With less than a week until Christmas, I know that some people have their shopping all done, gifts wrapped, and possibly even have their cookies made. However, sometimes despite all the best intentions, you find yourself scrambling for ideas days before a holiday. So I’m sharing some great last-minute gift ideas for dog lovers and their dogs. And for my fellow procrastinators, this might be a recurring theme in your life. Procrastination does not mean you don’t care. Some of the reasons for procrastinating include:
1. Just not feeling the holidays this year for personal reasons
2. Indecisive because you care too much and don’t want to make the wrong choice
3. Time-challenged (you have a lousy sense of time or there just aren’t enough hours in the day)
4. You think you work best under pressure
5. Financial challenges
6. You overlooked someone on your list
Personally, I been in all of those situations throughout the years. However, I still try to be thoughtful even at the last minute. Since I’ve been procrastinating for decades, I have a few tips up my sleeve that I’m happy to share with you. The first thing you need to know about a dog lover is her dog means everything to her. If you want to make her happy, a good start is to make the dog happy or give her something that shows her you get it.
This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase, I’ll earn a small fee, at no additional cost to you. All photos are by Alice G Patterson Photography unless otherwise noted.
Annie Taylor (pictured above with Zuzu) makes gorgeous gift tags, stationery, and prints including my favorite, “Who Let The Dogs Out?”
Easy DIY Gift Ideas
I seriously doubt that anything could be quicker than our Easiest DIY Treat Jars. Fill it with some delicious treats, and you’re golden! And while it might not take a lot of time, it is thoughtful and perfect for a minimalist who loves her dog and appreciates a clean aesthetic.
These ceramic treat jars can be personalized any way you like with a little nail polish. We went with a geometric scheme, but I’m thinking about making some with evergreen trees for the holidays.
If you have a little more time to let the paint dry, these painted mason jars are great for anyone who loves the farmhouse look. (Alternatively, spray them with metallic paint for the woman who appreciates all things shiny.)
Download our free printable gift tags and bake up a batch of treats (or buy some treats) for the dog, load up the jar, and you’re all set.
If you enjoy sewing, make a treat bag in a fabric she’ll love.
If you have a wood burner and a little more time, you can customize a wooden tag!
Bake Something
It is no secret that for most dogs, the way to his heart is through his stomach. These vegan peanut butter dreams are perfect for a holiday treat for dogs.
Of course, people also love a delicious treat. Check out this gorgeous cookie board from Cyd over at The Sweetest Occasion!
Gift Certificates
While most people appreciate a gift certificate, it doesn’t always feel personal. One of my top recommendations is to give a gift certificate for a professional photography session. Check our Photographer Directory for a pet-friendly photographer near you. (If you are in Central New York, check out my sister, Alice G Patterson Photography!)
Other great options include gift certificates for a pet portrait from an artist.
Noble Friends offers custom pet portraits and a lot of fun personalized products.
©Greyboy Pet Prints
Greyboy Pet Prints makes Fine Art Etchings by hand. These are a perfect way to turn a snapshot into a beautiful portrait, especially if the pet has already crossed the rainbow bridge.
Donate
Give a donation to a favorite animal rescue or organization like Morris Animal Foundation in her name.
Follow Alice G Patterson Photography on Instagram.
About Alice G Patterson Photography: Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in pet portraits and photography for small creative women entrepreneurs.
These are wonderful gifts for our best fur friends. They need gifts and to be spoiled just like us
oh that pet portrait is fantastic!!!!! the ornaments are a great idea for my mother in law who loves her dogs but says i don’t =need anything when i ask her what she wants for christmas. also i want to make those gingy cookies with my six year old. so sweet!!
I love being able to include my pups into the holidays thanks for the great ideas.
Aw, I can see dogs loving these. I only have cats, so I’m basically getting them toys with catnip in them. Also, some treats!
I’m sure your cats will love them!
These are wonderful gift ideas. I see several items that would be perfect for me to gift this year.
