Small Rubber Balls

The idea of wrapping up a holiday gift for your dog might seem absurd to some, but if you are a follower of Beloved Pets, I’m guessing that like me, you regard your pooch as part of the family.  Just imagine the puppy-dog eyes he’d make if you forget his present!  So here are my gift suggestions for your dog (and maybe a little for you).

Eco-friendly toy for the chew-happy dog: For those looking for an indestructible dog toy, Planet Dog’s Orbee-Tuff line of dog toys comes pretty near.  This eco-friendly dog toy is a little more sophisticated than your run-of-the-mill small rubber balls.  Orbee-Tuff toys are made of the recyclable material thermo-plastic elastomer (just google it), and to add to this product’s environmental friendliness, excess post-production material is reground and molded into new toys rather than simply being discarded.  These chew-resistant dog toys come in a number of fun shapes (the earth and a football among many), boast a minty scent and flavor, as well as a hollow spot for a treat.

The Orbee-Tuff Strawberry dog toy’s semi-roundish shape, according to the Planet Dog website, is perfect for fairly aggressive chewers, while a completely round toy like the Earth-shaped ball will not reach the back of your dog’s jaw, thus withstanding the attempts of even the most aggressive chewers.  For average chewers, an elongated shape (like a bone) works well.  If you’re going the whole ten yards with the holiday theme, Planet Dog also has a peppermint-shaped dog toy that is perfectly adorable.

Pet carriers totes: My family’s Pomeranian loves traveling around in a carrier so much, he occasionally tries to jump into my mother’s Prada purse.  (Nice try, Max.)  For the dog with a thirst for luxury, try a Juicy Couture Houndstooth pet tote or a lookalike – it’s like the Maserati of dog carriers.  No one would dare call this dog tote frumpy on your shoulder!

Kong Wubba toy to play fetch with: Maybe your dog’s put on some holiday pounds.  The energetic dog 30 to 65 pounds of weight would love spending time outdoors with this brightly-colored toy, whose long tails make it simple for you pick it up and toss.  It’s made of reinforced nylon fabric which covers two rubber balls (a squeaker ball with a tennis ball on top).   Let the man-and-pet bonding ensue.

-Kim