Celebrating a dog’s “Gotcha Day” – the anniversary of the day they were adopted – is a special occasion for pet owners. Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to make your dog’s Gotcha Day extra memorable.
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1. Personalised Gifts
Custom Collar or Harness or a cute matching set
Get a collar or harness with your dog’s name and a special message.
Personalised Bandana
A bandana with your dog’s name or a fun design.
Engraved ID Tag
An upgraded ID tag with their name and your contact information.
2. Toys and Enrichment
Interactive Toys
Puzzle toys or treat-dispensing toys to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Here are some of our favourites:
- The Rylo from Paws in Earnest | code BOSCHPUPS for a Discount
- The MyWoof Pupsicle | code ENRICH10 for a Discount (if you are in the UK, you can get the Pupsicle via wooof.co.uk)
- The Play9 Roolo
- The West Paw Toppl (stuck 2 different sizes together for a puzzle game)
- The Outward Hound | Nina Ottosson Challenge Slider and Lickin’ Layers
- The Kong Wally
Snuffle Toys
A new snuffle mat or a snuffle ball to encourage foraging and scavenging. You can also get a ‘take with you’ snuffle bag or a settle mat that has a snuffle corner included.
Squeaky Toys
Fun squeaky toys for hours of play.
3. Comfort and Relaxation
Cozy Bed
A new, comfortable bed or blanket.
Calming Enrichment Toys
Enrichment toys that encourage your dog to interact in licking can help with soothing anxiety and help with decompression (see also passive calming activities).
Cosy Accessories for a safe withdrawal Space | Doggy Corner
This could be a dog bed with a ‘snug’ or a little tent that gives your dog the opportunity to hide away. You could also use a crate with a comfortable bed and a crate cover. There are many cute options. Just make sure your dog is properly crate trained and enjoys being in the crate as a safe space. You might need to build this up and I’d advice to leave the door open, so your dog can choose to go to their safe withdrawal space when they feel like it. You can also find lots of cute ideas on Pinterest for doggy rooms.
Plush toys with heartbeat sounds or heating pads for soothing comfort.
4. Treats and Chews
Gourmet Treats
High-quality, all-natural dog treats.
Long-Lasting Chews
Natural chews like bully sticks, venison ears or beef barks – there are lots of options. I wouldn’t recommend antlers as these are super hard and could potentially break a a dog’s tooth.
5. Feeding Accessories
Slow Feeder Bowl
A slow feeder to make mealtime more engaging.
Lick Mat
A lick mat for treats and mental stimulation.
Personalised Food and Water Bowls
Custom bowls with your dog’s name.
6. Clothing and Accessories
Seasonal Gear
A stylish coat or sweater for colder weather.
Treat Bag to keep all their yummy Treatos
One of the main reasons Pandas recall has improved so so much are high-reward and a consistent reward history, ie keeping the treats up and rewarding good behaviour. Panda is a free-roaming Arabian Village Dog (Wadi Dog from Oman) who are naturally very independent, so not as naturally ‘obedient’ as dogs who have been bred to listen to and live with humans like ‘pet’ dogs.
The Voilà Treat Pouch is a stylish and popular one – that you can clean out and therefore even use with pates etc. You can use our code BULLYCO for mates rates.
7. Health and Wellness
Spa Day
Special grooming session or a spa day package.
Dental Care Kit
A dental care kit with toothpaste, toothbrush, and dental chews. If brushing teeth is still tricky (not every rescue dog might be keen on being handled and especially teeth can be tricky at first) or as an addition for ‘in-between’ brushes getting some doggy dental powder might be an option. I like to add seaweed based dog dental powder to their meals or onto lick mats.
Supplements
High-quality supplements for joint health, skin, and coat. Please check with a veterinarian if in doubt. Yumove is a popular choice for (mine use this too until I got my senior who is aged 12 on Lilbrella for his arthritis).
‘Toppers’ and Food Add-Ons
If you are into enrichment bowls then maybe also some super food powders (dog safe ones) can make a nice gift too. We love beetroot powders, pumpkin powders and the Norm Freak Shakes. When adding new foods to your dogs meal please do this gradually!
