Shropshire Star

Pampered pets gift guide - tried and tested

Whether you have a pampered pooch, a fancy feline or something a little more exotic - one thing all pet owners have in common is the urge to splash out on our furry, feathered and scaly companions.

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Looking for the perfect gift to spoil your pet?

Do you want to find the perfect gift to spoil your pet? Take a look at our tried-and-tested gift guide for ideas:

Small English Rose Dog Collar - £6.95 - Rex London

Small English Rose Dog Collar

5 out of 5

This attractive floral dog collar is available in small, medium or large - and a matching dog lead can also be bought.

Though £6.95 is a little more than the average price for a small collar, this product is great quality and padded to avoid the collar rubbing or indeed showing wear too quickly.

It also has a neat little loop, ensuring the material doesn't get caught or look untidy, as well as a thick metal buckle.

This collar is available in a range of designs, including navy with white spots, multicoloured stripes and a 'mid century poppy' design with a white background.

Small Mid Century Poppy Dog Socks - £4.95 - Rex London

Small Mid Century Poppy Dog Socks

4.5 out of 5

These lovely little socks are ideal for dogs which have a tendency to bite their feet or for those with skin problems.

They are non-slip with rubber grip spots on the bottom and a super cute multicoloured floral design.

Just like socks for humans, they also have elastic around the tops to stop them falling off their paws.

Personalised Cat Radiator Bed - £29.99 - Personalised Gift Shop

Personalised Cat Radiator Bed

5 out of 5

Though this bed is intended for cats, both our little moggy and small dog absolutely love it.

Made with a strong metal frame it holds each of them with ease and is made from a soft, sheepskin-like material; perfect for snuggling next to the radiator.

The cover can also be removed from the frame for washing and, cutest of all, can be embroidered with your pet's name.

A firm favourite in our household.

Personalised Red Pet Carry Bag - £29.99 - Personalised Gift Shop

Personalised Red Pet Carry Bag

4 out of 5

This lovely bag is very well made and attractive too; though not big enough to fit our small Jack Russell as we had hoped. It is therefore best suited for small to medium cats - or indeed large rodents, rabbits or ferrets on short trips.

It is also very easy to carry with a generous strap, which can be placed over the shoulder, and has a collapsible frame, making it easy to store - a much simpler, tidier solution than the average cat carrier for vet trips and the like.

The carrier also has mesh at the front, meaning your pet can see out.

It can also be personalised with your pets name at the front.

Frolicat® Fox Den Toy Automatic Cat Teaser - £25.99 - PetSafe

Frolicat® Fox Den Toy Automatic Cat Teaser

5 out of 5

This little toy is our cat's new favourite toy - and keeps her entertained for long periods of time.

Featuring a realistic fox tail, this device teases moggies as it pokes in and out of the white plastic dome.

It is light and small and even has a 'play all day' mode, with a motion sensor.

It is also battery operated, making it easy to transport.

Microchip Cat Flap - £79.99 - Pet Safe

Microchip Cat Flap

5 out of 5

Using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, this super smart flap reads your cat's unique microchip ID, allowing them in and out of the home - without letting unwanted guests in or out.

It also comes with a manual four-way lock, which enables pet owners to control the access of the cats allowed to come and go through it.

It reads the most common type of microchip implanted in cats – FDX-B (15-digit).

A wonderfully clever bit of kit, ideal for the home.

The flap is also fitted with a low battery indicator, avoiding your pet being locked in or out, as well as a draught excluder; ideal for colder weather.

Drinkwell® 360 Multi-Pet Stainless Steel Fountain - £80.99 - Pet Safe

Drinkwell® 360 Multi-Pet Stainless Steel Fountain

4 out of 5

This fountain is ideal for animals left at home during the day, as it holds a gallon of water.

Recommended for cats or small to medium dogs, this attractive fountain continually aerates the water with oxygen, with a carbon filter which removes bad tastes, encouraging pets to drink more often.

Due to its 360-degree design, it is also ideal for homes with more than one pet.

It is dishwasher safe too - with the exception of the pump.

For indoor use only.

TastyBone Gourmet Edible, Nylon Bone and Nylon Trio Bone - From £4.25 - TastyBone

TastyBone Gourmet Edible, Nylon Bone and Nylon Trio Bone

6 out of 5

For dogs that destroy every toy they can get their teeth into - TastyBones are the perfect solution.

The nylon bones are infused with flavour as well as being durable, keeping your pooches interested for hours on end.

A cocker spaniel and collie tested the beef and wine nylon bone as well as the cheese trio bone.

