With International Dog Day fast approaching on the 26th of August, our team are practically barking with excitement to share this list of wallet-friendly gifts and environmental enrichment ideas that are sure to get your canine friend’s tail wagging!

Canine comfort

Our team loves a well-fitted puffer jacket to keep pets warm over winter (particularly dogs with short coats such as whippets and greyhounds). Ensure that coats are well-fitted enough so that your pet’s front legs don’t get trapped inside when they curl up, but also soft and elastic enough around the armholes to allow comfortable movement without irritating the skin of the armpits.

Canine fashion

If your dog is the sociable type, they will probably enjoy the extra petting and attention that comes with wearing an adorable bandana, bow or pet bowtie out on walks! Before letting strangers pat your dog, however, ensure your dog is showing body language associated with being comfortable to interact, such as a loose tail wag (which may include a bottom sway too!), a relaxed facial expression (with soft lips and neutral ear position), and no signs of nervousness such as leaning away or freezing.

Puzzle toys

To give your canine friend some enjoyable mental stimulation, try investing in a few food puzzle toys. These can be filled with your dog’s favourite treats and offered on a rotating basis to help keep your pet busy and entertained.

Safe chew treats

If your pet loves chewing, try picking them up some long-lasting chew treats. Our team recommends only offering treats with a little “give” to them, as very hard, brittle treats such as deer antlers can lead to painful tooth fractures. Pets who tend to gulp food (we’re looking at you, labradors!) may also need to be supervised to ensure they don’t choke trying to swallow overly large pieces.

For more canine-friendly environmental enrichment ideas, consult our ‘pawfectly’ dog-obsessed team!