The Dog-Lover’s Christmas Gift Guide 2025 (From Someone Who Lives With a Collie in Cumbria)
None of the links in this post are affiliate links. One item was kindly gifted (which is indicated below) and everything else was purchased by me, or is one of my own products.
Every December I find myself looking for things that are actually useful, beautifully made, and genuinely enjoyed by the dog in my life. It’s also quite helpful to have some things in your arsenal for when someone special in your life asks you what you want for Christmas too! I’m a huge fan of well-made products that last and make life with a dog richer, easier, calmer or cosier.
This year I’ve pulled together the things I’m using, loving, buying or recommending for dogs like Scout and people like myself, as well as a couple created by me! Every product below has been photographed by me, tried in my own home, on my own feet, or on my own dog, and chosen with real intention. Some are things I’ve made myself or are services I offer, and all of them are part of our real, everyday life.
If you live in Cumbria or Northumberland, or you’re shopping for someone who does, these are all things that hold up in our weather and lifestyle. Or is something that can help commemorate the time you spend with your dog here!
Here’s what made the list…
Millies Wolfheart Christmas Hamper for Dogs
£42.99 - I bought this myself for Scout as she eats Millies Wolfheart Utility Mix.
If your dog could order their own Christmas present, it would probably be this hamper. Millies Wolfheart have put together a selection of high-quality treats that aren’t full of fuss or fillers - everything will get eaten up from this hamper for sure. I bought this for Scout and the value for money is genuinely brilliant. She taste-tested a fish skin flat as payment for modelling and it kept her busy for a good twenty minutes, no crumbs left.
Scout eats their Utility Mix on the daily (pictured above) and thrives on it, so I trust their all-natural ingredients and quality. This is the perfect main gift for a dog or an easy, impressive present for a fellow dog owner. You’ll be their dog’s new best friend for life.
In the hamper:
250g fish training treats, 250g turkey training treats, Venison sausage, Salmon sausage, Whitefish biscuits, Salmon biscuits, Fish skin flats, Porky strings & a Printed cotton bag to keep it all inside until its all been eaten!
Buy one for your dog here.
Lords & Labradors Velvet Donut Bed in Olive
£99 - I also bought this myself when Scout came back to the UK in June.
I bought this when Scout came back to the UK in June so that she’d have a snuggly new bed in her new home, and it’s been one of the best dog purchases I’ve ever made. Border collies aren’t known for loving thick, heavy beds that are too warm, so this donut bed is soft without being stifling and it’s incredibly cosy. The velvet cover is removable and washable, which in Cumbria is a non-negotiable!
It comes in multiple sizes and colours, but the olive velvet really caught my eye as I’m a sucker for greens. If you’re buying for someone who loves their home as much as their dog, this is the one.
Dogrobes Drying Set (Robe, Snood, Gauntlets)
Price dependent on size, starting from £30.95 upwards for the robe. Dogrobes very kindly gifted me this set to try, and after living in Cumbria for the past year, it’s become something we use constantly. They haven’t asked me to write about it at all, I just wanted to because it’s a great product!
If you live in Cumbria, you already know the struggle. Scout comes home wet after almost every walk and a towel simply doesn’t cut it as one wipe down doesn’t get her dry. I genuinely wish I’d got one sooner, but I’m thrilled I have one now as all it’s doing at the moment is raining.
The robe dries her thoroughly, fits properly, and stops that wet-dog shake all over the house or the car. The snood is brilliant for her neck and ears, and the gauntlets are now my go-to for muddy legs and paws. I love the fact that it covers all the necessary soggy bits without being restrictive to her movement. She’s not the biggest fan of blankets or throws on her, but the fact this ties around her mid section while also leaving room for her to walk about is super. She doesn’t complain about wearing it, and we joke that she looks like knight’s horse on a quest when she trots about the house in it. Not that that in itself is a selling point, but it is downright adorable.
If you know someone who walks their dog in the Lakes, the Pennines or the Northumberland coastline, this is an incredibly practical - and cute - gift.
Browse options here.
Northern Tails 2026 Calendar
By Photography by Frankie
£25
This might be the most meaningful dog-themed gift on the list. Northern Tails is my ongoing project celebrating dogs across twelve northern cities. Each image is shot on location, using natural light and the character of the place itself to create something artistic and memorable.
The 2026 calendar features sixty dogs photographed around the north and twenty percent of profits support Oak Tree Animals’ Charity. If you want to gift something that feels personal, local and full of heart, this is it.
Get yours here or in person at Oak Tree on site.
Blundstone 585 Classic Chelsea Boot
Around £150, depending on where you find yours and when. I bought mine myself online by shopping around for the best price.
Not specifically a dog product, but absolutely essential for a dog-walking life in the north. I bought mine online after hunting for the best price, and they’re the boots I reach for every single day unless I’m in wellies. Blundstone boots are what I wear when I want to look like I’ve made at least some effort, but they’re just as equal parts style and substance. I love them!
They’re water-resistant, comfortable out of the box - I didn’t get a single blister while wearing them in, supportive for long walks and look put-together enough that you can wear them to a café after the mud has dried. If you’re shopping for the dog lover who already has everything for their dog, go for the boots that make their own daily walks better. I can already tell these will be with me for many, many years.
Browse different boots here.
A Dog Portrait Experience
Photography by Frankie
I know, I know, but I would be SO happy if somebody I loved bought me a portrait session for me and Scout from my favourite photographer. I’m always the one taking the photographs, so maybe I recognise the importance of this gift more than most.
For the dog lover who never wants the years to slip by unnoticed, a photography experience becomes a once-in-a-lifetime gift. My sessions are calm, natural and centred entirely on the dog’s comfort. Together we choose the best location, the best light and create artwork that becomes part of the home.
People come to me because they already have thousands of phone photos but want something more. Something artistic. Something lasting. If you’re shopping for someone sentimental, thoughtful and deeply devoted to their dog, this is a gift that hits differently and lasts a lifetime and beyond.
Gift certificates can be purchased for a session for £95, a gift collection (including product) staring from £325, or any custom amount of product so that your loved one and their dog can take home what they like from their session.
To buy one, you can visit the session page, or email or Whatsapp me directly to talk options.