Both boasting vibrant colours, the dogs were instantly attracted to the toys which haven't left their sides since.

Despite championing strong flavours for dogs to enjoy, the toys do not have a noticeable odour making them great for both indoor and outdoor play.

A Jack Russell took an immediate liking to the gourmet edible bones in smoked salmon and beef wellington flavours - though it seemed her absolute favourite was the t-bone steak flavoured nylon bone.

The TastyBone range also includes products to help dogs with smelly breath, as well as those with sensitive teeth and gums.

Barbour Waxed Coat (XS) - £39.99 - Jules B

Barbour Waxed Coat (XS)

5 out of 5

This gorgeous little coat is the tippy top when it comes to high end doggy fashion - and is super practical too, with an adjustable Velcro front fastening and adjustable buckle strap.

It is perfect for keeping dogs dry on walks too, with a quilted interior and polyamide waxed exterior.

Its incredibly cute, highly attractive design sees the coat have a tartan lining and corduroy collar - and is available in a range of sizes, from XXS to XXXL, and on offer in either black or olive colour schemes.

It even bears a leather Barbour badge.

Andrew James 8m retractable dog lead with reflective straps - £8.99 - Andrew James

Andrew James 8m retractable dog lead with reflective straps

4 out of 5

This hardy, long retractable dog lead is great for small and medium dogs, with a maximum pull weight of 50kg.

The handle is also rubber coated, reducing the impact of friction or pulling.

This lead also automatically extends and retracts with your pooch's movement, avoiding tangling.

The reflective element of the lead could be better however, with just a small amount of the lead bearing woven reflective material which, to be honest, isn't all that noticeable.

A great, low-priced lead however - and ideal for use in the daytime and across fields.

Rosewood Turmeric Cat Scratcher - £40 - Rosewood Pet

Rosewood Tumeric cat scratcher

3.5 out of 5

This scratch post is a great toy for felines - and a brilliant way of getting your furry friends to scratch something other than the furniture.

The post itself is fairly wide and made in an attractive grey material with a nice wooden base, making it aesthetically pleasing for the household.

It proved extremely popular with our little cat, but unfortunately the material started to come away just a few weeks after it was first put into use.

BioSafe Puppy Treat Ball - £4.99 - Rosewood Pet

BioSafe Puppy Treat Ball

5 out of 5

This hard-wearing toy is ideal for puppies and small dogs who love to chew.

It is also protected with BioCote, which the manufacturers say prevents the growth and survival of microbes including bacteria, mould and fungi, making the toy more hygienic for your pet and household.

Treats can be put inside the toy or it can simply be used as a tough little ball.

Tropiclean Oatmeal and Tea Tree Shampoo - £7.99 - Rosewood Pet

Tropiclean Oatmeal Medicated Shampoo

5 out of 5

This lovely shampoo is great for helping aid dogs' dry or irritated skin.

It smells great too; ideal for smelly pooches, and also does not interfere with anti-flea treatments.

The product also rinses out well, leaving little to no residue after use.

True Instinct: Raw Boost, Freeze Dried Treats, High Meat, Raw Bites for cats and dogs - From £3.99 - Natures Menu

True Instinct: Raw Boost, Freeze Dried Treats, High Meat, Raw Bites for cats and dogs

5 out of 5

True Instinct's wide range of treats and dry, wet and raw food is an excellent alternative to the usual high street brands, offering a healthy alternative and a great variety of flavours.

Our little Jack Russell-cross is obsessed with the Raw Boost dried food, in the salmon with tuna flavour, and - despite having previously turned her snout up at any dry food - now refuses to eat anything else. It is grain and cereal free, with freeze dried raw fish, vegetables and botanicals.

She absolutely loved the Freeze Dried Treats with white fish and salmon - and, though they smell very strongly of fish, the pooch couldn't get her paws on them quickly enough. These treats are great, as they are made with a grain, gluten-free recipe, and contain 80 per cent responsibly sourced fish.

Though she's very much distracted by the dried options, when our picky hound will eat wet food, she's also keen on the High Meat Fillet Pouches for small breeds - in chicken and salmon. We, as owners, do fear our pets' food isn't as good as it looks, but this is grain free and made with shredded free-range chicken, vegetables and botanicals.

The Raw Bites frozen raw food for small breeds, meanwhile, also went down very well. Made from deboned meat and organs, vegetables, and fruit, it needs simply to be thawed and served.

