Sarah Fraser, the co-founder of Instinct Dog Behavior and Training in New York, likes to give younger or adolescent dogs what’s called a flirt pole, which she says is “like a giant cat toy. For many dogs, it quickly becomes their favorite — a fantastic substitute for chasing real squirrels. Plus, it’s a great form of exercise that doesn’t require the owner to do much.” For small-to-medium dogs, she likes this option from Outward Hound.

If the pup you’re buying for likes playing fetch, try the Hol-ee Roller, which Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler and her rescue mini-schnauzer mix, Reggie, swear by. She describes it as “a hybrid bouncy ball and chew toy, with big holes that make it easy for smaller mouths to catch and grip and fling about.

The rubber is durable but not inflexibly hard, so errant tosses aren’t a breaking hazard, and the ball’s squishiness absorbs its own noise and shock, which is nice news for your downstairs neighbor.” It also comes in a large size.

Trainer Andrea Arden says this is “one of the most perfect tug toys I’ve found.” It’s long enough, she says, “to allow for appropriate distance from the dog to your hand” but can be rolled up, making it easy to bring along on walks or to the park where it can be used as a play reward for outdoor training. “Dogs love it,” she adds of the sturdy toy that’s also machine-washable.

“We call it his ‘bear octopus,’ and we hate it,” writes Alice Gregory of this multi-legged dog toy. “We’re not even sure where it came from, but Mickey, our toy poodle, likes it more than anything that is not a piece of outright garbage,” which is the best praise any dog parent can give for a dog toy.

Leimkuhler got this plush puzzle tree as a gift from a friend whose own dog was obsessed with it, and she has since gifted it to many of her other dog-parent friends. “It’s a hit every time,” she promises, adding that the tree and its included stuffed, squeaky squirrels keeps her Reggie occupied for hours.

Kate Perry, a dog trainer and the author of Training for Both Ends of the Dog Leash, likes to give “practical items that help stimulate the dog’s mind and help owners have a better relationship with their dogs.”

One of her favorite interactive treat toys for pups is the Busy Buddy Twist ’n Treat, which she describes as “great as a gift for new dog owners, and great for training a dog to work for their food.”

Arden is also a fan of this “super durable” gift, telling us it’s “especially great for puppies who need every opportunity to burn off mental and physical energy.”

Perry, Semel, and trainer Lauren Camerini, the founder of The Peaceful Dog, all like the puzzle-feeders from Nina Ottosson. Perry calls them “Rubik’s Cubes for dogs,” while Camerini says they’re the canine equivalent of the “New York Times crossword puzzle.” With this one, you hide treats in the compartments, then your dog has to sniff and slide the pieces out of the way to get them.

In general, Camerini says, “food puzzles are great for city dogs because they provide mental enrichment, curb boredom, and are just plain fun.”

Semel is particularly fond of Nina Ottosson’s Tornado: “It’s a great way to feed your dog slowly and keep them busy when you need them to self-occupy, and it’s good for mental stimulation! It’s easy to clean, not super-expensive, and entertaining to watch.”

Camerini and Lauren Novack, a consultant at Behavior Vets of NYC, both say they’ve told countless clients to pick up a snuffle mat, which delights dogs while tiring them out at the same time. “Dogs love to use their noses,” Camerini says, “and sniffing for hidden treats tires them out if you don’t have time for a long walk.

” Novack, who uses the mat with her clients to facilitate doggie relaxation, adds that “sniffing makes dogs happy, and hiding treats in this mat is one awesome way to feed them dinner and get them using their noses.”

A bonus, she says, is that “it’s washable and portable: You can take it anywhere.”

“Cricket treats are higher in protein and more nutrient dense than beef or chicken treats, and they require fewer resources like land, water, and energy to raise (and cause much lower carbon emissions),” Strategist writer Liza Corsillo says about these morsels from Jiminy’s Cricket, which are her silver poodle Uli’s favorite treats. “These are so effective that I’ve been using them to teach her tricks I never would have tried before.”

Texas-based veterinarian Sarah Ochoa previously told us that these calming dog treats help ease her dog’s anxiety. “I have tried her on many different brands, and these are the only treats that I have found that actually help,” she says. Some of the chews’ soothing ingredients include hemp, chamomile, and thiamine (also known as vitamin B).

If you want to give a dog a bone, Doug the Pug, who has more than 3 million followers on Instagram, loves these antler chews: “I have one in every room in the house!”

Or, if you’re not sure of exactly what type of toy or treat to give, Shirley Braha, the mom to a senior dog named Phyllis, recommends giving the gift of replenishing treats. “The first thing that comes to mind is a BarkBox subscription because I feel like dogs are always running out of treats,” she says, “and high-quality treats are weirdly expensive.”

