Think “out of the box” this holiday season and get your big dog something special to fill his stocking. These are the 10 BEST BIG DOG GIFTS of the year.

I don’t know about you, but I am incredibly picky about the things I buy for Junior and Sulley.  Some might call me a bit of a big dog snob, but I like to think of my frugality as wisdom.   My reason is perfectly illustrated in the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Put another way, I could fund a small village in South Africa with the amount of money I have wasted in dog toys and dog treats over the years.

I take full responsibility for my past prodigality, naiveté, and ignorance.  With every toys’ stuffing shredded, squeaker removed or popped, dried up wasted bag of treats, I have grown wiser.  This has been my journey to where I am today; picky, skeptical, and discerning about the toys and gifts I buy for my big dogs.

So, all you big dog parents put away your delusions of grandeur and the dream of keeping a stuffed dog toy stuffed for more than 10 minutes.  Big Dog Mom is here to save you both time and money this holiday season as you shop for your beloved big dog.

Beyond Big Dog Gifts

As I stated in The Ultimate Gift Guide for Big Dog Owners, this list is based entirely on products I use currently or, in a few cases, I plan on purchasing for Junior and Sulley this year for their stockings.

I am not being compensated by any of these companies to promote their products nor have they had anything to do with my selection process for this list.

You will see that several of these items will neither fit into a stocking nor fall into the category of dog treats or dog toys.  But my hope is that you will be able to make sense of why they are on this list when you get there.

This big dog gift guide is designed to help you weed through the fancy marketing and sales pitches at the pet store and pick only those big dog gifts that will provide a return on your investment commensurate with the joy they bring to your big dog.

Top 10 Big Dog Gifts 

10. Amazon Prime

I realize this one might seem strange to have on a big dog gift guide, but Amazon has become a trusted search engine for product reviews, information, and sourcing for more and more people every year.

We signed up for Amazon Prime earlier this year and are so happy that we did.

With a slew of dog-related items, products for my children and a plethora of books for my husband for work, the free shipping has more than paid for our membership.

In addition to unlimited FREE two-day shipping (no minimum order size), with Amazon Prime you can instantly watch thousands of movies and TV episodes as well as borrow Kindle books.

If you aren’t already a member, click here for your 30-day FREE trial of Amazon Prime.

9. Elk Antler

I purchased two elk antlers about 5 years ago and, while they are chewed on, they have held up nicely over the years.

As long as they are long enough so as to not pose a choking hazard, I believe antlers provide a safe alternative to rawhide that my dogs really like.  Antlers are a fantastic source of natural Calcium, Phosphorous, Manganese, and Zinc and are great for tartar control.

An elk antler would be a perfect stocking stuffer for any big dog!

8. Kong Extreme

While I have purchased the large red Kong in the past and have one on hand for puppies, I have found it to be too small for my Mastiffs and not quite tough enough for aggressive chewing.

I recommend the Kong Extreme for big dogs.

The objective and purpose of the Kong are to provide mental and physical stimulation for my dogs while I’m away or when I want them to be occupied for one reason or another.

I often feel like a broken record when it comes to Kong.  It is one of the dog toys that I believe all big dog owners should have. In fact, I keep a filled Kong in my freezer at all times.

If you have a Kong already and are looking for some new ideas on what to stuff inside it, check out 39 Healthy Treats You Can Stuff in a Kong  and Healthy Bone Broth for Dogs.

7. Kong Dog Toys

Once I find something that works for me, I become a trusted and loyal advocate.  The Kong brand toys, while not impervious to destruction by way of big dog jaws or paws, continue to hold their place on the Big Dog Mom Favorite Things list due to their overall strength and durability.

Three toys in particular that Junior and Sulley love are the Kong Ball, Kong Wubba, Kong Jumbler Ball, and Kong Knots.

Kong brand toys are reasonably priced dog toys that would make a terrific big dog gift or stocking stuffer this holiday season.

For more great toy options specifically for big dogs, read Top 10 Best Toys for Big Dogs: Battle-Tested and Big Dog Approved.

6. Raw Paws Pet Food Beef Esophagus Jerky Treats

These are one of Junior’s and Sulley’s favorite treats during nail-cutting time.

They are sourced from grass-fed, free-range beef and they contain no grains or by-products.  They are packed with essential vitamins and minerals and each esophagus strip is naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, which may reduce inflammation and improve your dog’s joint function.

Read Feeding The Way Nature Intended: A Review of Raw Paws Pet Food for more in depth information about these wholesome jerky treats and to see Junior’s and Sulley’s humorous reaction to eating them for the first time.

And for more on Raw Paws Pet Food, check out the following reviews:

• Organic Sea Kelp for Dogs: An Immune System Booster (That Works!)
• Feeding Raw on a Budget: A Review of Raw Paws Pet Food

5. Super Chewer BarkBox

BarkBox is a subscription service for dog “parents” who truly love to spoil their canine companions.  Customers who sign up can choose from different plans that deliver hand-selected dog toys, treats, and other products right to their homes.  In addition, a percentage of their proceeds is donated to local animal shelters which is great.