Our tiny moggie loves the Raw Boost dried food for cats - and, like her equally picky doggy companion, likes it so much she is now disinterested in her wet food. This is great, however, as not only is it healthy and nutritious, it also keeps far better in her dish while we are at work during the day; particularly in the warmer weather.

She also enjoyed her treats, though not to to the same insane extent as the dog.

The Raw Bites, in chicken, went down very well however. Like the dog raw food, this is made from raw meats, organs, fruits and vegetables - but with added taurine for cats' health.

Peamutt Butter - £2.79 - Pets At Home

Peamutt Butter

6 out of 5

Both my collie and cocker spaniel stare at me every morning when I spread peanut butter on toast, making me feel guilty that I can't share the highly-salty snack with them.

The cleverly-named Peamutt Butter solves this problem, and gives your dogs a tasty treat that will keep them occupied for hours.

The spread is made with no added salt or sugar, and is a great source of heart healthy fats, protein, vitamin B, vitamin E and Niacin.

I gave my dogs the butter spread on dog toys, and also straight from a spoon. The pair had a lot of fun trying to work out how to get to the treat, as well as then trying to lick it off the tops of their mouths.

It has become a firm favourite in our household, with both dogs jumping for joy every time I fetch the jar from the kitchen.

Cheap, healthy, and perfect for keeping your pooches entertained - Peamutt Butter is set to be your dogs new favourite snack.

Webbox Natural Dry Dog Food - £19.96 for 4 x 2.25kg - www.webbox.co.uk

Webbox Natural Dry Dog Food

4 out of 5

For health-conscious pooches and their owners, Webbox's Natural Dry Dog Food is great for meal times.

The dry food is made from 100% natural ingredients and is vet approved.

It comes in a variety of mouth-watering flavours that are almost good enough to eat for us humans, such as chicken with brown rice, lamb with brown rice, and turkey.

Both of my dogs could barely wait for their bowls to touch the floor before trying to wolf the food down, and finished every bowl in seconds.

Webbox Natural Treat Bar - £1.59 for 1 x 60g - www.webbox.co.uk

Webbox Natural Treat Bar

4.5 out of 5

I often worry when feeding my dogs treats that they will become fat and unhealthy, but that worry can be eradicated with Webbox's Natural Treat Bars.

The sumptuous bars contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives as well as boasting 54% fresh meat.

They contain natural anti-oxidants, and come in a variety of delicious flavours such as chicken with pea and blueberry, chicken with duck and cranberry, and lamb with sweet potato and mint.

Each bar is easily breakable, and can be shared between dogs easily or saved for later.

My pair seemed to be indecisive about the treats before, but soon lapped them up without leaving a crumb.

PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher - £124 - Pet Safe

4 out of 5

It can be hard to keep a dog occupied, let alone the two that me and my partner have, but that can be made easy with the PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher.

The water-resistant launcher is great for both indoor or outdoor interactive play and is light enough to be easily transportable.

The thrower comes with nine distance settings and six angle settings so that you can customise your dogs play time, although the dials do not come with exact measurements so it does take a certain amount of trial and error to get it just right.

It uses both batteries and a power cord which aids its transportability, and also features an automatic sleep mode which ensures your four-legged friends get a rest during play time.

The launcher does create quite a lot of noise when in use, but this does prove useful as you can detect exactly when a ball is about to be launched and make sure that you and others are out of the way.

Multiple built-in safety sensors also aid with this, especially for those who are hard of hearing.

Hours of fun and effortless, the PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher is the perfect play time accessories.

Pawsecco and Bottom Sniffer Beer for Dogs - from £2.99 - Rosewood Pet

Bottom Sniffer

4 out of 5

When you come home from work or begin to enjoy your weekend, sometimes it may be nice to include a nice, cold, alcoholic tipple with your furry friend.

It may sound like a pipeline dream, but Pawsecco still 'wine' and Bottomsniffer 'beer' make this a reality.

The white 'wine' is an infusion of elderflower, linden blossom and ginseng which boasts a beautiful aroma, and seemingly taste also as both of my dogs hurriedly lapped it up.

A rose option of Pawsecco is also available, for dogs who prefer a fruitier beverage.

Treat your pooch to some 'hair of the dog' with the wonderful dog-friendly beer Bottom Sniffer.

Containing herbs, such as bladderwack and nettle - which are rich in iron and iodine to promote healthy coats - and dandelion and burdock, this doggy beer is non-alcoholic and non-carbonated.

This popular tipple can be served as a drink or over food and is brewed in the UK.

By Kirsten Rawlins and Rebecca Stanley