Christmas Gifts for Dog Owners That Get Used

Christmas gifts for dog owners work best when they get used, so we start with what a dog person already runs out of, which is treats. After that come a hoodie or a shirt for the person, a bag that works in a house with a cat, and a monthly box for the owner who likes things to keep arriving.

We make single ingredient freeze-dried treats in Malvern, Pennsylvania, so part of this page points at our own shelf. The rest is plain gift sense. One rule goes with all of it, and it comes first.

The rule for any treat gift

Ask the owner first. Owners decide what goes in the bowl, and plenty have decided already: one protein only, nothing with dairy, nothing new this month. A text that says "what is she eating these days?" takes ten seconds and keeps a bag from sitting in a cabinet until spring.

If the dog is on a special diet, ask the owner to check with their veterinarian before anything new goes in the bowl. And if you cannot ask at all, buy something for the person instead. The hoodie and the shirt below come with no ingredient list.

Christmas gifts for dog owners: treat sets that get used

A single bag is a nice thing. A set is a gift, because it is bigger and it shows up in one box. Every bag below holds one ingredient and nothing else, and every one is freeze-dried in Pennsylvania by Sniff & Shift LLC.

The Beef Liver 3-Pack is three bags of freeze-dried beef liver, all the same size, in 3 ounce or 6 ounce bags. Liver breaks into small pieces cleanly, so a bag stretches further than its weight suggests. This one suits the owner who trains every day, or who has more than one dog to keep up with. Pick 3 ounce to try it and 6 ounce for a house that goes through bags.

The Cheddar Bites 3-Pack is three bags of freeze-dried cheddar cheese. The pieces crumble to about pea size, which is the right size when a training session runs to dozens of repetitions. Cheddar contains dairy, so skip it for any dog with a known dairy sensitivity.

The Cheddar & Beef Liver Duo puts one bag of each in a box, with the liver in 3 ounce or 6 ounce. The idea is two tiers of reward: cheddar for the routine ones, liver for the one that has to land. It is a good pick for a friend who trains a dog and keeps running out of the good stuff mid-week.

For the dog who has everything, there is the Beef Trio. It holds a 3 ounce bag of freeze-dried beef liver, a 2 ounce bag of beef tripe and a 3 ounce bag of beef heart, three organs off the same animal. They could not be more different. Liver is dense and crumbly and the strongest smelling of the three. Tripe carries a barnyard funk that most people dislike and most dogs do not. Heart is lean muscle meat, chewier and the mildest, which makes it the easy starter for a dog new to organ treats.

For the person holding the leash

The Circle-Logo Hoodie has a midweight brushed fleece interior, ribbed cuffs and hem, a front pouch pocket and the circle logo across the back, with the front left clean. It is a unisex relaxed fit that runs true to size, from small to 2XL. If the owner likes a fitted look, size down.

The Circle-Logo T-Shirt is the lighter option. It has a front chest logo and a unisex cut, in sizes small through 2XL and 15 colors. Sizing is adult only, with no youth cut. The cut is straight through the body, so if the owner sits between two sizes, take the larger one for room or the smaller one for a closer fit.

A house with a dog and a cat

Freeze-Dried Pink Salmon is listed for dogs and cats both, which makes it the easy one for a mixed house. The only ingredient is wild-caught pink salmon, freeze-dried in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and it comes in a 1.5 ounce pouch. The pieces break into small, quick-reward sizes. The pouch is light and shelf stable, and it reseals after you open it.

A gift that keeps arriving

Modified Monthly is our subscription box. The first box costs $1, and after that it is $50 every 30 days with shipping included. There is a three box minimum, and it ships in the US only, so check where the owner lives before you sign anyone up. Same rule as above: ask first, because three boxes is a real commitment for the owner.

Matching the gift to the owner

• Trains every day: the liver 3-pack or the duo.
• Has more than one dog: any of the 3-packs.
• Has a dog and a cat: the salmon.
• Hard to shop for: the hoodie or the shirt.
• Always has the next thing in mind: Modified Monthly.

For smaller things, our dog stocking stuffers guide has more ideas. For the owner who spends weekends at car shows, there is a gift guide for dog lovers who love cars. The rest of our holiday picks sit in the Christmas treats collection and on our Christmas page.

Questions

What is a good first gift for someone with a new dog?

Something that gets used in the first few weeks. A treat set lets the owner find out what the dog likes, and the Beef Trio does that with three different organ treats. It also works as a gotcha day gift. Ask first, since the owner may already have a plan for the bowl.

What do you get a dog owner who has everything?

Go to the person, or go to something that arrives later. A hoodie or a shirt is for the owner, and Modified Monthly keeps showing up after the holidays. For the dog, the Beef Trio offers three textures the dog may not have tried.

Can I give treats if I do not know the dog?

Only after you ask the owner what the dog eats. If you cannot ask, give the hoodie or the shirt, since neither has an ingredient list. If the owner says yes, check on any one-protein rule and on dairy before you pick a bag.

What is a good gift for a house with a dog and a cat?

The freeze-dried pink salmon, which is listed for both. Its only ingredient is wild-caught pink salmon, in one 1.5 ounce pouch.

How does Modified Monthly work as a gift?

The first box is $1, then $50 every 30 days, shipping included, with a three box minimum. It ships in the US only. The Modified Monthly page has the rest of the details.

What do you give a dog lover who loves cars?

Start with the hoodie or the shirt, since both carry the circle logo. Our gift guide for dog lovers who love cars, linked above, goes further.

Read next: Mother's Day gifts for dog moms.