Dog people are easy to shop for and hard to shop for at the same time. You know exactly what they love. The trouble is they already own every mug, sweatshirt and bumper sticker with a paw print on it.
A stuffed animal gets around that. It's something they'll actually keep on the couch or the bed, it works for every age from toddler to grandparent, and when it looks like their breed it feels personal without being a custom order. Here are the dog-lover gifts we'd give this year, grouped by who you're shopping for.
1. A plush that looks like their dog
This is the one that gets the biggest reaction. Pick the breed, match the color as closely as you can, and you have a gift that says "I pay attention to the thing you love most."
Our 8-inch Douglas dogs are the best sellers in the whole shop, and they're the easiest place to start:
- Meadow the Border Collie, the classic black and white
- Spud the Mutt, for anyone whose best friend came from a shelter
- Harko the Black German Shepherd, a color you rarely see in plush
We carry more than 40 breeds. Browse them all on our dog breed stuffed animals page, or read our guide to finding a stuffed animal that looks like your dog.
2. A big one for the couch
For the dog lover who wants something they can actually hug, go for 16 inches and up. These are about the size of a real puppy and have the soft, shaded coats Douglas is known for.
- King the Golden Retriever, 16"
- Trevor the Bernese Mountain Dog, 16"
- Twister the Black Lab/Pit Bull Mix, 17"
- Oakley the DLux Golden Retriever, 19"
3. For the kid who's begging for a puppy
Aurora's Miyoni Tots pups are sized for little arms and have sweet, slightly oversized puppy faces. A good "not yet, but here's your practice puppy" gift.
4. The extra-soft ones
Douglas's Soft line is a little less realistic and a lot more squishy, the kind of plush that ends up under someone's chin every night.
5. Famous dogs
Some dog lovers grew up with a cartoon dog before they ever had a real one. Snoopy and Clifford never go out of style.
- Spudsters Snoopy, 10", round and squishy
- Clifford the Big Red Dog, sitting, 14"
See all of our Snoopy plush and Clifford plush.
6. Little ones for stockings
Palm-sized dogs and 8-inch Mini Flopsies are perfect for stockings, gift baskets or tying onto a present.
More ideas in our stocking stuffers under $15 list.
7. For someone who has lost a dog
A plush in the same breed and color can be a gentle, meaningful gift after a pet dies. We wrote a separate guide to memorial gifts for pet loss with ideas on choosing one.
A few practical notes
- Shipping is free on every order, and orders of $100 or more get 20% off automatically at checkout.
- Every order is packed by hand, usually the same day.
- Stock on the larger breeds is limited, so if you've found the right one, don't wait until December.
Can't find the breed you need? Email us and tell us about the dog. We know our catalog well and are happy to help you find the closest match.