Christmas gifts for pet owners

Pet owners are straightforward at Christmas as long as you order in time. The gifts that land best - portraits, personalised prints, anything framed - are exactly the ones with the longest lead times.

We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. We don't paint pet portraits ourselves, so where we mention a portrait studio it is a recommendation rather than our own product.

Below: what to buy, and the dates by which you need to have bought it.

Order-by dates for UK Christmas delivery

• Hand-painted pet portrait: order by the end of October.
• Printed and framed portrait or illustration: order by late November.
• Digital portrait file you print yourself: order by around 15 December.
• Personalised prints and cards: order by mid December for second class, a few days later for first.
• Anything shipping from outside the UK: assume the start of December and hope.

Under £20

1. A pin badge of their breed for the coat they wear on every walk.
2. A Christmas card that names the pet - the fridge test says these get kept.
3. An A5 or A4 print for the kitchen wall.
4. A stocking of the treats their animal is actually allowed.
5. A festive collar tag or bandana that will survive one photo and a muddy field.

£20 to £75

• 6. A digital pet portrait, printed and framed by you before the day.
• 7. A framed photo from the year, printed properly rather than from a phone printer.
• 8. A calendar made from twelve photos of their pet, which sounds silly and is always a hit.
• 9. A good boot towel and a set of walking gloves for a winter dog owner.
• 10. A puzzle feeder or window hammock for an indoor cat.

£75 and up

• 11. A commissioned pet portrait, framed and wrapped - the one gift people photograph and put on the wall the same day.
• 12. A vet health check or dental voucher for an older pet.
• 13. A dog-friendly weekend away in January, when everyone needs one.
• 14. An orthopaedic bed, sized properly.
• 15. A year of insurance contributions, if they have been putting it off.

Browse Christmas cards

Pin badges

Stocking-sized and postable.

How to write it so it lands

• Order the portrait first and everything else afterwards; it is the only bit with a real deadline.
• Check the frame size is a standard one so you can buy the frame off the shelf.
• Write the pet's name in the card. It is the detail people remember.

Where to shop next

• Pet portraits UK: costs and how to choose
• How much does a pet portrait cost?
• Best photos to send for a pet portrait
• Gifts for dog lovers
• Gifts for cat lovers
• Christmas cards
• Pet loss keepsake ideas
• Pet memorial gift ideas
• New pet gift ideas
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy a pet owner for Christmas?

Something about their specific animal: a portrait, a framed photo, a named card, or a practical winter item like a boot towel. Order portraits by late November.

When should I order a pet portrait for Christmas?

End of October for hand-painted work, late November for printed and framed pieces, and mid December at the latest for a digital file you print yourself.

What is a cheap Christmas gift for a dog or cat owner?

A breed pin badge, a print for the kitchen, a card naming the pet, or a stocking of the treats their animal is allowed - all under £20.