This slow-feed dog bowl helps dogs who eat their food entirely too fast. As writer Ashlea Halpern explains, “The unusual puzzle shape of these bowls forces gluttonous dogs to slow their roll.” Sophie, Halpern’s Chihuahua, “rarely gags when she uses it because she has to think about how to extract the food, as opposed to just blindly gobbling.” For more puzzle bowls, check out our expert-recommended roundup.

The staff of dog boutique and groomer Releash NYC loves the clever design of this hybrid water bottle and bowl for active dogs. One worker explains how ingenious it is: “Squeeze it, and water fills the bowl for your pup to drink; release your grip, and the remaining water returns to the bottle.”

These collapsible dog bowls, also recommended by Halpern, are helpful for a traveling pup. “We tuck them into our carry-on bags and keep one in the glove compartment of our car,” she says. “The durable silicone is lightweight, easy to clean, and won’t tip over in a moving vehicle.”

Arden says that this set of licking mats is a great gift for hyperactive dogs for many of the same reasons as a snuffle mat. Spreading a soft treat like peanut butter over its surface “creates a fun game where the dog is kept busy licking at the mat,” she explains, adding that it’s a particularly great gift for dog owners whose dogs struggle with strangers and being alone. They’re “very useful for helping a dog to become more comfortable with handling and grooming, or for working on alone time skills,” says Arden.

Leimkuhler loves this bolster bed from Pendleton, which features the brand’s signature stripes and is sure to keep your dog cozy during colder months.

“Every dog deserves a warm, snuggly, supportive bed,” Camerini says, explaining that her favorite is this one from Orvis, which makes for a thoughtful gift because (for an extra $12) you can personalize it with the dog’s name.

Camerini also appreciates that the design is “appropriate for every stage of a dog’s life,” and that the fabric is “durable and machine washable,” enabling it to last through the years.

For a less-expensive dog bed, we love this shag number. It is owned by no less than four Strategist dog parents, has more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, and is perfect for little dogs who love to cuddle and burrow.

For professionally groomed dogs whose owners are looking for a way to keep their doggy’s ’do looking sharp between appointments, “the Atami H270 Vitamin Spray by Iv San Bernard is great for an in-between-grooming hydration spray,” Rona says.

This animal wash from Aesop is a great gift for making bath time more luxurious, according to Leimkuhler. “I bought it to use on Reggie. It lathers easily, rinses away easily, and he does smell really good,” she says. “He smells like a status dog.”

[Editor’s note: This animal wash is on back order, but you can order it from either retailer below and it will ship when it’s back in stock.]

To really play up an old-Hollywood style, complete the look with a jaunty accessory. “I love a bow tie from the Worthy Dog that can clip on to their collar,” says Rona.

Sturino recommends the barn coat from Canine Styles “if you want your dogs to look like they have more money than you do.”

Novack says that her “short coated dog starts shaking if it hits 40.” For eight years now, she’s relied on this jacket (which requires placing a custom order with the lucky dog’s exact measurements) to warm him through the winter. In the years since she bought it, Novack says she’s “never seen a coat that fits better, or that so many dogs have no problems putting on,” explaining that “doggos don’t need to step into this — the coat simply goes over the head.” For these reasons, she’s continually “gifted this coat to friends, and now they all swear by it.”

For dogs that will tolerate footwear, Arden says that these handsome twists on your classic Wellington boots are as functional as they are fun-looking. “They’re really easy to put on, supportive, and comfortable for the dog,” she explains. The boots come in five colors (shown above), and the price includes four boots for your four-legged recipient.

Mikhly sells these dog backpacks from Charlie’s Backyard and tells us that customers will first try them on just because they’re adorable, but “many end up using them to carry poop bags, keys, and phones” on walks and trips to the dog park. Plus, the backpack “is the type of item that just makes you smile,” he says. It’s designed to be worn like a harness, and there’s a place on the back to clip a leash.

“The best gift I’ve ever received as a dog lover was from my mom for my oldest dog, Buster,” says Fraser. It’s “a cozy, personalized blanket embroidered with his name on it,” which she notes is something both dog and owner can use. “He loves having comfy blankets around to snuggle, and I love knowing that it’s a keepsake I’ll have for years and years to come.” Leimkuhler seconds her recommendation, saying “it’s nice to have a blanket you can share that’s easy to wash.” We have recommended this L.L. Bean plush blanket before: It’s soft, durable, and can be personalized.

