7 Best Christmas Gifts for Dogs That Will Last Until Next Year

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few days more and we'll be well into Christmas Eve. We will all be getting ready to celebrate the best holiday time of the year, eat great food, and spend time with our families. Are you going to treat your dog this holiday season? While there are best Christmas gifts for pet parents, but what about the best Christmas gifts for dogs?

2021 UPDATE: 17 Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Dogs That’ll Surprise Them

In this article, you will know what are the best dog Christmas gifts you can give your pooch this holiday season! Not only will it be something your dog can enjoy but it guarantees durability and is sure to last throughout the next year.

Give some thought to what your dog would really enjoy before just filling your cart with random, unnecessary dog toys that break quick or other cheap dog supplies. Many types of toys for dogs may be fun for a few minutes or even a few hours but then they end up in the trash or ignored in a corner. That's a waste of money in my book.

RELATED: 7 Ideas on How to Spend Christmas with Your Dog

What to Look for in Christmas Gifts for Dogs

There are many factors to consider when choosing dog Christmas gifts. Unlike humans, dogs can't exactly say what they want for Christmas. 

As dog owners, it's best to observe your pooch and see what they like best. You also need to determine their energy level and what toy can catch their attention easily. 

If your pup loves to chew and can be destructive, you might need a more durable Christmas dog gift. In some cases, some dogs don't like toys that much. 

You can also get a gift that can be both useful and enjoyed by your pooch. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best dog Christmas gifts:

• Dog's personality
• Safety
• Budget
• Shipping Time
• Quality

We have this misconception that dog toys should be replaced a few times a month. This should not be the case, and the best dog toys will disprove this myth.

It's the same with high-quality gifts for dogs which must last for a long time, and not only for days or weeks but rather months and maybe even years. The best Christmas gifts for dogs should provide many hours of playtime and enjoyment instead of 5 minutes of chewing.

7 Best Christmas Gifts for Dogs That Last

Interactive Dog Toys

Interactive dog toys are excellent Christmas gifts. They don’t just keep your dog occupied like the usual chew toys for dogs. Interactive dog toys stimulate the dog’s mind, encouraging him to think about how to get a doggy treat.

RELATED: Interactive Puzzle Toys for Dogs as a Brain Exercise

Dog treats are usually hidden in little compartments in the toy. The dog has to figure out how to get the treat by pawing or pushing on the dispenser. This type of activity alleviates boredom and helps the dog become a better, more well-adjusted furry friend.

These toys for dogs are designed for supervised play. They should not be used to keep a dog occupied while you are out. Interactive dog toys are not made to stand up to chewing, either. In terms of choices, there's an abundance of these toys available to purchase online.

PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher: Top Interactive Dog Toy for Fetch & Exercise

This ball launcher is specifically designed to play fetch with dogs of any breed type. It can even launch the balls up to 7 feet away. There are various settings with this device, including the angle and distance.

It also has a motion sensor that prevents dogs or people from getting hit by launching balls.

The Automatic Ball Launcher is considered one of the leading dog Christmas gifts, especially for high-energy dogs and busy owners.

Amazon is one of the leaders in dog toys and pet supplies in general. However, other online retailers such as Chewy, Dog.com, and Drs Foster and Smith have pretty good prices and a wide selection of interactive dog toys as well.

Dog Chew Toys with Treats

Treat dispensing dog chew toys that are designed to stand up to your puppy's chewing are one of the best Christmas gifts for dogs who spend hours alone while their humans are at work. They are also great for alleviating boredom when you’re home with the dog.

These types of doggy toys dispense treats when the dog chews or licks the toy. They are designed to stand up to chewing and rough play after the treats are gone. The toy can be filled with a dog biscuit, small treats, peanut butter, cheese, cream cheese or any other best dog treats to keep the canine occupied.

When the weather is hot, dog chew toys can be filled with peanut butter, soft cheese, or cream cheese and kept in the freezer, which is very convenient for my own household. I usually give my dogs their frozen doggy treats to keep them occupied for hours, and it works like a charm.

KONG Wobbler: Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy

There are a lot of very good chew toys for dogs, but one of my favorites is those from KONG. KONG's treat-dispensing dog toys are well-known for their ability to stand up to persistent chewing and rough play.

