Gallery: 12 Great Gifts for the Dog-Lover on Your List
01dog-owner
You provide your dog with food and shelter. In return, you get unconditional love and loyalty. It's a pretty sweet deal, actually. And while it can be tempting to pamper your pooch with fancy gourmet treats and luxury bedding, the truth is he's probably more happy tearing apart an empty wrapping paper tube and lounging on the sofa next to you. In fact, the best thing you can give your favorite furball is your time and attention. Here are 12 gifts that will bring you and your devoted drooler a little closer together this holiday season. __Above:__ Orvis FleeceLock Bolster Futon Dog Bed -------------------------------------- Last winter, my girlfriend and I decided it was time to invest in a *real* dog bed. Our Ridgeback, Hogan, seemed to be mostly done growing, and we figured he deserved something that wasn't a hand-me-down. Before we could pull the trigger, a decision was made for us -- the [Orvis FleeceLock Bolster Futon](http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=7R8K) showed up on our doorstep as a Christmas gift. At first, even the large version we received seemed too small. We weren't sure about the wraparound bolster, either, which seemed... confining. But Hogan loved it from day one. The micro-suede-and-fleece-lined bed is plenty big for all 95 pounds of him whether he's stretched out or curled up into one of his weird tiny balls. It's also super soft and machine washable. As for that raised lip around the perimeter? Perfect for cradling his big head and oversized tongue -- which, as we discovered shortly after giving him the bed, has a habit of [falling out when he's really tired](http://instagram.com/p/ZlpMPPm6GX/). ($100 to $200) *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
02Paww Secret Agent Leash
Paww Secret Agent Leash ----------------------- It's hard to get excited about leashes and collars. But the $20 [Paww Secret Agent Leash](http://store.paww.com/dp/B00COBD4LK) is something special -- particularly if you like to take your dog everywhere you go. It's made of an ultra-soft and durable webbing and has reflective fabric woven into the length of the leash for increased nighttime visibility. Even better, there's an ingenious quick-tether clip that lets you securely attach your four-legged travel companion to parking meters and parking signs -- all without having to unleash them from their tether. *Image: PAWGEAR INC.*
03Shake by Carli Davidson
Shake by Carli Davidson ----------------------- Just when you thought creative pet photography couldn't get any better, Carli Davidson comes along and shakes things up -- literally. Last winter, we were mesmerized by [underwater dog photos](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/rawfile/2012/10/new-book-showcases-the-best-of-underwater-dogs/). This year, Davidson's appropriately titled book, [Shake](http://www.shakethebook.com/) ($18), offers portraits of dogs caught in the act of shaking off water and drool. She spent several years gathering all these amazing photos, and while you've probably [seen a lot of them already online](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/rawfile/2013/10/shake/), the book contains hundreds of new shots. It'll be a welcome addition to any dog lover's coffee table. *Image: Carli Davidson*
04Subscription to Dognition
Subscription to Dognition ------------------------- Did [Denver truly feel bad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ISzf2pryI) about eating the Kitty Cat treats? Probably not. But he did feel awful that his owner was disappointed in him. We're all guilty of humanizing our pets -- especially when it comes to their behavior and motivations. But that doesn't mean you can't [use some real science](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/02/dognition-how-smart-is-your-dog/) to measure the cognitive strengths and weaknesses of your beloved pooch. [Dognition](https://www.dognition.com/) ($79 for the toolkit and a year membership) offers a series of games that help reveal how your dog sees the world. The games measure things like empathy, communication, cunning, memory, and reasoning, and promise to give you greater insight into what makes your dog tick. *Image: Canines, Inc.*
05The Tagg Tracker
