Gifts for dog dads
A good dog dad gift is one that gets used on the next walk, not left in a drawer. The best options tend to fall into two camps: something personalised that puts his own dog's name or face on it, and something practical he would not necessarily buy for himself — a better lead, a proper collar, or a bag of treats worth having in the car.
Personalised gets used, generic does not
A dog dad who already has drawers full of leads and bowls is harder to buy for than it looks, and the gifts that stand out are usually the ones with his own dog's name, initials or photo on them rather than another generic accessory in a different colour.
A personalised collar or ID tag hits that mark well, because it is something he will actually put on the dog and see every single walk, rather than something that gets used once and forgotten. It also solves a genuinely practical problem — a proper ID tag is worth having regardless of the occasion.
A breed calendar is a nicely specific option
If his dog is a recognisable breed, a calendar built around that breed is a small, low-cost gift that still feels chosen rather than grabbed at random. It works particularly well as a stocking-filler or add-on to a bigger present rather than the whole gift on its own.
It is a gift for the wall of an office or a kitchen as much as for the dog, which makes it a slightly different category to the practical gear below — more of a nod to how much he clearly likes talking about his dog.
Something to actually take on a walk
A well-made lead or a bag of decent training treats is a safe bet precisely because most dog owners are slower to upgrade this kind of everyday kit for themselves than they would like to admit — a lead that has done a few years' service is exactly the sort of thing worth replacing as a gift.
Treats work well paired with almost anything else on this list, since a dog dad who gets a new lead or collar for the dog is unlikely to mind a bag of good treats thrown in alongside it, and it is a low-risk addition if you are not certain what he already owns.
The gifts themselves
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
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
Personalised Engraved Nameplate Leather Dog Collar
A leather dog collar fitted with a riveted metal nameplate you can engrave with your dog's name and number. A pin buckle and welded D-ring give a secure, classic fit for everyday wear.
£14.99
Personalised Leather Dog Collar & Matching Lead Set
A handsome grey leather collar with a soft padded lining and an engraved brass nameplate for your dog's name and number, paired with a matching reflective rope lead and brass clip. Smart, comfortable and easy to spot.
From£13.99
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
Personalised Reflective Dog Collar with Engraved ID Plate
A padded reflective nylon collar with a slide-on metal ID plate engraved with your dog's details.
£12.99
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
Solid Wood Pet Memorial Urn With Photo Frame
A handsome solid-wood memorial urn with a built-in photo frame and a small posy holder, keeping your pet's ashes and a favourite picture close. A dignified, comforting keepsake to honour a much-loved companion.
From£22.99
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
Personalised Laser-Engraved Leather Dog Collar
A leather dog collar with your dog's name and number laser-engraved into the buckle plate, so the identification cannot swing loose and drop off on a walk.
From£14.99
Common questions
- What is a good dog dad gift for someone who has everything?
- Go personalised rather than generic — a collar, ID tag or lead with the dog's name on it stands out even for someone who already owns plenty of dog gear, because it is specific to his dog rather than a general accessory he may already have a version of.
- Are dog breed calendars a good gift?
- Yes, particularly as an add-on to a bigger present or a stocking-filler. They work best when the dog dad's own dog is a recognisable breed, since the appeal is largely about a gift that reflects the specific dog he has rather than dogs in general.
- Should I buy a gift for the dog or for the dog dad?
- The best dog dad gifts tend to do both at once — something he will use on walks with his own dog, like a lead, collar or a bag of treats, gets appreciated by both of them rather than feeling like a present for one or the other.
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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.