The best gifts for dog lovers, according to people who pamper their own pooches

Every good boy needs a set of balls for catch. But rather than stick with standard tennis balls, why not mix things up with this colorful textured set? You can get all three for less than $3 at Walmart right now — that’s under $1 apiece — and shoppers say they can withstand serious chewing. “They are durable!” one wrote in their review. “I bought them for my 6-month-old puppy that has destroyed most other balls, toys, etc. These have survived, and so far so we both are happy!!!”

One of the best gifts I’ve ever received is a custom portrait of my beloved puppy. I proudly display it in the entryway of our home, and people always comment on how sweet it is. If you don’t know an artist personally, head over to Etsy, where several sellers make it easy for you to commission a bespoke likeness by simply sending in a digital photo or two of the canine in question. 

When I first researched becoming a pet parent, this was the one toy recommended on pretty much every message board and in every Facebook group. Not only does this cult fave keep dogs occupied and entertained, it also rewards them with a treat when they roll it a certain way. Amazon shoppers are big fans, too. More than 60,000 of ’em have given it a five-star review. “It’s so addictive and amazing that my dog cannot live without it,” one pet parent wrote. “He takes it everywhere, and I literally mean everywhere. He’s a pit and has destroyed 90% of the toys you can find on Amazon, but this ball has withstood countless hours of extreme harassment and beating.”

“This is great if you have a pup who despises bathtime, like my water-averse little weenie,” says Yahoo Senior Deals Writer Carrie McCabe. “It suctions to bathroom tile and you can put a bit of peanut butter on it for them to enjoy as both a treat for the bath and a distraction while they get their wash on.”

It’s made a big splash with Amazon customers too; they’ve bestowed an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Some have noted that, in addition to it keeping dogs occcupied at bathtime, it’s great for calming anxious pups when they’re left home alone.

Another great bathtime buy. This basically turns your hand into a hose so you can work those suds deep into your baby’s fur. “It’s great for when my dog is super dirty and I don’t want to use my fingernails to scrub him,” says commerce editor Janelle Randazza. “It also gives him a nice massage that he loves. He’s come to enjoy garden hose showers in the summertime, thanks to this thing.”

I don’t even bother buying my dog those cute plush toys anymore because he destroys them within hours. Instead, I go with hard plastic and rubber playthings designed for serious chomping, like this cute little corn on the cob. My dog has been loving on his for over three months, and it’s still one of his favorites. 

“It looks like a corn cob, but to my dog, it’s like a magical artifact sent from the heavens. The moment she sees it, her eyes dilate and get as big as saucers,” said an Amazon shopper. “This thing is nearly indestructible — perfect for chewing, fetching and tug-of-war. And that’s saying a lot for my pit-mix super-aggressive chewer.

Lambwolf is a trendy pet goods company that makes aesthetically pleasing products for the design-minded set. Sound like someone you’re shopping for? Commerce editor Ellie Conley says the brand’s artichoke toy is her dog’s favorite right now: “I usually fill it with kibble in the mornings when I have to start working but he wants to keep playing, and it keeps him busy for a while.”

Yahoo Shopping contributor Adrianna Barrionuevo loves this ingenious toy so much she wrote an entire ode to it. What makes it such a gem? “This toy’s squeakers are tuned to a frequency between 24 and 28 kilohertz, which is practically silent to humans. Since pups can hear up to 45 kilohertz, they’ll still get all the squeaky fun out of this toy,” Barrionuevo explains. It’s designed for dogs of all sizes, and there’s a whole menagerie of creatures to choose from.

One thing dog owners can never have too many of? “Collapsible water bowls,” says Yahoo senior home and garden editor Jessica Dodell-Feder. “They really come in handy.”

More than 11,000 shoppers on Amazon have given this set a perfect five-star rating. Many say the bowls are great for traveling, and that they appreciate the attached carabiner clip. “These are just good quality collapsible dog bowls. They hook in easily to backpacks or bags, and they’re soft and easy to travel with. You get two in a pack, which is a great value!” one fan wrote.

My dog has a beautiful curly white coat… most of the time. He loves being outside, rolling around in the grass and dirt, so baths are pretty much a weekly necessity. When it comes to keeping him clean and his curls soft and fluffy, I swear by Burt’s Bees tearless shampoo and conditioner. It doesn’t irritate his eyes, is easy to rinse off and it’s not overly scented. Also included: a pack of wipes for cleaning off paws post-walk.

You love your outdoor adventures with your best friend. The muddy paw prints on your couch afterward? Not so much. To help keep that mess outside your home where it belongs, Dodell-Feder recommends this brilliant cleaning gadget. All you do is stick your dog’s be-schmutzed paws in the canister a few times, and voila, they emerge clean as a whistle.

“I have a 4-month-old Goldendoodle who likes to dig, especially after it rains,” explains this two-legged fan. “[This product] worked incredibly well! Paws were remarkably clean. I dried her paws with a towel, and it was clean. Very impressed.” 

“Fluff & Tuff toys — specifically the sloth — are the only plushies my dog hasn’t destroyed,” testifies commerce writer Rebecca Carhart. “He normally has stuffing ripped out within 30 minutes, but he’s had this toy for over a year and a half and it’s still kicking!