I received one of each type of BarkBox to review so stay tuned to Big Dog Mom for that in the coming weeks.  For now, I will just say that I am extremely impressed with the quality and variety of toys and treats we received in each BarkBox.  That said, the Super Chewer box toys were much more in line with toys I would buy for Junior and Sulley.

BarkBox is so confident that their toys will stand up to even the most aggressive chewers that if your dog defeats one of their toys, they will replace it for FREE.  The treats inside are all-natural, made in the USA, and without preservatives and fillers like corn, wheat and soy.

And lastly, while Junior and Sulley were quite impressed with this box and everything in it, BarkBox states that if your dog doesn’t totally love an item in their BarkBox, they will send them a replacement for FREE! No muss, no fuss, no disappointed pups.

4. K9 Salute – Treats of Honor

I discovered K9 Salute earlier this year and decided to order some of their treats for Junior and Sulley.  I had been very unhappy with all of the treats I had been buying and was looking for a crunchy cookie type treat to give the dogs while I cut their nails.

Read The Ultimate Guide To Cutting Dog Nails And Having Them Love You For It and Feeding The Way Nature Intended: A Review of Raw Paws Pet Food for mentions on how much we love these treats.

K9 Salute is an all-natural dog treat with ingredients sourced from local American farms.  This is a veteran-owned company and a portion of every sale goes to organizations that support police and military K9’s who protect and serve our great nation.  What’s not to love about that?!

You can order K9 Salute Treats of Honor here and in the coming weeks through Amazon as well.  If you include the code GRATEFUL when you check out, you will receive 20% off during Veterans Day Weekend.  After that time, use the code LOYALK9 for 10% off your first order.

3. ZogoFlex and ZogoFlex Air by West Paw Design

Like the Cooling Mat I mentioned in The Ultimate Gift Guide for Big Dog Owners, I am planning on purchasing a couple of these dog toys for Junior’s and Sulley’s stockings this year and I can’t wait to try them out!

The ZogoFlex dog toys are BPA-free and non-toxic, dishwasher safe, guaranteed to last, and, bonus, made in the USA!  And if that’s not cool enough, they can be recycled using West Paw’s Join The Loop program.

Once Junior and Sulley “open” their big dog gifts on Christmas and have a chance to play with these, I will be sure to share our experience right here on Big Dog Mom.

Stay tuned.

**Update: West Paw did not disappoint!  Read Top 10 Best Toys for Big Dogs: Battle-Tested and Big Dog Approved.

2. ZiwiPeak Air-Dried Dog Cuisine

As I was searching for training treats that would be complementary to a raw dog food diet, I came across ZiwiPeak.

ZiwiPeak is a complete and balanced air-dried dog food made in New Zealand with limited ingredient formulas that include 98% fresh free-range, grass-fed meat, organs, bones, and green mussels.  They are free of antibiotics, growth promotants, and added hormones and never include grains, corn, soy, potatoes, wheat, rice, fillers, sugars, glycerines, rendered meals, or preservatives.

What initially drew me to ZiwiPeak was the size and shape of the food; small, approximately 1cm x 1cm, square pieces that I felt would be perfect for clicker training.  I was absolutely right!

The dogs LOVE the taste and they could not be easier to scoop into my training pouch and begin training.  No mess.  No waste.  Love ZiwiPeak!

1. Real Dog Box

I was introduced to California-based Real Dog Box earlier this year when I transitioned Junior and Sulley back to a raw food diet.

I started ordering a monthly box of dog chews and I could not be more impressed with them.  Real Dog Box offers a monthly box of tasty, air-dried, and unprocessed treats and/or chews that is sure to impress your big dog like it has Junior and Sulley.

What I love most about Real Dog Box is that they don’t curate from other companies.

From farm to table, they research and handpick the most nutritious combination of ingredients for their treats and chews.  They never add sugars, salt, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors and they air-dry their chews to ensure the maximum nutritional benefits are delivered to your big dog.

Real Dog Box has also started to offer Super Chews; larger, tougher chews specifically for big dogs.  Junior and Sulley are particularly fond of these!

There are no fees or commitments and you are able to cancel your subscription at any time. 

If you would like to read our FULL review of Real Dog Box and watch our unboxing video review, go to:

• Best Subscription Box for Large Dogs? My Real Dog Box Review
• Dog Subscription Box Unboxing and FULL Real Dog Box Review For Large Dogs

**BONUS!! Grab your FREE bag of treats with your first order! Click here to grab yours! Happy chewing!

Holiday Countdown

As of today, there are 45 days until Christmas.  If your dog is anything like mine, he will be happy with whatever you choose to get him.

Dogs are like babies, empty boxes are all it takes to put a smile on their face.   That said, I am hopeful this list of my favorite things will help you think “out of the box” this holiday season and get your big dog something special.

Something commensurate with the unconditional love he gives you every day.

Please use this list as you shop and consider sharing it with your big dog friends using the share buttons below.

Drop me a note in the comments below and let me know what you think of this list.  What are you planning on getting your big dog this holiday season?

As I said in The Ultimate Gift Guide for Big Dog Owners, I will be putting together a gift guide each year around this time and will be looking for more great products that will serve large and giant breed dogs and the people who love them.

Stay tuned…