These are really good ideas. I have a lot of wonderful pet lovers on my list that would love to get these things!
Oh these are some great ideas! I am all about things for my pet and I would be thrilled to get any of these, the treat bowls are adorable love the ones with the names on.
I love personalized gifts. They always make me feel special. You have some wonderful examples here.
Thank you!
These are such great ideas and of course you can never go wrong with a gift certificate as well, but it’s true it’s not as personal so I like the idea of a professional photo shoot.
I have a friend who calls her pets her kids. This is a great idea for her! I know she would LOVE all of these things!
I like those ceramic treat jars that you painted with nail polish. Those are really cute.
Thanks! They are really easy and essentially foolproof as long as you have nail polish remover.
What wonderful gift ideas. I wish I had a picture of the 4 boxers I have had over the years. Thank you for the suggestions.
I love the treat containers! My mom always makes our pups homemade treats for Christmas.
As a dog lover, I totally approve! I would LOVE one of those handmade treatbags.
these are great ideas, my mother in love would appreciate most of these and I personally love the ceramic canisters. thanks for sharing this.
What great gift ideas. The sketch of your pet is such a lovely thought!
What great gifts and lucky pups!
I am slightly obsessed with my dog, so I’d love pretty much all of these myself. LOL And I think my dog would personally appreciate the homemade treats. 😉
-Lauren
That stocking is the CUTEST! I was thinking about making my pup some homemade treats this year. She’d love them!
Oh I love the idea of the treat bag! My in-laws would love this for their dog.
Aww these are great! A lot of them could be adjusted for cat lovers too 🙂 I got my cats some catnip toys and despite my best efforts to hide them they still sniffed them out and ripped into it before Christmas!
I guess what matters most is they loved the toys and catnip!
These are great treats!!! Love the idea of baking up the dog treats myself! I know our little doggies would love that!
Cute ideas. I usually resort to bones and the like 🙂
Love all of these ideas! The handmade treat pouches are especially adorable! Thank you so much for some last minute inspiration!
What a wonderful list of dog lover ideas. I am a huge dog lover! We have three truly spoiled little beasts.
I needed some ideas for a friend of mine. These are perfect. Thanks!
All wonderful gift ideas. I especially love the custom pet portraits idea. That would make such a thoughtful gift.
These are great gift ideas for pet owners. I specifically love the pet prints gift idea. That’s something I’d definitely cherish. 🙂
huge dog lover here. I love all these ideas. This is great. I would love all of it!
Thanks so much!
These are all so cute! I never thought about baking something for my Molly but that is a GREAT idea!
These are some really great ideas for those with fur babies. People with dogs tend to think of them as their children – so these are perfect!
Thank you!
Everything looks amazing! Those cookies are to die for!!!
Thanks, Claudia!
I confess that I am a last minute shopper! I love these ideas especially about making a donation! Also, I love the mason jar idea. There’s so much you can do with mason jars and I’m glad they have kind of made a comeback in style that few years.
So true that the way to Kilo’s heart is via his tummy and the cookies and DIY gifts are lovely. Happy holidays!
These are all really lovely gift ideas for dog lovers and cat lovers alike. I’ve actually done DIY and baking as a last minute gift idea and it was received very well. Nothing like a gift from the heart made with lots of love. Nice ideas!!
I really love the ceramic jars. So beautiful. The cookies are precious.
Thanks for the love, Beth! I hope you and the family had a beautiful Christmas. Happy New Year, friend! xoxo
So many great ideas…I have to say, the older I get (and the more things we all get, including my Huskies), the more I really do enjoy gift certificates, and your idea of a personalized one from a photographer for pet portraits is terrific! I also love the personalized pet items, so special! Happy Howlidays to you and yours!
Can I have a plate of those cookies for myself, please? I love that etching, too. I may keep that bookmarked for client gifts.
Wow, AMAZING. I love all the ideas. 🙂 Thank you!