Homemade Gift Baskets for Dogs

Ready-made doggy gift baskets are a fast and easy option, but they might not be the safest. Each dog is different, and a generic basket of treats and toys might be safe for one dog but hazardous for another. Making your own is a way to express your creativity and to ensure that all the items in the basket are usable and safe for your canine recipient.

  1. Before You Begin

    • Learn certain things about the dog or dogs getting the gifts before you start buying items. You need to know how big the dog is, what level of chewer the dog is, (heavy, moderate and puppy are examples of the levels some manufactures use) and if the dog tries to eat things it shouldn't. Knowing these things helps you avoid getting something that can be a choking hazard or cause digestion blockage and distress. Also find out if the dog has allergies.

    Basket or Container

    • A dog travel bowl makes a useful container for dog gifts.

      Instead of an actual basket, use a decorative container the dog owner can use to store the toys and nonedibles to keep them off the floor when the dog isn't playing with them. A pet shop should have containers decorated with a doggy theme, or you can buy a plain container and paint the dog's name and dog bones around it. This is the first place you can really get creative.

    Chew Toys

    • Once you know the level of chewing the dog does, finding the right chew toys will be easier. Get something that will last a while but won't be too hard that a puppy or moderate chewer would be uninterested in. The chew toy needs to be big enough that the dog has to bite at it from the side, or you risk causing cracks in its teeth from the immense pressure a dog's jaw can create with a straight-on bite.

    Puzzles and Busy Toys

    • Giving a dog something to play with prevents it from turning furniture into a toy.

      These types of toys are a gift to the owner and the dog, because they can facilitate quiet time while the dog concentrates on the toy. Examples of these are cone-shaped rubber toys you can put peanut butter or squeeze cheese in for the dog to lick out of the narrow opening, rolling and holey toys intended to allow kibble to slip out as the dog rolls it along the floor, and basket-like rubber balls you can put a favorite toy or treat in to watch as the dog tries to liberate it.

    Squeakers

    • Squeaking toys come in all shapes, sizes and textures, including rubber, plush and tennis balls, and make noises that appeal to a dog's inner hunter. If the dog likes to eat things, it should get a large and durable runner squeak toy. The plush ones are fun but can be easily chewed and eaten, stuffing and all.

    Treats

    • Unless the dog needs to gain weight, get it treats in the low-fat variety. Rawhide treats aren't a good idea. They tend to swell in the stomach and intestines and can cause ruptures inside a dog's body. While buying treats, be mindful of any allergies the dog has and check labels carefully.