Earlier this week, I shipped a care package off to my friend Mandy's mom in Pennsylvania, who just adopted a Black and Tan Coonhound named Semper Fi (yes, just like Mandy's dog Chopper).
Here's a picture of the stuff in the box getting ready to ship out:
And here's a picture of Semper Fi and her new stuff:
As I was gathering the stuff up to mail, I thought about all the goodies I've given to my friend's dogs when they are first adopted. There are certain things I like to give, that I think are good gifts for a new pet owner. While I order a lot of stuff for my pets online, the things I usually get for a gift for a new pet parent are things I can find at Petco, Petsmart or some other local pet store.
Here's some examples:
Treat toys: treat-dispensing toys are great because they have the capability of keeping your dog occupied and entertained - even when he/she is alone! The new pet parent may not realize right away what an important role this type of toy is going to play with their dogs, so its a great gift for a more experienced pet parent to give them. Mumble has a LOT of treat-dispensing toys. I like these for a good new-pet gift:
Petstages Occupi Treat Dispensing ToyMy sister gave one of these to Mumble one year for a Christmas present, and its a great toy. It can hold small treats and also have a skinny bone or something placed in the end. They sell specific "busy sticks" that fit into it, but I've found that other things will also work. Also, it doesn't role around like the typical treat toy, giving the dog something different to keep him occupied.
Kong Biscuit BallKong has a whole line of toys that are great for keeping dogs occupied. Everyone knows about the traditional Kong toy (the one that's kind of funny shaped, and you can fill with peanut butter), but I really like the Biscuit ball. You can use different types of dog biscuits inside (we like Drs. Foster & Smith's Organic Biscuits), and they kind of "lock" into the bone shaped cut outs. The dog then is occupied by getting those bones out of there!
Poo bags: It's kind of like giving diapers at a shower; a new parent can never have too many! I usually add a few rolls to any new pet parent gift.
Other toys: Going to the toy aisle in the pet store is very overwhelming - there are soooo many options! Squeaky toys, rope toys, things to play tug-of-war with, tennis balls, frisbees, chew toys, "activity" toys! I remember the first day that Mandy adopted Chopper and we went to Petco after leaving the adoption event. We didn't know what in the world he would want to play with, but she had coupons in the little booklet for newly adopted dogs that included toy coupons. We tried to pick out a couple of different types to try out, and I'm pretty sure that at least one of them never got played with. It's hard to tell what will be a "hit" with your dog! Although every dog is different, experienced pet parents may know of some great tried-and-true toy options that any dog would love, and these would make a great gift! Here are some of the toys I've given as gifts:
Sherpa Go Dog Plush Dragons (and Dinosaurs)
What a new pet parent may not yet know, is that a stuffed toy is just waiting to be un-stuffed by the dog! Go Dog's "plush" dragons don't have stuffing to be removed and strewn about your house. Instead, they have "Chew Guard technology" - a layer of material that helps to make the toys less destructible. I first bought this as a gift for my sister's dog Penny, who can destroy even the toughest toys. Her dragon now has some holes, but it has lasted past other toys and is well-loved. They also make Dinosaur versions, which are real cute as well.
Treats: This is another aisle (or aisles) that can be very overwhelming! There are so many different varieties and options! There are lots of articles out there about good ingredients for dog food, but what about treats? How is a new pet parent to know if they are giving their dog good treats or something with the nutritional value of cardboard? I like to give new dogs treats as part of their present because new parents will need lots of treats for training (and what dog doesn't love treats?). Some of the better treats I've found, and that I like to give, include the following:
Zuke's "Mini Naturals" - Zuke's is a brand of dog and cat treats that are all wheat and corn free, with no "fillers" or additives. They have lots of good treats to choose from, but I think the "Mini Naturals" are perfect as a gift because they are really great training treats! They must have a strong flavor (they certainly have a strong smell) because dogs practically salivate for them, making it a "high interest" treat. Plus, they are a great tiny size, perfect for when you have to give your dog a million treats during those initial training phases.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Treats - Natural Balance makes great dog food, and their line of "limited ingredient treats" is a good option for dry or "crunchy" biscuit-type treats. As a dog is getting use to the new food his new parent is feeding him, it may be a good idea to give him "limited ingredient" treats so he isn't getting use to too many new ingredients all at one time, causing an upset tummy.
Other items and What not to give:
There are many items that a new pet parent is going to need, some of which they may not even yet be aware that they were need. These might include small, generic items like food and water bowls, plastic lids for covering unused wet food, brushes and combs, bath wipes, There are big items like crates and beds. Also included are more personal items, like id tags, collars, etc. I think that simple items like the can covers are a great gift. Also, a good quality plain leather 6-foot leash is an excellent choice - a leather leash will last forever and will be much more comfortable for use than most any other leash out there. Generally, however, I'd steer clear of items that are more personal in nature, like collars or beds, as the new pet parent will likely want to pick those things out herself!
In the end, there are so many things a dog needs, many that a new pet parent won't even think of, so any gift for a new pet is going to be much appreciated!
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