Buying for a dog owner looks easy. Then you try it. They already have the lead, the bed, the squeaky thing, the other squeaky thing, and a mug that says something about wine and rescue dogs.
The problem is that most dog gifts are about dogs in general. Your friend does not love dogs in general. They love one specific dog, with one specific way of looking at a sandwich.
So the test for a good dog gift is simple. Does it look like their dog, and does it sound like their dog?
What usually goes wrong
Anything generic. A silhouette of a dog on a cushion could belong to anyone. It will be thanked, then moved to the spare room.
Anything that needs a lot of effort from them. A gift that asks the owner to send photos, wait, and then hang something is a gift that sits in a drawer.
Anything that lasts a week. Treats are lovely. Treats are also gone by Thursday.
What works better
A gift that is breed-specific, a little bit funny, and somewhere they will see it every day.
That last part matters. The kitchen, the hallway and the spot by the back door are where dog owners spend half their lives. A gift that lives there gets noticed daily, and noticed daily is the point.
The breed clock
This is what we make. Each Dinner Time clock shows one breed in a watercolour kitchen, cutlery in paw, under the caption “Are you going to eat all of that?” It is the question every dog owner recognises, asked by the exact breed that rules their house.
- 40 x 83cm, so it works as a piece of wall art, not a novelty
- Black or white frame, chosen at checkout
- Silent sweeping movement, so it will not tick at anyone
- Gift boxed, with metal hanging brackets and a sturdy back board
- £49.95
It is ready to hang when it arrives, so the recipient does not have to do anything except pick a nail.
How to choose
Pick the breed first. Be precise. A Cocker Spaniel owner will not accept a Springer, and they will tell you so. Our dog range includes Labradors (yellow and chocolate), Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Border Collies, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, Dachshunds and more. Browse the full dog breed clocks.
Choose the frame to suit the room. Black suits most kitchens and hallways. White works well in lighter rooms.
Think about where it will hang. The shape is tall and slim, so it fits narrow walls, beside a doorway or between cupboards.
Good occasions
Birthdays, Christmas, a new puppy, a house move, a retirement, or no reason at all. A gift for the person who has everything usually works best when it is a gift for the dog who has them.
Questions people ask
Will it work for a crossbreed? If we have the breed, yes. If your dog is a particular mix, check the range, as we are adding breeds.
Is the frame black or white? Both are available on every clock. You choose at checkout.
Does it tick? No. The movement is a silent sweep.
Looking for a specific breed? Start with the Labrador clocks or the Golden Retriever clock.