It’s approaching my favourite time of year again – Christmas! This year feeling like it's been in the planning since August! Christmas is without a doubt my favourite time of the year the traditions, the food, spending time with loved ones and the gifts. Be merry and bright!
I have been buying the majority of my gifts from independent business for the past two years now, where I can, every purchase means so much to them and it can truly been seen in the products, they feel so much more special. I can’t wait to share our human and hound gift guide 2021!
So sit down with your notepad & pen, favourite festive drink (mine is hot chocolate) and a mince pie (it's not too early for mince pies) & start planning your Christmas shopping;
Flock Designs
Simplicity Planner
The perfect stocking filler for the planning kings/queens in your life. This all in one book has everything you need to plan your way through the year.
Hope creator of Flock Designs has been creating planner designs since 2018 as she could not find a planner that worked for her. So created the simplicity planner for all those people that love planner but want a more custom look to their planner.
The undated feature allows you to plan when suits you and if you want to skip a week or a month it doesn't matter! No paper wasting around here.
I love my Simplicity planner and due to my health planning every week is nearly impossible but, when I am feeling productive this is perfect and satisfies my planning need.
Wagging Wolves
Hand Stamped Padlock Necklace
A must have for Christmas 2021.
A perfect Christmas gift for a fellow dog parent or just as a gift for yourself! The lock necklace is an ancient symbol that signifies security and protection. These dainty necklaces can be customised with a maximum of one initial and a paw print.
The padlocks can be stamped on both sides, I used this to get my initial with a paw print on one side with Chester's initials on the back with a paw print.
It's perfect!
Check out the Wagging Wolves store here - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WaggingWolves
Tug-E-Nuff
Tug Toys
Are by far Chesters favourites toys I have been getting him a new one for his Birthday and for Christmas for the last 2 years. He loves them so much he sneaks into our Dog room and steals them from where I store all the enrichment toys because hes know I keep them for me and him play!
They are durable, brightly coloured and highly enriching. We own pretty much all the varieties but in time for Christmas 2021, Tug-e-nuff have launched the new Power range which we immediately got our paws on. They don’t disappoint
Use code charming_chesterfield to save 10%
Marvellous Maps
Adventure Map
The perfect gift for a planner, adventurer, dog owner or all three!
I am super organised when it come to going away anywhere and like to plan in advance as much as possible (being spontaneous isn't my vibe) The Great British Adventure Map was gifted to us for our staycation in Norfolk and it didn’t disappoint, it has everything you need to plan a adventure. It features 2,500 of Britain’s great wild places, mountains, islands, beaches, waterways, viewpoints, eccentric events and long-distance routes, peppered with some randomly inspiring trivia and amusingly quirky touches.
Marvellous maps also have a number of other maps you need to check out! Whatever your interests, there is an array of maps to choose from, including food & drink, history, and even film and TV, whoever your buying for this Christmas there will definitely be a Map to suit!
You can also get a Pick 'n' Mix Great British Box Set which include 5 maps if you just can't decide which one to start with!
The team at Marvellous Maps are amazing for creating these brilliant maps. They are going to be an vital part of our adventure planning from now on! You can keep up to date with Marvellous Maps over on their Instagram page.
TastyBone
Festive Range
This one's for the puppers!
TastyBone is a Virgin Nylon chew that only use human consumption grade flavours with no animal content, salt, sugar, additives or preservatives. Only the finest quality materials are used to manufacture tough and tasty chews. Chester absolutely adores these, he has been an antler fan since he was young but I wanted something with some different flavours and these fit the bill perfectly and are a brilliant Christmas present that will last!.
The festive range includes:
Turkey & Cranberry
Roast Goose
Festive Partridge
Honey Roast Ham
As well as being dentally beneficial for your dog they also satisfy every bit of a dog's urge to gnaw, and the uniquely festive infused flavours providing your dog with the festive feels!
TastyBone is designed, manufactured and packaged within UK based factories. With uncompromising standards of quality and continuous product development, they ensure complete control over all areas of manufacturing, guaranteeing the highest of standards.
Check out the festive range on their site https://www.tastybone.com/range/festive
National Trust
Membership
For humans and hounds a National Trust Membership is giving the gift of adventure this Christmas. There are multiple memberships to choose from; Individual, Joint, Family or Young Person.
