Denzel's mini birthday gift box
A 110 g box of birthday cake chews and balloon-shaped treats, a small present for the dog to open at the party.
Buyers like: Dogs polish off the treats as soon as they are opened(6 of 8 reviews)
What to buy for a dog's birthday
Budgets and prices as of · details
Ten birthday gifts for the dog: birthday treats and biscuits made for dogs, a squeaky cupcake toy and a bandana for the photo, puzzle feeders, and balls and a disc for the birthday walk. Sorted under £10, under £20 and under £50. The family's own cake stays with the family.
What makes a good one
- Something to celebrate with: birthday treats or biscuits made for dogs, not a slice of your cake.
- A new game: a treat puzzle, a food dispenser or a ball for the birthday walk.
- Sized to the dog, and counted in the day's food if it is edible.
Safe to give
- Dog cake, not people cake. Dogs Trust says chocolate, grapes, raisins and sultanas are toxic to dogs, and xylitol is found in sugar-free sweets, some baked goods and some peanut butter.
- Birthday treats come out of the day's food. PDSA says treats should be no more than 10% of the daily allowance, with the usual food reduced by the same amount.
- Size balls to the dog. PDSA says a ball should be too big for the dog to fit wholly in its mouth, and some balls have a hole through the middle to help a dog breathe if one gets stuck.
- Watch new toys at first. PDSA says only to leave a dog alone with toys you are sure it cannot destroy or swallow, and to bin toys once parts could be bitten off.
- Unwrap presents for the dog. PDSA says sticky tape, bows, ribbons and string on wrapped presents can be a hazard if swallowed.
Under £10
today
House of Paws cupcake squeaky toy
A plush cupcake with a squeaker and a candle, for the dog to squeak through its own party. PDSA counts soft toys as supervised play.
Buyers like: Goes down well as a birthday present and often becomes a favourite(5 of 8 reviews)
£6.99See on Amazon Ad
A cotton birthday bandana, 79 by 32 cm, for the party photo. It is on the large side, so tie it shorter on a small dog, and take it off afterwards so nothing gets chewed.
Buyers like: Looks smart on and feels good quality for the price(4 of 8 reviews)
£3.89See on Amazon Ad
Chuckit Ultra Squeaker balls (2)
Two 6.5 cm rubber balls for the birthday walk; the squeaker can stop early, but the ball lasts. PDSA says a ball should be too big to fit wholly in the mouth, so size up for big dogs.
Buyers like: The ball itself survives lots of chewing, often for months or years(5 of 13 reviews)
£7.78See on Amazon Ad
Two 6.5 cm glow-in-the-dark balls for a winter birthday walk. The glow is faint and fades within minutes, so top it up under a torch before each throw.
Buyers like: Tough enough to survive dogs that destroy most other balls(8 of 13 reviews)
£8.91See on Amazon Ad
Under £20
today
Thoughtfully birthday biscuit set (8)
Eight decorated bone-shaped dog treats in a gift set, for a birthday with dog guests. Ask each owner before sharing, since some dogs are on special diets.
Buyers like: Dogs love them, so they go down well as a birthday treat(11 of 13 reviews)
£13.99See on Amazon Ad
Nina Ottosson Lickin' Layers, level 2
A three-layer spinning treat puzzle that comes apart for washing. With dry treats many dogs empty it within minutes, so load it with wet food and freeze it to make the birthday game last.
Buyers like: Makes fast eaters slow down when meals are served in it(7 of 13 reviews)
£16.90See on Amazon Ad
An interactive treat dispenser for small and medium dogs, which turns a birthday breakfast into a game rather than a bowl emptied in seconds.
Buyers like: Turns a meal into a game that lasts until the last biscuit is out(6 of 13 reviews)
£13.25See on Amazon Ad
A natural rubber flying disc for fetch, for medium and large dogs. PDSA counts Frisbees as supervised play toys, so it lives in the cupboard between walks.
Buyers like: Soft, bendy rubber is gentle on the mouth when dogs catch it(5 of 13 reviews)
£11.55See on Amazon Ad
Under £50
today
Lily's Kitchen treats (8 x 70 g)
Eight 70 g packs of assorted dog treats, a birthday present that lasts the month. Hand them out from the day's food allowance rather than on top of it.
Buyers like: Dogs are keen on nearly every flavour in the box(7 of 8 reviews)
Amazon shows a later dispatch date
£28.75See on Amazon Ad
Skip these gifts
- SkipA slice of the family's birthday cakeDogs Trust says chocolate, grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, and xylitol, a sweetener in some baked goods, can cause liver failure.
- SkipTennis balls for a dog that chews themPDSA says the outer coating can wear down tooth enamel over time, and damaged or slippery balls may increase the risk of choking.
Sources: Dogs Trust: foods that are toxic to dogs; PDSA: how to treat your dog; PDSA: how to choose a safe ball for your dog; PDSA: dog-friendly toys; PDSA: how to train my dog not to chew my things; PDSA: how to have a pet-friendly Christmas (wrapped presents).
