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It’s almost Christmas and once again, I have waited until Mary is crowning to start my shopping.
And unlike the first Christmas, I don’t think essential oils, herbs, and a banging drum solo are going to thrill anyone in my life. (Honestly, are we sure they thrilled Mary and Joseph? Famously, new parents love a bunch of travellers who have picked up goodnes knows what hanging out with their newborn.)
I’m lucky to have a wide circle of wonderful dogs and their people, and while I want to celebrate each of those lovely friendships this holiday, I don’t want to get people a bunch of stuff.
I mean, cue Linus’ monologue from A Charlie Brown Christmas about commercialism, but do any of us really need more things? I’m pretty sure at this stage Bailey has one of everything. Literally, everything. He doesn’t need toys and beds. He lives in a house with me, where I bake fresh treats all the time. He wants for naught. So this year, my last-minute gifts are focused on fewer objects to put under the tree and more ways to spend thoughtful, meaningful time with your friends and their pets.
Plus, some of us not naming any names, Jodi, moved to small beach towns this year where we don’t next-day internet shopping so what used to be kind of late when I lived in the City is now an impossible task. So there will be no physical goods this year, just fun experiences for people and their pets.
Last minute gifts for dog lovers you can still buy online and have in time for Christmas
If you need ideas for thoughtful, easy, last minute gifts that you can buy the dog lover in your life, we’ve got you covered! Here is our list of favourite things you can shop for online today.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve shouted it a 100 times. I am SUCH a fan of the Dognition games
Dognition is a series of fun games designed to help you better understand how your dog thinks, build your connection and relationship, and lead to better, more productive dog training sessions. I absolutely loved working through these challenges with Kolchak and I’m really excited to go through them with Bailey. Especially in the depths of a dreary, rainy winter, these games will be a fun way to spend time together indoors.
You can subscribe to Dognition at this link (and they’re even running a 25% off holiday promotion)
(as of Dec 21, 2025 while offer lasts, I’m not the boss of the Dognition folks)
Want to go the extra mile? Pick up the supplies for the Dognition test kit: two lightweight disposal cups, a stack of Post-It Notes, and some super tasty dog treats all things that should be pretty attainable, no matter where you live.
For the dog lover with a dog who is too smart for their own good, I love recommending Do More With Your Dog
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but that’s some baloney! Whether the dog lover in your life has a bouncy, over-exuberant puppy, a faithful bestie who they just want to hang out with in a fun way, or a senior pooch who needs rewarding ways to keep their brains active and engaged, Do More With Your Dog has options. This “go at your own pace / choose your own adventure” dog training method can help you skill-build dog tricks while earning titles and having fun.
They offer a ton of affordable mini-classes for those who want to casually explore dog trick training or you can sign up to earn dog trick titles for those who are ready to tackle a challenge with their canine partner-in-crime. (Truthfully, you don’t even have to be a dog to love this one – I bet Puffin the Lop-earred Bunny and I would love to tackle this too!) They even have some really great FAcebook groups for people doing more with their dogs that offer help, support and a sense of community.
Want to go the extra mile? A part of the fun here is recording you and your dog showing off their newly mastered tricks; offer to help film or pick up a tripod or way to mount their phone. Filming yourself is hard!
Give the gift of stress-free outdoor time with SniffSpot “Private Dog Parks”
OK, real talk you guys? I hate a dog park. I love the concept. Big open spaces where dogs can be dogs, run around and have a great time? It sounds so good. Except, I’m kind of a dog-snob, and I’m not sorry about it. Every single time I’ve been to a public dog park I’ve met dogs who weren’t comfortable being there, didn’t have safe recall, did have good dog-to-dog social skills, were reactive or jumpy or whatever. I can’t help but feel like every time I stand in a dog park, I’m a little bit waiting for something terrible to happen.
Sniffspot is a great concept where you or you and your friends can rent a little private spacefor your dogs to play and run around in a way you know will be safe and fun. They call them “private dog parks” but they’re really just people’s yards and personal spaces that they’ve opened up to share with the community. They’re great for reactive dogs who love to sniff and explore without other dogs around. Great for off-leash training in a safe and non-distracting way. And great for anyone who wants to let their dog burn off some energy, even if they’re not quite ready to trust them in a public space.
They don’t offer gift cards (what a silly oversight), so to gift this, I opened a free gmail address in my friend’s dog’s name, signed up for a month, then gave them the log in details. (Just remember to cancel your subscription renewal against your credit card or it could end up being a nicer gift than you intended lol!) You could also just gift a prepaid credit card or cash and a note about what it’s for!
I love giving audiobooks to dog lovers.
Bailey and I walk so much and the truth is, as far as he is concerned, I am just there to hold the leash. And while there is huge value in all types of walks from training walks, to exercise walks and more, a nice, slow sniffing walk is one of this old man’s favourites. When he’s on a sniffing walk, he sets the pace, I let him stop as much as he wants and he gets to work out his brain smelling everything the neighbourhood has to offer – and while he sniffs, I love to listen to audiobooks.
I might be biased because she one of my best friends, but my book of the year is this gem by Maggie Marton: For the Love of Dog: How Dogs Think and the Unbreakable Bond That Connects Us > it’s on Audible, along with tons of other great non-fiction and fiction books for dog lovers and it made our walks this fall so joyful.
Grab For the Love of Dog it on Audible for yourself (you won’t regret it) then gift your friend an Audible subscription and start your own little dog centric book club!
Made with Love Homemade Dog Treats
Here at Kol’s Notes, dog treats are KIND OF our thing. I absolutely love making Bailey fresh, DIY dog treats. we have a TON of dog treat recipes. Why not whip up a batch of canine-friendly peanut butter gingerbread? Pop it in a cute box or jar, and it’s a great, thoughtful, made-from-the-heart dog lover gift.
Who else has amazing ideas for the dog lovers in their lives?
I want to hear what you’re still shopping for – especially if your top picks belong on this list!