We have been National trust members for a while now, but with the launch of Forthglades #DogsWelcome project it couldn't be a better time to gift a membership to yourself or a fellow dog owner!
Since the National trust sites have started to reopen post the pandemic we have already had so many adventures from Sheringham Park in Norfolk to Fountains Abbey in Ripon and Gibside in Newcastle, all dog friendly and brilliant walks. We can't wait for more!
Membership benefits:
Free entry to over 500 places in our care
Free parking at most National Trust car parks
National Trust Handbook, full of information about our places
National Trust Magazine three times a year, packed with inspiration, interviews and news
Access to an online Members’ Area, full of first look previews and behind-the-scenes features
Currently if you pay for a joint, family, individual or young person membership by annual Direct Debit online, you’ll receive a £15 National Trust gift card to spend in their shops and cafés.
E&V Collective
Christmas Collection
We only discovered E&V collective in early 2021 however the business launched in the summer of 2020. I was slightly sick of Chester in bandanas he's not really a bandana kind of dog but i still wanted some kind of neck accessory aside his collar. I'd seen on instagram a few dogs in neckerchiefs and decided to search Etsy when I found E&V Collective. She has been our go to for neckerchiefs since!
Her Christmas collection is no different it's absolutely stunning!
Check out the full collection on her website https://www.eandvcollective.co.uk/
Paws in Ernest
Christmas Enrichment Collection
For both Humans and the Hounds. I love making enrichment treats for Chester there's something therapeutic about it. Of course with Christmas round the corner Chester had to have Christmas Themed enrichment toys! Paws in Earnest are our go to for all things cute and enrichment!
Paws in Earnest is a relatively new but very innovative business launching at the end of 2020. Melissa and Sam design products to make creating enrichment time for your dog easier, they created the Stopple to prevent Kongs, Toppls and any stuffable enrichment toy for falling over while your filling them up! They also personalise chopping boards which can be used to prep your enrichment. They also stock a number of great enrichment toys that can be used with the Stopple.
The Stopple is my favourite product, it has been released in a gorgeous Fir Green for Christmas but comes in many different colours. It is magnetic and sticks to your fridge when your not using them, which is great for not losing them!
The Christmas Collection:
Sodapup Christmas Tree Stuffable Toy - Christmas Tree toy that will make a great present for all dogs but especially power chewers.
Christmas Tree Chopping Board - The perfect size to chop up your pets treats.
Stopple - The stopper for stuffers - Berry Red or Fir Green
Head over to the website to check our their full range https://www.pawsinearnest.co.uk/
I will be posting a blog on how to make the christmas shaped biscuits on the chopping board soon, subscribe to know when it goes live!
Calm Dogs Games
Chester for 10% off
A perfect stocking filler for both Dog and Owner. Mental stimulation and Enrichment is fundamental to our dogs today as well as exercise, love and Christmas Presents!
Coming up with enrichment games to play at any time of the year is quite difficult. Before finding Calm Dog Games me and Chester would play Hide'n'Seek, The Cup Game and some other basic games to try and entertain Chesters mind and have fun. Calm dog games is also perfect for creating or building your bond. We continuously use our deck and recommend them to anyone I can because they are just brilliant! The deck contains 52 different game cards across five categories - Calm, Focus, Play, Puzzle & Bond.
Chloe Hodder - Founder - Told us about why she created Calm dog games:
"Calm Dog Games was originally created for my own working-bred springer spaniel, Cam, and the desire to give him a fun, interesting and enriching life - and a ‘calm default’.
We all know how busy spaniels can be. Not only will they run all day long but they also have highly active minds and the need for copious amounts of attention and affection! Since I work from home, I had to get creative fast if I were to get anything done!
I began creating games for us to play together and was amazed at how soundly he slept after playing these for just a few minutes
But not only did this tire out his brain, it wore out my brain constantly trying to come up with ideas to keep him entertained! This is why I created the Calm Dog Games deck, so I could just pick up a card at random and deliver brain games, training exercises or enrichment activities and it could be done in the time it takes to boil the kettle.
We love our Deck and we hope you do too!
Merry Christmas
Sarah & Chester x
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