What to buy the dog who has everything...?
There's no getting away from it, our little French Bulldog Mabel is a pooch of the pampered variety. We celebrate her birthdays (she's had four of them now, all of them quite elaborate affairs) and she has a stocking at Christmas. She's even had advent calendars. I am not kidding.
Presents for the Pooch
We're not the only ones who buy Mabel presents (although I suspect this might change this year now we have Jude) and a glance around any pet shop will show you why our pets are just as caught up in Christmas as anyone else.
Unfortunately Mabel has quite expensive taste at Christmas: the generic big pet store treat stocking ended in a very pricey vet's bill after she had to be placed on a drip for the resulting gastro issues, and any of the Christmas themed plush toys usually end up in shreds as fast as the paper used to wrap them with.
So...from experience, it is definitely more cost effective to give this dog a little luxury at Christmas. So here we have it - Mabel's Christmas box (if she's a good girl of course - the jury of Santa's elves is very much still out on that one...)
Tough Toys
For Mabel we need something that will last the distance. Being a bulldog, she is a 'heavy chewer.' We have to check that anything made of fabric does not have any ears, tails or goggly eyes that will become prey to Mabel's chewing obsession and be off within minutes - usually leaving a gaping hole with all the stuffing spilling out. From experience, rubber toys with a squeak seem to last the longest, and be most favoured. So here we have a Novelty Christmas Sprout. It was purchased from Matalan for a very respectable £3.99. Unfortunately a quick check on the website tells me they are out of stock, but you can pick up a similar one here. For a less novelty, more eco-friendly version, you might want to have a look at this one. It might not be a sprout, but it is round and green and will ensure your dog isn't chewing on any nasties.
Merry Munchies
The way to Mabel's heart (and obedience) is definitely through her oft' tickled tum, so the rest of her Christmas gifts are made up of treats she can munch on without fear of winding up at the vet.
The Dog Treat Company are doing some beautifully packaged Christmas dog treats and if they are anything like their other treats, I know they will go down a storm with this hound. They are gluten and grain free (essential for sensitive tums) and are completely natural. These are sold in a pack of 3 for £8 - easy to split if you have more than one hound in the pack.
Pooch and Mutt have some lovely, high quality chews that won't break the bank. Turkey flavoured too, these are perfect for the festive season. We picked ours up from our local dog store, but they are readily available in the supermarket.
Deli Delight
Mabel is in for a very Merry Woofmas with her delicious deli box (so the fact that she ate a FULL box once for her birthday when I left it in eating distance by mistake tells me.) Exclusively available at our favourite Betty & Butch, these come in two different sizes - £8.99 and £12.99 and contain a selection of treats that are 100% meat. In this £8.99 box, Mabel will find: 6 x Chicken & Beef sausages; 2 x Pigs in blankets; 1 x Piece of Pheasant succulent meat; 2 x Jumbo Haggis sausages; 1 x Chicken Burger; 1 x Beef Burger
What a lucky dog she is! She also needs a coat, so if anyone can find me a coat for a stocky Frenchie which will cover her tummy, please let me know where I can find it...
Rxx