Smart Choice at Giddy Pets
Smart Choice is a value-priced range of toys and seasonal kit for dogs and cats — think cooling mats and paddling pools for summer, plush squeaky toys, and simple novelty items rather than a premium or specialist brand. We stock the range ourselves, and it suits anyone after an affordable, no-frills option rather than a considered, long-lasting investment piece.
What the range actually covers
The Smart Choice products we carry lean heavily towards summer and seasonal kit — cooling mats and pet paddling pools for warm weather, alongside plush squeaky toys like their ice lolly and ice cream designs, and simple novelty items such as crinkle birthday cards for pets. It is a toy and accessory range rather than a food or health-care one.
It covers both dogs and cats rather than being breed- or species-specific, and the pricing sits at the budget end compared with the toy brands built around durability testing or orthopaedic design. New lines tend to arrive seasonally, so what is in stock in midsummer looks noticeably different from what is on the shelf in December.
Who it suits
Smart Choice is a sensible pick if you want an affordable cooling mat or paddling pool for a hot spell without committing to a premium version, or a cheap, cheerful toy for a dog or cat who goes through squeaky toys quickly and does not need one built to survive months of determined chewing.
It also works well as a low-cost stocking-filler or novelty gift, where the point is a bit of fun rather than a piece of kit meant to last for years, and a low price makes it easy to try a new toy shape without a big outlay.
It is not the range to reach for if you need something genuinely tough for a strong chewer, or if you are after a considered, long-lasting piece of kit — for that, look further up our toy and cooling ranges instead, where materials and construction are built with durability specifically in mind.
The range
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat
Press down, feel the cool — this pressure-activated mat absorbs body heat and stays up to 10°C cooler than the room, with no freezing required.
From£34.99
Ice-Silk Cooling Dog Bed with Bolster Edge
A breathable ice-silk cooling bed with a soft bolster edge and a cool-touch centre panel that helps your dog stay comfortable through warm weather. No need to freeze or refrigerate, it cools naturally on contact.
From£12.99
Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover
A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.
From£23.99
Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball
A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.
£15.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Ice-Silk Cooling Pad for Pets
A breathable, anti-slip ice-silk cooling mat that keeps cats and dogs comfortable on hot days, no freezing required. It rolls up neatly for travel and the cool-touch surface helps reduce overheating at home or in the car.
From£8.99
Remote-Controlled Jumping Ball Dog Toy
A self-rolling, light-up ball that jumps and rolls to keep dogs entertained. A paw-shaped remote sets three activity gears, so both small and large dogs can chase and play. Rechargeable and tough against chewing.
From£19.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs
A large inflatable ball too big for a dog to pick up, with a bite-resistant double-layer shell that slow-deflates if punctured, for high-drive chasing and nudging.
£23.99
Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs
A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.
£29.99
Reflective Dog Cooling Vest
A lightweight cooling vest that helps keep your dog comfortable on hot-weather walks. Soak it, wring it out and fit it over the back; the breathable fabric and reflective trim aid temperature control and visibility.
From£17.99
Breathable Pet Cooling Mat
A breathable cooling mat that draws heat away to keep dogs and cats comfortable on hot days.
From£11.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
The crocodile from Red Dingo's Durables line: solid hardware, hard-wearing materials and a five-year manufacturer guarantee, which is rare enough to be the reason to buy.
£20.49
Common questions
- Is Smart Choice a good brand for dog toys?
- It is a reasonable choice for a budget, occasional-use toy, particularly plush squeaky designs, but it is not built for a determined chewer who needs something genuinely tough. If your dog destroys toys quickly, a more durable range will work out better value over time.
- Does Smart Choice make cat toys as well as dog toys?
- Yes, the range covers both dogs and cats rather than being specific to one, with simple toys and seasonal items suited to either. It is not a species-specialist brand, so check the individual product description for sizing and suitability.
- Are Smart Choice cooling mats any good?
- They are a budget option for helping a dog or cat stay comfortable in hot weather, at a lower price point than premium cooling gel or ceramic mats. For most pets that just need somewhere cooler to lie during a heatwave, that is perfectly adequate.
- Is Smart Choice a good brand for a paddling pool?
- For occasional summer use, yes — it is a low-cost way to give a dog somewhere to cool off without committing to a premium pool. It is not built to the same heavy-duty standard as pools designed for daily use by larger or more boisterous dogs over a whole season.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.