Spoil your doggo with these 9 treats and tools
Don't forget your furbabies!
As you take your first steps into 2023 don’t forget to keep in mind that certain furbaby of yours. Now’s the time to think about the kind of stuff to make their lives (and yours!) that much easier – and maybe a little playful, too.
Alberta Beef Bully Sticks
Rated 4.2 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Dogs like Christmas snacks too – any snacks, really, and any time. This season, give them this to chew on: a packet of chew sticks made from Alberta beef, and packaged in Canada. Available in multiple sizes, they’re flavourful and vitamin-infused and are great for long-term canine dental health. Available in medium and large sizes.
JW HOL-ee Roller Treat Dispensing Dog Ball
Rated 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This one works great as a chew toy, but it’s largely designed as a kind of puzzle-solving exercise for puppies and young dogs. Put a treat or two in there, and watch your pup worry away at it to get at the goodies, building great problem-solving skills and having plenty of fun.
KONG Puppy Teething Toy
Rated 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This one is a time-tested design. Its conical construction seems simple, but puppies and young dogs really seem to go nuts for it. Playing catch with it is fun, too: the shape makes the bounce unpredictable, something else your pup will enjoy. Put a dab of peanut butter inside, and it turns into a puzzle exercise for your dog, too – and though it’s marketed as being for puppies or younger dogs, I can tell you from personal observation of my inlaws’ pooch that older ages can delight in it too.
PcEoTllar LED Dog Collar
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
In terms of daylight hours, we’re just about in the midst of the darkest days of the year. Still, your pup doesn’t time their walkies based on how bright it is outside, so you’ll still need to go out and make sure they’re visible to drivers and other walkers. Enter the LED collar. There are multiple varieties out there, but we liked this one largely due to its simplicity of design, and multiple colour options, depending on your preference. It’s USB rechargeable, going up to 10 hours between charges.
SLSON Collapsible Dog Bowl
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This one has the outdoorsy pet (and pet owner!) in mind. Lugging around a water bowl while travelling or hiking can be awkward, and you can get around that altogether with these foldable models. Lightweight and featuring a carabiner clip, they’re easily portable, and made of soft BPA-free plastic.
Sofunii Dog Water Bottle
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
If you’re out on a winter walk or a hike, be sure to keep this warm in your pack, but when your doggo needs to quench their thirst, this is a great on-the-go tool. We saw other doggy water bottles available, but most need to be squeezed to bring water into the ‘bowl’. This one offers a nifty little button mechanism instead, and any water left in the drinking area can be siphoned back into the bottle for later. Just a neat little design.
MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
When you get home after that winter walk, make things easier on yourself with this paw cleaning device from Mudbuster. All you have to do is add a little water, insert the muddy or slushy paw, twist it, and dab the paw dry with a towel. The gentle silicone bristles will effectively remove dirt and mud, and it’s dishwasher safe when when the cleaner itself needs to be cleaned.
Musher's Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax
Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Paws are just as prone to damage and cracking as your own skin in the cold, dry winter air, to say nothing of direct contact with ice, snow and salt. This wax will seal those paws effectively against those hazards, and those who like it, like it a lot. Comes in 60 and 200-gram packs.
Dog Bed with Removable Cover
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Your dog was likely enjoying the cool feel of the floor during Canada’s hot summer months, but those are long behind us now, and tile and hardwood can get pretty chilly pretty quickly. Keep your doggy warm this season with this plush bed. It’s fully reversible with cozy sherpa on one side and a cooler material on the other – you can flip it during the occasional thaw! This bed comes in several different sizes to suit your needs.
With files from Nicole Hilton.