Rachel Jones, the owner of streetwear-inspired dog-gear brand Trill Paws, says these collars from Nice Beast are her go-to gifts for dog owners. “They are so vibrant and are always a fun talking point among dog lovers.” The brand is one of those talking points: “The products are all fabricated by indigenous women in small communities of Chiapas, Mexico, and each piece takes between two and three days to make from braiding to assembly,” Jones explains.

Perry likes this harness from Softouch Concepts as a gift for dog owners who are teaching their pups to stop pulling on the leash. “This harness is both humane and effective,” she says. “From my experience working with this equipment, I find it reduces dogs’ ability to pull on the leash by at least half.”

“

A friend of mine used to be a raver,” Novack tells us, “So when I saw this harness, I had to get it; not only does it turn on, it glows and pulses.” She adds that owners can choose what color the harness displays or “have the harness cycle through all the colors” it can turn.

The product is so good, according to Novack, it literally changed her life as a dog parent. “We used to get up at 6 a.m. on weekend mornings for an off-leash time in Central Park, but after buying this, we realized that we could instead grab dinner outside at one of our favorite restaurants near the park and then take a walk after.

Thanks to the LED harness, we can see our dog as he runs free at night.”

“The best gift my mom ever received for me is my doggy carrier–slash–car seat, the Sleepypod,” writes Norbert, a three-pound therapy dog with more than 600,000 followers on Instagram. “It is super-comfy, makes me sleepy, and she always knows I am safe inside. My mom puts me in my Sleepypod when we drive to do our therapy work.”

If you want a slightly more stylish — but still functional — carrier, we suggest this canvas option from Wagwear that took top place in Corsillo’s status-dog-bag post.

As Perry Betts (the owner of a miniature dachshund named Thor) told us, “It’s sold at all of the best fancy dog stores in town, and I’ve see it among cool dog owners who want to avoid looking overly bougie with the Louis Vuitton carrier.”

For another gift that’s more for owner than pup, Leimkuhler’s top pick is a DNA test, which she says she would love to gift to any friend who has adopted a rescue dog. Knowing what breed or breeds your dog is can theoretically help you keep an eye out for health issues or concerns that those breeds typically deal with. “I also just want to know what he is, so I can answer dog-park inquiries and come up with a suitable portmanteau,” she adds of testing Reggie’s DNA. Embark will test your dog’s saliva and screen for more than 250 breeds using a database platform developed with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The company will also create a family tree for your dog and connect you to dogs with similar breed breakdowns.

For the human who loves their dog but can’t stand wet-dog smell, Adelson recommends this funny-looking candle she discovered at her vet’s office that made the place smell like an Italian apricot orchard. “It works not by filling the air with a new scent to overpower the stink,” she says, “but by releasing a blend of natural enzymes — the titular ‘exterminator’ — that breaks down airborne animal odors at a molecular level.”

Personally, my favorite dog-related item that I own is a gift I gave myself when I started training dogs: a specially sized bone wrap from Wagwear,” says Calm Energy founder and dog behaviour consultant Anthony Newman.

Dog training. “I’ve worn it on my wrist for almost a decade now, all day every day; it expresses my love of dogs and it’s truly unique, with beautiful hand-stitched leather and brass-though I think you can also use it as an actual dog collar, as founder and designer Amy Harlow intended. “

If you want a pet camera that dispenses treats, Kate Jaffe, a trends expert at Rover, is a fan of the Furbo Dog Camera, which she calls the “perfect gift” for the dog parent who has an app for everything. “The Furbo lets you interact with your pet even when you’re far away, sharing treats, telling them they’re such a good girl, and snapping some photos, too,” she explains.

Semel, who once got leggings personalized with her dog’s mug from Puppies Make Me Happy, calls them “the best gift, because who wouldn’t be thrilled to wear their adorable pup’s face plastered all over them?!”

William Wegman’s Being Human is a good book for the fashion-conscious dog parent. It features photos of his beloved dogs dressed in high style. And according to our friends at the Cut, “off set, when the Weimaraners aren’t wearing fur-collared trench coats, they splash along a lakeshore in Maine, where the photographer lives.”

If the dog parent is the self-help type, Sonia Nathan, the owner of Sonia’s Pet Grooming, recommends The Other End of the Leash by Patricia M. McConnell. “Better than any other writer, McConnell helps us appreciate that our relationships with our dogs are enriched by an understanding of ourselves — knowing how we differ from dogs and how we are comparable. It’s more than a how-to book. It’s a ‘why-to’ book: why we behave in certain ways around dogs and why understanding that will help us engage in a more gratifying manner.”