NOT been paid in any way to mention these items. They are simply things I wanted to suggest.
**
More Gift Ideas from Fellow Bloggers
Many of them followed the same budgetary rules, with gift ideas under $10 and gift ideas under $20.
Kerry Dexter over at Music Road with Irish music gift ideas
Donna Hull over at My Itchy Travel Feet with baby-boomer & travel inspired ideas
Leslie Petrovski over at Nakeid Knits with Gifts for Knitters & Crocheters Under $10 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Brette Sember over at Martha & Me with a bunch of Martha Stewart-ish gift ideas
Stephanie Stiavetti over at Wasabimon with gluten-free and/or cooking ideas
Vera Marie Badertscher over at Traveler’s Library with 10 Perfect Gifts for Travelers Who Read
Kris Bordessa over at Big Island on the Cheap with Gifts Under $10
Alexandra Grabbe over at Chez Sven in Wellfleet, MA, ideas from her perspective as a B&B host.
I don’t have an affiliate thing set up. I probably should, but I don’t.
Just bought a few things from here for dog-owner friends. Do you have an Amazon affiliate program? I don’t see these linking to a way for you to get credit for my purchases…
I would guess that the clicker package does include info on the mechanics and coordination of clicking, treating, etc. One mistake people new to clickers often make is trying to hold the treats in their non-clicker hand. That’s where a bait bag comes in. Most of the time, you don’t want food in your hand while you are working. That’s what the click is for … it means “food is coming.”
So, you click, then reach into the bait bag quickly and hand over a treat.
Also, if we’re working on leash, I have both the leash and the clicker in my left hand so that I can use my right for treats. I’m right handed, so that’s what works best for me.
I love this list, and I would have used the platypus toy just to use that word too! 🙂
The egg babies toys are a great investment. I supervise interaction with them, but I also stuff a treat in under the “eggs” when I stuff the toy and have several different varieties (some with elastic attached “eggs” so he can’t get them all the way out). It helps if you need something fast to distract the dog for just a second.
What a great list. I think I just might have to buy my dog the alligator squeaker mat…but maybe let her play with it when I’m not home!
Some good ideas. I’m wondering if the clicker book help those of us who are completely uncoordinated and can’t get the timing down and certainly can’t both click and have a treat ready too!
I do know one lady that would put pieces of hotdogs in her mouth and spit them at her dog so you could have the clicker in one hand, leash in the other, and just spit treats…
This list is so much fun. My husband’s aunt is a big time dog owner and I am definitely buying something for her from this gift list. Thank yoU!
Great gift ideas. I think my pom mix would love the alligator squeaker, although I’d probably get a lot more use out of the dog training books!
I often forget about my poor pooch at Christmas, especially since we became parents. Thanks for the reminder. I kind of think he might fancy that platypus. The kong is a great buy. We’ve had those. Hours of fun.