This chew toy is the ideal dog Christmas gift for teething pups to aggressive chewers. It has an easy filling feature, and you wouldn't need to worry about the safety of your pooch with its food-grade, high-strength polymer.

Obviously, there are other good options that are also durable, and you can check out Amazon, Chewy, and Dog.com, which have a huge selection of the best Christmas gifts for dogs at decent prices.

Knock-About Dog Toys with Treats

Doggy treat dispensing pet toys that dispense kibble or small dry treats keep dogs occupied and moving. They are a little similar to the above-mentioned dog toys, but a few factors set them apart, and both make for the best Christmas gifts for dogs.

RELATED: Being Choosy About Dog Toys

With this type of dog toy, the kibble or dog treats fall out of the holes in the toys when they are kicked around the room or pushed around by your dog. This type of toy is best for dogs that have room to move the toy around to get the treat.

Dogs that are kept in an exercise pen or crate with a raised grate on the floor should not be given this toy as they will get bored of it quickly. The treats or kibble will only fall through the floor of the pen and cause frustration.

Some of these puppy chew toys hold a fairly large amount of kibble or treats, so be sure to adjust the dog’s diet accordingly. Do not overfeed your canine with treats, which can be dangerous. If your pet ordinarily gets 1 cup of dog food each day, put ½ cup of food in his bowl and ½ cup in the toy so that he doesn’t get too much to eat.

Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball: Knock-About Dog Toys For Mental & Physical Exercise

Your canine buddy will surely enjoy playing with this toy as it mentally and physically stimulates your dog. This interactive toy dog ball pushes your dog to roll it in many ways until the treats fall out.

You can adjust the difficulty level, and it comes in two sizes fit for either small or large dogs.

This treat ball can be one of the best dog Christmas gifts for your pooch since they get to enjoy treats while playing, and it's also a great alternative to slow-feeder dog bowls.

New and Unusual Dog Treats

Healthy treats are excellent doggy stocking stuffers or wrapped presents for under the tree. Take this holiday opportunity to try something a little different from the normal, everyday dog treats that your pet is used to. One of the best Christmas gifts for dogs is if you can treat them to something new and unusual this holiday season.

RELATED: Ten Unusual Dog Products Pet Parents Buy

Here's a list of dog treat ideas dog owners may want to consider:

Nutro Crunchy Real Mixed Berries

These doggy treats are made with real blueberries, cherries, and cranberries. They can be used for your dog's training, put into a treat-dispensing toy, or given just because your dog is looking particularly cute at the moment.

Blue Buffalo Health Bars

This dog bar is also a great and healthy pet treat. They are available in a variety of flavors, including yogurt & bananas or pumpkin & cinnamon. These baked biscuits can be given as a bedtime treat or stuffed into a treat-dispensing dog toy to keep your pooch occupied while you are busy or away from home.

Himalayan Dog Chews

They are long-lasting dog chews that will keep your canine busy for hours and hours. They are actually made from a type of cheese that is extremely hard. Your furry friend will not be able to chew this up in a matter of minutes. They are 100% natural cheese.

Elk Antler Chews

Chewy treats are great, long-lasting chews for dogs that we have discussed before. These antlers are shed naturally, so you can be sure no elks were harmed in the making of these dog chews. They do not splinter, chip, or harm the dog’s digestive tract.

Ark Naturals Breath-less Brushless Toothpaste

Dog chews keep your pet's teeth clean and improve their breath. These chew treats have abrasive ridges that scrub off tartar and help fight plaque. They also contain a doggy “toothpaste” in the center that further assists with tooth cleaning and breath freshening of your pooch.

 

Evanger’s Nothing but Natural Wild Salmon Freeze-Dried

Treats for dogs are nothing but salmon. They are a very healthy and definitely unusual treat for your pet, which again makes for one of the best Christmas gifts for dogs.

Doggy Toys with Squeakers

Squeak dog toys should be on every dog owner's Christmas “to buy” list. Even those dogs that are hard on squeak toys and usually have the squeaker removed within minutes deserve squeak toys.

