A Valentine’s Day gift guide for the dog in your life

If you have a dog, it’s likely that you’ve found the love of your life. It goes without saying that material items come second to genuine care and affection, but a little TLC in the form of a gift for your furry family member is part of the fun during this festival of love. 

It’s easy to get carried away with silly gifts that you buy on a whim but choosing the right gifts will bring joy to your canine companion. In fact, why not spread the love even more and consider buying from a small business or charity this V-day? We’ve done a bit of research to help you find meaningful gifts that really say “I love you”. 

Say it with a snuffle

Dogs love interaction and the perfect way to show them you care this Valentine's Day might be to get them a super cool snuffle mat. Never heard of a snuffle mat? It’s an interactive mat where your pup can discover hidden treats or kibble in little pockets or hidey holes. It’s loads of fun for them finding the treats, it feeds their natural instinct for foraging and sniffing and keeps their mind active when you might have other work to do around the house. It’s so much fun to watch them though, so be warned — you might get FOMO! WalkieMountains on Etsy have some attractive handmade snuffle mats that’ll make your doggie’s Valentine’s a memorable one.

Whirlwind Romance

Enrichment toys can strengthen the bond you have with your dog and this Dog Tornado is no exception. They’re bound to love the endless fun and problem solving that are a certainty with this puzzle toy. By spending time with them, showing them how the game works, you’ll easily turn ordinary moments and mealtimes into cherished moments full of joy. By buying from Battersea, you’ll also be sending some V-day love to animals in need — just lovely.

Lost Love

What could be worse than (temporarily) losing the love of your life? Despite our vigilance, sometimes we have an escapee on our hands. Of course, all dogs are microchipped but that means a trip to the vet for the person who found them. A quicker and less stressful way of being reunited is to get them a personalised ID tag like this tongue in cheek version on notonthehighstreet. Loving your furry friend means taking steps to make sure they never have to look too far for you when they get lost.  

Give the gift of comfort

Dogs often get anxious and if that’s the case with your little love, think snuggle buddy this V-day. Whether your dog is still a young pup or that bit older, they all need a bit of extra comfort sometimes. This can be especially important when they’re young and missing mum or siblings or if you’ve recently lost another animal in the household. Wally the Walrus will do the trick, quelling the anxiety and giving them a cosy buddy to cuddle up to this February.

Snuggle up

Love is in the air and all doggies love a snuggle! What better way to show them you love them than with a new super soft and fluffy bed? For medium-sized and smaller dogs or puppies, you can look on in adoration as they cosy up on this personalised "favourite spot" dog bed. Or if you have a bigger breed, give them pride of place as the queen or king of your heart in their new velvety, fit for royalty, posh pit!

The way to a dog’s heart

It’s true isn’t it? Most dogs love treats and if your pup is food-orientated, then the way to their heart is through their belly! It’s so easy to overindulge on special days, so do take this into account and do your research on what treats are the healthiest for your furry pal. Etsy has a range of cute V-day treat boxes, but this one from PracticallyPawfectCo caught our eye due to its natural ingredients, being high in protein, grain free and containing no rawhide. So go on — treat them to some love in the tummy!

Pawfect Love

Taking good care of our doggos is just the most poetic way of saying ‘I love you’. Extreme winter or summer weather can be rough on the ol’ paws. Show them some TLC this Valentine's Day and pamper their paws with some sensual balms. OlivsTreats on Etsy promises an all-natural nose and paw protector balm which is eco-friendly. While the accredited cruelty-free, vegan and ethical Hemp By Hound gives pups the added healing power of hemp seed oil in their unscented skin, nose and paw balm. What isn’t to love? 

And the best gifts of all - the free kind!

If your pup’s still got treats & toys leftover from Christmas, or you are looking to save money, there are plenty of free gifts you can give your pooch. Find a new location to walk and let your dog explore this new location. Alternatively, arrange a playdate with their favourite doggy friend, or even just give them an extra cuddle! 

Whilst Valentine’s Day can seem a little cheesy to some, and in 2022 we’re all doing our best not to be wasteful, but with a little thought and a lot of love, we can treat our pampered pooches to a special day!