The Tagg Tracker ---------------- There are really only a handful of truly useful gadgets for dog lovers. [The Tagg Tracker](http://www.pettracker.com/pet-products/pet-gps-tracker) ($100, plus $8/month) is one of them. This GPS collar clip and charger station lets you track not only how much exercise your dog is getting during a given day, but also monitor his precise movements. The subscription service may come with a hefty upfront cost, but you'll get fast and accurate location updates and the piece of mind that comes from knowing exactly where your furry friend is. *Image: Snaptracs, Inc.*
Dyson06Dyson Groom
Dyson Groom Tool ---------------- Where does all the hair even come from? Even short-haired dog breeds can shed enough to quickly coat floors, furniture, and everything else in your home. [Dyson's $70 Groom](http://www.dyson.com/vacuums/groom/) is a simple, well-designed vacuum attachment that'll help keep those furry tumbleweeds from overwhelming your living space. The tool's 364 individual slicker bristles help collect any excess hair that may be clinging to your dog. Release the thumb trigger and the bristles retract, instantly sucking it all straight into the vacuum. The tool can be used with most Dyson upright and canister vacuums. *Image: Dyson Inc.*
07Filson Dog Car Seat Saver
Filson Dog Car Seat Saver ------------------------- The number of things your dog can tear, rip, muddy, urinate on, or otherwise ruin knows no limit. Car seats are certainly on that list. But don't be tricked into thinking you need some fancy seat-guard system with zippers, fancy attachments, and exotic fabrics. The hammock-like [Filson Dog Car Seat Saver](http://www.filson.com/products/dog-car-seat-saver.90109.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=collections/filson-dog&fmetaProduct=cc15) ($165) is constructed from sturdy 12-ounce, 100 percent cotton dry finish Tin Cloth. It'll keep your back seats mud, hair, and scratch free. Nuff said. *Image: FILSON CO.*
08dogtv
DOGTV ----- I know, [this](http://www.directv.com/premiums/dogtv) seemed like the ultimate gimmick to me too. A satellite pay channel dedicated to dogs? Come on. Spurred on by curiosity and a free trial period, I bit. And after 15 minutes of watching tiny puppies rolling around in blankets, I was sold. [So was Hogan](http://instagram.com/p/eBGlgVm6Bi/). ($5/month on DirecTV) *Image: DIRECTV*
09Chuckit Launcher
Chuckit Launcher ---------------- Ah, [the classic Chuckit](http://www.caninehardware.com/#/product/launchers) ($10). Visit any dog-friendly beach or park in the U.S. and you'll see at least one ball-obsessed dog staring intently at the end of one of these launchers. You get a super-long throw range, a slobber-free ball pick-up mechanism, *and* you save your throwing shoulder. Win. Win. Win. *Image: Canine Hardware, Inc.*
10Mutt Mitt
Mutt Mitt --------- Poop. You'll be picking up a lot of it during your dog's lifetime. And while it will never be a pleasant thing to do, you can make the act of scooping feces off the ground a little less disgusting by choosing the right bag. The [Mutt Mitt](http://www.muttmitt.com/) ($10 for 100) is a two-ply poo bag that's puncture proof, biodegradable, and has plenty for room to accommodate larger, um, deposits. *Image: Intelligent Products, Inc.*
11K9 H20 Travel Water Bottle
K9 H20 Travel Water Bottle -------------------------- Whether you and your dog are hiking, camping, or just out for a quick run on the beach, you'll want to bring some water. The stainless steel [K9 H20 Bottle](http://www.h2o4k9.com/dog-travel-water-bottle-bowls/standard.html) ($18-20) is designed specifically for the way dogs drink. The recessed plastic cap doubles as a tongue-friendly water trough and lets your furry friend lap water to his heart's content. Any remaining H20 can be poured back in the bottle. *Image: H2O4K9 Inc.*
12Varsity Ball
Varsity Ball ------------ Some dogs fetch tennis balls. Some dogs swim. Some dogs go apeshit over basketball-sized orange spheres. [The Varsity Ball](https://www.varsitypetsonline.com/varsity-ball-wholesale/) ($40) is an insanely durable toy (it's made of FDA-approved linear low-density polyethylene plastic) that's designed to stimulate your larger dog's natural herding instinct and play drive. As the Varsity Pets website notes, it's too big for dogs to destroy or grab onto with their mouths. Instead, they push it around, kick it, and otherwise work themselves to exhaustion as they try to "figure it out." If you have a pet lion or tiger, they seem to like Varsity Balls too. *Image: Varsity Pets, LLC*
