Nine cute presents to buy for furry friends this festive season
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Until a year or so ago, I found it preposterous. Bone-shaped presents under the tree? Don’t be absurd. Dogs don’t know it’s Christmas. Dogs don’t understand the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Buying presents for animals was downright silly and a waste of money.
Then I got Dennis, a Parson Russell terrier. Last year it was Dennis’s first Christmas and he ‘unwrapped’ a toy gingerbread man I’d carefully placed under the tree beside a wrapped toy crab for my mother’s terrier, Beano. Unfortunately, both Dennis and Beano preferred the crab to the gingerbread man and soon after they ‘opened’ their presents, I had to confiscate the crab to avoid further argument. But it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?
According to a 2023 survey, almost a fifth of Brits spend more on their pets than their significant other at Christmas. Last year, the sales of festive pet presents were up nearly 1,000 per cent on Waitrose’s website and John Lewis almost doubled its range of seasonal dog toys compared with the previous Christmas. We have, in short, gone barking mad when it comes to our pets.
But it’s not just dogs. It’s cats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and so on. One friend with horses leaves stockings filled with edible snacks on their stable doors. Another gives her tortoise ‘extra melon’ on the day itself.
Sophia with her Parson Russell Terrier Dennis
And on a Reddit thread, there was someone asking what to give to her brother’s tarantulas for Christmas. Enclosures and insects, suggest various replies. Count yourself lucky if your sibling has a hamster.
Dog ownership in particular has boomed since the pandemic, with some estimates saying it has increased by a third. We now put our dogs in coats and fancy dress (I say ‘we’; I don’t put Dennis in anything as I don’t approve of dogs in costumes). We take dogs to restaurants. Some dogs have social media profiles. Giving them Christmas presents is therefore hardly surprising. Pet Advent calendars have also become big business for brands such as Lily’s Kitchen. Given that Dennis struggles to decipher the difference between ‘sit’ and ‘down’, I’m not sure he fully grasps the concept of Advent. So I won’t be buying him a calendar. But each to their own.
Some go so far as to cite the rise in dog ownership as a factor in the declining birth rate in certain countries. Puppies are increasingly taking the place of babies, they cry. I find comparisons between dogs and children twee, but now that I have Dennis and no children, I do understand the compulsion to wrap a present for one’s pet. Ridiculous, some may carp, as I would have carped a couple of years ago. Yet here I am, already perusing various websites looking for something that will keep Dennis diverted on the big day. I’m not going to spend a fortune. A fiver. Maybe a tenner. Fine, £20 max, honest (although, like a toddler, Dennis has previously shown more interest in the wrapping than the present itself). See below for some of the best and possibly silliest options I’ve come across while carrying out this important ‘research’…
Does your dog still believe in Father Christmas? If so, this is the answer: a reassuringly expensive felt stocking filled with venison treats, chews and dog shampoo.
All the accessories you need to give your dog a ‘spa’ treatment at home. Dennis would hate it because he isn’t keen on bathing, but I gather other dogs like being groomed and may even stand still while you brush them.
A dog-friendly version of Fortnum’s very smart crackers. Crucially, it doesn’t make a noise when pulled (scary for some dogs) and it contains a candy-cane dog toy and a joke card, in case yours has a sense of humour.
Whenever I retrieve one of these from my pocket, Dennis looks as if I’ve pulled out the winning lottery ticket.
I love this for sheer festive absurdity. Three little pigs wrapped in blankets on a rope. Good for a tug of war with your dog. Cats might also enjoy it.
An extremely kitsch soft-toy version of M&S’s famous caterpillar cake. Unusually for a caterpillar, it also squeaks.
This is the posh option. Commission a drawing of your dog (or horse or rabbit) from artist Phoebe Hicks, who manages to capture every pet’s soulful expression.
The Christmas version of the popular toy mice for cats, filled with max-strength catnip.
Togs for dogs? If you’re a fan, this soft fleece jacket comes from a cool athleisure brand.
