Every December the same thing happens in a lot of homes. You find something cute for the dog, wrap it, watch them tear the paper off, and by lunch the stuffed reindeer is in pieces and the stuffing is all over the rug. The dog had a great five minutes. Then the gift was gone.
If you want a Christmas gift for your dog that gets used past Christmas morning, it helps to shop the way your dog plays instead of the way the toy aisle is decorated. This guide walks through how to pick, a list of ideas for different kinds of dogs, and a few ways to make the morning itself more fun.
How to pick a Christmas gift your dog will actually use
Dogs don't care what a toy looks like. They care what it lets them do. Before you buy, think about what your dog does on a slow afternoon:
- Chases things like balls, squirrels or the vacuum? Look for something that moves.
- Keeps their nose on the floor looking for crumbs? A sniffing or foraging toy will hold their attention far longer than a squeaker.
- Loves a game of tug with a sleeve or a towel? Get something with a rope so you can play together.
- Gets restless and figures things out, like opening cupboards? A puzzle gives that busy brain a job.
- Destroys every plush toy within the hour? Skip plush altogether. No toy is truly indestructible, so pick one made for the way your dog plays and keep chew time separate.
Two more things to check: size, because a toy that is too small for a big dog is a choking risk, and how it gets used. Anything with a battery is for play time with you nearby, not for leaving alone with your dog. Our guide to choosing an interactive dog toy goes into more detail.
Christmas gift ideas for dogs, by how they play
For the chaser: a ball that moves on its own. The BorkBall Disco is the one most of our customers pick first. Give it a nudge and it rolls off, turns when it bumps into the couch and circles back, and it lights up as it goes, which makes it handy on dark winter evenings when walks get shorter. It's $39.99 on its own, or $49.99 with a small paw remote so you can roll it forward and back yourself. You still play with your dog. It just keeps the game going longer than your throwing arm does. Read more about how self rolling dog balls work.
For the small dog or puppy: a ball sized for a small mouth. Most toys are built for a Labrador. The BorkBall Nub is a small ball that chirps as it rolls, sized so a little dog can pick it up and carry it around. $19.99.
For the tugger: a rolling ball with a rope. The BorkBall Tug rolls around on its own, and the rope means your dog can drag it over when they want a real game of tug with you. $34.99.
For the high energy dog: a ball that bounces unpredictably. The BorkBall Zoom hops and changes direction when your dog pounces, so it never moves the same way twice. $29.99.
For the sniffer: a snuffle mat. Scatter a handful of kibble into the BorkBrain Sniff and let their nose do the work. Sniffing is calming, which makes it a nice gift for the busy, noisy days around Christmas. It goes in the washing machine. $34.99.
For the fast eater: a treat dispensing ball. The BorkBrain Snack drops kibble slowly as your dog pushes it around, so dinner takes twenty minutes instead of ten seconds. $19.99.
For the thinker: a puzzle board. The BorkBrain Puzzle hides treats under sliding covers on a turning board. Start with the easy slots so your dog wins early. $39.99.
For calm moments: a lick mat. Spread some plain yogurt or wet food on the BorkBrain Lick and freeze it. Licking helps a dog settle, which is useful when the house is full of guests. At $14.99 it also makes an easy stocking stuffer.
Gifts that don't come from a store
Some of the best things you can give a dog at Christmas cost nothing:
- A new walk. A different trail or a new neighborhood is a whole new set of smells.
- Time. Ten minutes of undivided play on Christmas afternoon, when everyone else is napping.
- A quiet spot. A bed or crate in a calm room, away from the wrapping paper and the visitors.
Making Christmas morning fun for your dog
Plenty of dogs love opening presents, and the tearing is half the fun. A few ideas that dog owners swear by:
- Wrap it loosely in plain paper with no ribbon, tape kept to a minimum, and no bows your dog could swallow.
- Put a couple of treats inside the box so the unwrapping pays off right away.
- Give a toy they can start using straight away, so the gift turns into a game instead of a pile of paper.
- Hang a stocking with a toy peeking out of the top. Some dogs will sit and stare at it for days.
- Keep people food and decorations out of reach. Chocolate, grapes, raisins and tinsel don't mix with dogs.
Buying for more than one dog, or for family
If there's more than one dog in your house, or you're shopping for a family member's dog too, every ball in our BorkBall collection comes with a Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal. Add three of the same ball to your cart and the third one comes off at checkout, which makes it easy to keep one and give two away.
A lot of people also buy a gift "from the dog" for someone in the family, like a thank you for the grandparents who dog sit all year. It's a small thing that tends to go over very well.
Quick answers
What's a good Christmas gift for a dog who has everything? Something that changes how they play rather than another toy like the ones they already have. A dog with a basket of plush toys usually gets more out of a moving ball or a snuffle mat.
What should I get a senior dog for Christmas? Gentle, low effort play. A lick mat or snuffle mat works the mind without much running, and a slow rolling ball on the living room floor keeps an older dog moving at their own pace.
Is a battery toy safe as a gift? Yes, used the right way. Look for a sealed battery inside a hard core, a size that suits your dog, and use it for play time with you around. Put it away when the game is over.