Dog owners receive a lot of dog-themed gifts. Most of them are variations on the same mug. Here is what tends to survive the cull.
Breed-specific beats generic
A generic paw print says "I know you have a dog". A french bulldog on a shirt says "I know your dog". The difference in how often the item gets worn is considerable.
Get the breed right, though. Owners of similar-looking breeds will notice immediately, and a whippet owner given a greyhound design will be polite about it exactly once.
Wearable beats decorative
Homeware gets displayed for a fortnight then rotated out. Clothing gets a decision every morning, and if it passes that test it stays in the wardrobe for years. A hoodie is the strongest version of this — dog owners spend a lot of time outdoors in bad weather, and they will reach for it.
Practical beats sentimental
Anything that survives mud, hair and a wet dog leaning on it. Dark colours over pale ones. Cotton that washes at 30°C without complaint. A gift that requires careful handling is a gift the recipient cannot use on a dog walk, which is where they actually are.
What to avoid
Anything referencing the number of dogs someone has — that changes. Slogans about dogs being better than people, which are funny once and awkward at work. And personalised items with the dog's name if the dog is elderly.
Sizing without asking
Dog walkers layer. Buy the size they would wear over a jumper, which usually means one up from their everyday size. The hoodie sizing guide covers this properly.
Our range
The Dog Lover collection covers the common breeds across t-shirts and hoodies. Allow 5 to 12 working days for UK delivery, since everything is made to order — plan around birthdays accordingly.
Also worth reading: dogs in UK flats.
Further reading: Dogs Trust