One of my favorite companies, KONG, makes really amazing, tough squeak toys for dogs that will challenge even the most ruthless squeak-toy-destroying canines.

KONG Squeezz Dental Ball: Dog Toy for Aggressive Chewers 

The KONG Squeezz Dental Ball is made to satisfy your dog's natural chewing requirements and has textural nubs that encourage good behavior while cleaning teeth.

In addition to being more engaging and extending playtime, this toy's flexible construction and capacity to be filled with treats also enable dogs to chew and flex it while getting a deeper clean of their teeth.

With a special texture that encourages proper chewing behavior and keeps Fido's breath fresh, chewing on this toy is a fun and practical approach to preventing clinical tooth and gum diseases.

Pet Toys that Crackle

Crackle dog toys are one of the best Christmas gifts for dogs who like some noise motivation but don’t really like high-pitched squeakers. They are also good for pet parents who don’t like high-pitched squeakers and get annoyed quickly by the sound of these dog toys.

KONG Squeezz Crackle Ball: Dog Toy that Crackle for Both Indoor & Outdoor Play

KONG Squeezz Crackle dog toys are great: they crackle when the dog bites on them, providing an unusual noise that most dogs like. These crackle dog toys from KONG have a gel-type material that holds up well to most chewers. They are shaped like a ball, bone, dumbbell, or stick.

For more information on the safety of dog toys and how to pick the right ones, take a look at some of this advice:

• How to Choose the Right Dog Toys by Age
• Durable Dog Toys That Will Outlast Your Puppy’s Jaws
• 25 Best Puppy Toys for Dogs That Chew A Lot

Dog Christmas Gifts Every Month

Another one of the best Christmas gifts for dogs is the subscription for dog treat boxes. These monthly gift boxes for dogs are the perfect doggy Christmas gift that keeps the fun going all year round. They are “surprise” gift boxes that are filled with a variety of items for dogs selected at the discretion of the company you buy them from.

The gift boxes often contain random dog food samples, treats, and toy samples, which is a great way to try something new that you wouldn’t usually buy in order to see if your dog likes it before you buy a whole package. Companies that offer this usually give you the option of getting a new gift box every month during the year or as a one-time deal.

Dog.com is offering a 2-pound monthly Doggie Box for $24.99 each month, and they make a donation to an animal shelter with each Doggie Box order. Google images of these boxes – they look pretty cool.

BarkBox.com offers the monthly Dog Gift Box for $19.00 to $29.00, depending on the number of months you select. A one-time gift box is $29.00, while a monthly gift box for 12 months will cost $19.00 per month. Pet parents love these!

What is a Good Christmas Gift for Dogs?

There are many choices when it comes to dog Christmas gifts. You may choose top-picked toys under these categories:

• Interactive Dog Toys
• Dog Chew Toys with Treats
• Knock-about Dog Toys with Treats
• New and Unusual Dog Treats
• Doggy Toys with Squeakers
• Pet Toys that Crackle
• Dog Christmas Toy Bundles

While there is nothing wrong with giving presents to your pooch, some would say that one of the best dog Christmas gifts you can give is your tender, loving care. Either way, it’s clear that your dog deserves nothing but the best!

What are the Most Popular Christmas Dog Gifts?

Are you looking for the trendiest dog Christmas toy? Here are some of the toys that every dog seems to love!

• PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher
• KONG Wobbler
• Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball
• KONG Squeezz Jels Hippo Squeaking Dog Toy
• KONG Squeezz Crackle Ball

Know that these are only a few of the popular dog Christmas gifts. Feel free to explore more on the toys and accessories you can find that will be suitable for your pooch!

Christmas Gifts for Dogs: Final Thoughts

As dog owners, we would want to give our pooch something extra special, especially this holiday season. It's a good thing that there are plenty of Christmas gifts for dogs in the market. The real question here is: which one is best for your pooch?

You can determine among those Christmas dog gifts depending on what your pooch likes and needs. While toys can be great, you can also choose the ones that are useful for your dogs, like a leash or GPS tracker.

Either way, giving your pooch those dog Christmas gifts is a joyful, precious moment. Just know that some dogs might enjoy the present opening part than the present itself.

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