If you’d like to add more fresh foods to your dog’s life or are looking for dog-safe DIY home cleaning solutions, then The Forever Dog Life Cook Book with 120+ Recipes (there is also the original Forever Dog book with more background – if you’d like to get a bundle or more on the reasons why you might want to add more fresh foods to your dog’s diet).
8. Adventures and Experiences
Quality Time with You
The biggest and most important gift you can give your dog is spending quality time with them and giving them the life they deserve. Find out what your dog really likes and needs and provide more of this! Quality time can look different for each dog and human pain – even within our household my dogs have different preferences.
Tuggy Toys
Make recall and play time even more fun (and help build your bond) with fun tuggy toys. Our favourite ones are the Tug-E-Nuff toys – they come with real fur (faux or no fur options available) and are super enticing! You can save on your first order with my code BULLYCO.
My dogs’ fave Tuggy Toys:
- Squeaky Rabbit Pocket Magnet and the Rabbit Skin Squeaky Chaser (it also comes without a squeak in case your dog is worried about squeakies)
- Big Twizzler
- Sheepskin Bungee Chaser
Here are also some blog posts from Tug-E-Nuff you might like and find helpful:
- Rescue dog approved: Top toy picks for rescue dogs
- 7 easy ways to teach your rescue dog to play
- How To Teach Your Dog To Play Tug Of War Safely: A 7-Step Guide
- 3 Reasons You Should Play Tug With Your Dog
- 4 Myths About Playing Tug Debunked
Backpack
A backpack for hiking adventures. Whilst there are dog back packs, you want to make sure the dog is comfortable with these before getting one and also to make sure they fit properly! There is also a lot of training involved to make the dog comfortable wearing them and wearing them with fillings. I’d instead recommend a backpack for the human. There are many amazing options.
Here are some of our favourites:
- Lucy and Lola have backpacks (and more like Hoodies etc) where you can get an embroidered portrait of your dog – so freakin cute
- For hiking adventures the typical backpacks from hiking brands might be a great option
Gift Card
A gift card to a favourite pet store or online retailer.
9. Keepsakes
- Photo Frame: A beautiful frame to display a favourite picture of your dog.
- Paw Print Kit: A kit to create a lasting paw print keepsake.
- Memory Book: A scrapbook or photo album to document your dog’s journey.
10. Training and Activities
Dog Enrichment Card Set
Never run out of ideas again with this super handy and made with love Enrichment Card Set for Dogs – with Brain Games, Calmness and more. The Calm Dog Games is a small business and we love this card set! They also sell other bits like snuffle toys, treat bags and more. You can get mates rates with our code BULLYCO.
Training Classes
Enrolment in a fun training class like agility, obedience, or scent work.
Doggy Daycare Pass
A pass for doggy daycare or a play session with other dogs.
Time in a safe, rentable dog field
Voucher for a fenced in, safe rentable dog field where your dog can play off-leash. You can invite a fellow doggy friend or enjoy some quality time together.
If you have a dog who is been affected by BSL and has to follow the guidelines (like one of mine after the UK Bully Ban), this is a great opportunity to give them some time to run around without a leash a muzzle. Just make sure the place allows exempted breeds.
The secure fields are also great for deaf dogs (like my boy Chalkie) or visually impaired dogs to be off leash safely. They are also amazing for dogs who prefer to have less to no social interactions with other dogs, for spending some time with your dog and your dog’s bestie (safe play date), reactive dogs and dogs and guardians who simply would like to spend some time without worrying about distractions etc.
In the US, there is also a company where you can hire out other people’s gardens – this might be an option too. It’s called SniffSpot https://www.sniffspot.com
If you’d like to get away for a bit longer, then dog-friendly cottage rentals with enclosed gardens might be an idea too. There are different options. In the UK, Canine Cottages offer lots of properties to rent https://www.caninecottages.co.uk/cottages-with-enclosed-gardens
These Gotcha Day gift ideas not only show your love and appreciation for your furry friend but also contribute to their happiness, health, and well-being. Celebrate this special day with a thoughtful gift that your dog will truly enjoy!
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