Having a puppy is an adventure filled with endless love and adorably excitable energy -- and choices to make on what supports your pup's needs for channeling that energy all in the best ways.
If you're a new puppy parent or celebrating a friend's or family member's new pup and looking for a perfect gift, we've got you. Good puppy gift ideas can run the gamut, from fun, engaging toys to essential training tools to functionally healthful treats and chews, each contributing uniquely to a pup's growth and happiness.
Why choosing the right puppy gift matters
Selecting the right gift isn't just about pet parents like you pampering your puppy; it's about supporting your pup's overall development. Puppies grow rapidly, both physically and mentally. Providing your puppy with development-appropriate gifts can significantly impact your pup's socialization, training, comfort, and safety.
The best gifts are tools that help your puppy learn and grow into the world.
When you choose gifts that align with your pup's physical, mental, and emotional needs, you're setting up your puppy for a happy and healthy life. Gifts are more than just material items—they're tools that help puppies learn about the world.
The right toys and gifts can stimulate your puppy's curiosity and encourage learning and exploration through activity. Exercise and playtime is crucial for puppies, helping your puppy develop coordination and burn off excess energy. It's also a sweet, happy time to build bonds of love and trust with you.
Gift-giving for puppies goes beyond the simple act of buying a present. It's about making informed choices that contribute positively to your puppy's development and well-being. Whether it's a toy for socialization, equipment for walk skills, or gentle grooming tools to keep your pup comfortable, each gift plays a vital role in your puppy's growth.
Let's jump into a quick overview of 9 pet parent favorites and what makes each a great gift that's good for your pup or the other puppies in your life.
Mentally-stimulating, instinct-satisfying gifts for new puppies
Socialization -- learning how to live in the world around them -- is key to all puppies' early development. Interactive toys and activities can help your puppy learn essential social skills.
Puppies love to play and chew. Chewing is a natural instinct for all dogs, their way of self-soothing that releases the feel-good hormones in dogs' brains. For teething puppies, long-lasting chews and durable chew toys are also perfect for keeping those little teeth occupied positively, reducing the risk of your pup chewing on your furniture or favorite shoe instead. Some puppies enjoy the comforting feel of plush toys (aka stuffed toys), but for many dogs a plush toy is just a few good chews and rips away from becoming destuffed and a potential safety hazard.
Puzzle toys, lick pads, and lick bowls that encourage your pup to work a bit for food are another stimulating option. Licking is also a self-soothing instinct for pups young and old that is both mentally stimulating and calming as it releases endorphins and other happy hormones in our dogs' brains. Lick pads and puzzles challenge your puppy's brain, teaching problem-solving skills in a fun and rewarding way.
A couple puppy parent favorite chews that double as "teething toys":
1) All-natural yak cheese chews
Our yak chews are a great, natural way to keep dogs busy while massaging gums and helping keep those new teeth clean. They're long-lasting for hours of chewing action to give your pup a healthy outlet for your pup's chewing instinct and releasing all those calming endorphins and mental energy at the same time.
2) Crunchy chicken feet
Single-ingredient, high-protein chicken feet are a nutritious natural treat for puppies that you'll love for the nutrition and your pup will love for the super-crunching chewing activity. And of course, for the taste of 100% real chicken!
Some fun must-haves to combine play and instinct:
3) Interactive lick bowl
Designed to give your pup mental stimulation and to alleviate anxiety, our Dog Lick Bowl gives you dual functionality with stable and wobbly modes to let you provide a multi-sensory experience for your dog. Choose stable mode for standard feeding for meals or wobbly mode for mental enrichment and anxiety relief as your pup plays and interacts with the bowl to get favorite smeared treats like dog-healthy peanut butter. (See #7 below for our all-natural, single ingredient peanut butter for your pup.)
4) Soothing lick pad
Another way to get the instinctive benefits of licking while working a bit for treats and food, our lick pad also has suction cups on the back so it works anywhere: a wall, the bath, or your floor.
5) High-flying, floatable frisbee
Fetching, playing, and releasing physical energy is another hardwired happy instinct for dogs. Doing it with you is a big part of socialization for your pup as the interaction builds the bond between you. Made to be highly durable yet soft, this frisbee can withstand puppy teeth to become a longtime favorite on land or in the water (it floats!) as your puppy grows.
Whether you give any or all of these individually or as an all-around, soul-satisfying, puppy gift basket, you're channeling your puppy's natural instincts in positive ways to fuel your puppy's development.
Practical training gifts to help your pup build skills and explore
Positive training is an integral part of bringing up a puppy, and the right tools can make all the difference. Having equipment on hand designed to set your puppy up for success and safety makes learning good behavior at home and out in the world so much easier for everyone.
That's why we've pulled together this special bundle of essentials for new dog owners:
6) Training and safety bundle
We've had so many requests from new dog owners and friends of new dog parents for essentials to have as they get ready to welcome their new family members into their lives. We created this new dog starter kit (discounted as a group purchase) to make your life easier.
What it includes (each of these can be bought separately as well, of course):
- Comfortable, no-pull dog harness to distribute weight evenly and alleviate any stress on your pup's neck
- Dual handle leash for optimal, gentle control and safety
- Martingale collar for learning and safety
- Dog seat belt for car safety
- Potty training bells - giving your pup a voice in letting you know when he/she wants to go out (you'll be surprised how quickly your pup picks up the tinkle bells and loves expressing choice!)
Bonus must-have: remember to stock up on plenty of earth-friendly poop bags as you get ready for your pup! (You can find them here.)
These learning and safety tools not only support positive training; they also strengthen the bonds of trust and communication between you and your pup. Investing in gifts that support your pup's development helps your puppy grow into a well-rounded and socialized adult dog.
Soon you'll be ready to guide your pup gradually in interactions with other dogs and humans. You'll get some quality time with fellow dog lovers while your puppy learns to socialize -- enjoy!
Nutrition gifts for your happiest, healthiest puppy
Two dog parent nutrition favorites for all dogs and especially good for puppies:
7) Healthful-for-dogs peanut butter
What dog of any age doesn't love peanut butter?! But not all peanut butter is made for dogs. Ours is -- with one single ingredient: peanuts, no added anything. So you can feel great about rewarding your dog with it whether on a spoon, spread on a lick pad, or any way your pup loves it most.
8) Mighty Probiotic Chews
Optimize your puppy's nutrient absorption and overall health with these probiotic chews formulated by veterinarians. You'll be giving your puppy the fortifying gift of digestive health while your puppy will be thrilled to be getting what tastes like bacon-flavored dog treats.
Giving your pup comfort with grooming
Grooming is vital for maintaining your puppy's hygiene and good health. Gentle, natural grooming helps keep your's pup coat and skin clean and clear of easily-picked-up allergens on fur and paws. Regular grooming sessions also create sweet bonding opportunities between you and your fur baby.
9) Pampering grooming glove
Keeping your pup clean with this soothing grooming glove gives you a chance to ease your puppy into grooming with comfort and positive associations for future grooming. The best part is the gentle one-on-one time you get to share while you're at it!
Watching your puppy explore, learn, and grow is an indescribable joy. Each of these gifts is designed in their own ways to help you and your puppy live all the joy together.
Happy gift-giving and enjoy watching your puppy thrive!
At Mighty Paw, we're dog people. We believe in helping all dogs, from puppies to seniors, live their healthiest, happiest, and fullest lives by our sides. We're dedicated to finding ways to help you bring more joy and true wellness to your pup in your adventures together large and small.
That's why we're committed to bringing you high-quality products and the best gifts that are safe, healthful, and practical for everything you need to keep your pup happy and enjoying life with you.