The brand offers lots of other fluffy fauna options, including a raccoon, shark, octopus, hedgehog, even a dinosaur.

Take a cue from Yahoo home editor Kristin Granero, and consider going with a pre-assembled gift box where all the hard work is done for you. She’s a fan of Chewy’s Goody Boxes, as is her dog. “Let’s just say they’ve been well-received.”

This one features two squeaky toys, a coupla bags of treats, even a stocking for Xmas-time decoration.  

I’m a sucker for anything with a monogram. I just think that small touch of personalization takes your gift to the next level. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be surprising that this customized collar is one of my top picks. It’s available in five different sizes and more than 10 patterns, and you can personalize it with up to 10 characters. Feeling extra generous? Throw in the matching leash.

Like most people obsessed with their dog, I’m in a ton of Facebook groups devoted to all things canine. When a member shared a beautiful suncatcher mosaic she had made using a picture of her dog, I immediately added one to my wish list. I found several options on Etsy, and they’re surprisingly affordable. A can’t-miss way to wow the pooch parent on your holiday gift list.

When Doddell-Feder waxed rhapsodic about this best-selling dog bed a few months back, I couldn’t resist buying one for my fur baby. I’m happy to report it’s now his favorite place to lounge and nap. Even if the person you’re shopping for already has a dog bed, don’t hesitate to buy them another — we dog folks have no objections to resting places for our pals in every room in the house.

“This thing is great for enrichment and mental stimulation for my dog when I’m busy working,” Carhart reports. “I freeze a treat inside the molds and the licking keeps him distracted for at least 30 minutes. I also add supplements like salmon oil to the frozen treat to keep them healthy.”

You know how socks or underwear aren’t the sexiest gifts to give, but they’re practical and you know they’ll get used? Well, poop bags are the dog-owner equivalent. They’re one of the things they can always use, and if they come with a good-looking, durable carrying case, so much the better.

Baby on board! Car rides can be stressful for dogs — and their owners — but they don’t have to be. Conley say her toy poodle gets nervous in the car, but all is well once he nods off in this plush seat. She adds, “It has a built-in leash you can attach to a harness, too.”

Got a mutt-loving multitasker in your life? Rather than gift them a traditional leash, Conley suggests this hands-free version. “I love this style, especially if I’m walking with my dog while drinking a coffee or shopping,” she explains.

Customers at Amazon also like the versatility of this product. “I rarely give five stars. I tried a lot of different options, but this is the best material, great length, and provides optionality for how to hold the leash. Fantastic product,” said one raving reviewer.

Are clothes a necessity for dogs? No. Are they so absolutely, ridiculously stinking cute? Heck yes! Carhart reveals she got this number for her dog when he was a puppy. “He has since outgrown it and now won’t wear clothes, but it was adorable while it lasted,” she says.

In addition to the vibrant blue and white cloud print shown here, you can grab this sweater for you pal’s pooch in 10 other colors in sizes XXS-XXL.

There’s nothing wrong with a gift that benefits both you and your dog-loving friend, right? If you’re tired of walking out of their home covered in pet hair, why not splurge on this powerful vacuum that comes complete with bristles designed to grab animal fur and specialized pet tools.

“I vacuumed one room, and now my entire house looks like it was hit by an industrial cleaning crew. I swear, I vacuumed so hard I could create a fur coat for my dog with the hair it sucked up,” one Amazon shopper commented. Another added, “have a German shepherd and this has been the only vacuum I’ve owned so far that works. The multiple settings, hose and attachments are all amazing. I’ve used the vacuum for a few weeks and it still works great. It actually pulls up all the dog hair out of thin and thick carpet (I have both). Definitely would recommend if you have pets.”

If it’s pet stains you want to help the dog lover in your life with, then this small but mighty machine is the way to go. This product has been a social-media sensation many times over as people are constantly amazed by its ability to remove stains of all kinds, both old and new.

Shopping for someone with a new puppy? Accidents are bound to happen, but this gadget makes light work of them. “Our dog peed on the carpet today and then my daughter spilled some sticky colored sand into my car rug. This bad boy made quick work of them both. It’s super satisfying to see all the dirty water when you’re done. It’s also easy to store and care for. Where has it been all of my life!?” one customer commented.

Lots of dog owners — especially those who adopted or rescued their pooch — are curious about breed mix. Thousands of shoppers at Amazon say this test is the best of the best because it includes information on over 350 dog breeds and results come back in as little as two weeks.

“We knew our adopted dog was a mutt, but her appearance gives no clue about her mixture of breeds,” one commenter wrote in their review on Amazon. “The results didn’t make any difference in how much we love her, but they are totally worth the money in how interesting they are and how much amusement they’ve brought us.”

When only the best will do for a loved one’s furry friend, splurge on this luxurious dog carrier from Dagne Dover that comes with lots of fun extras. There’s a removable padded pet bed, an outside pocket for your phone or passport, a luggage sleeve and locking zippers. 

Many shopper who invested in this travel essential so it’s worth the extra cash. “I knew that once I saw that Dagne Dover had this bag that I was going to immediately get it once I get a puppy. Well the time has arrived and I couldn’t be happier with the bag — the quality is amazing, every detail was so thoughtful, and it was the perfect size to fly with and bring my pup home!” one reviewer wrote.