Gifts for dog lovers that are about their dog
Dog lovers already own the dog-print tea towel. What they don't have is their own dog, painted, on something they'll use every day. Here's how to do it well, at every budget.
Free to see. No account, no card.
Real dogs, painted from their owners' photos
Dog · 35mm film 
Dog · Studio photo 
Dog · Black & white 
Dog · Oil painting 
Dog · Renaissance · The Last Supper 
Dog · Watercolour
Real portraits from customers who said we could show them.
Make it about their dog, not dogs in general
The gifts that land are the specific ones. A mug with a generic Labrador is pleasant; a mug with their Labrador, the grey muzzle and the one ear that never quite folds, gets a different reaction entirely. That's the whole idea of a portrait gift.
You make the portrait from a photo of their dog. It takes about a minute, and you see it before you spend anything. If the likeness isn't right, try a different photo.
Getting a photo without spoiling the surprise
Most dog owners post their dog constantly, so look on their social media first. A family group chat is the next best place. Failing that, ask someone who lives with them to send you one.
Look for a photo where you can see the face clearly, in daylight, taken roughly at the dog's eye level. The pose doesn't matter: the portrait poses them for you.
Ideas by budget
- A small thank-you: a greeting card with their dog on the front, from £5. Blank inside for your own words.
- Under £20: a pair of socks printed all over with their dog's face, from £15, or a mug from £19.
- Something they'll wear: a T-shirt from £27 or a hoodie from £47, with the portrait on the chest.
- The keepsake: a framed print from £39, ready to hang.
Which style for which dog lover
For someone who'll laugh, a 35mm film snapshot, perhaps with a Santa hat at Christmas. For a parent or grandparent, a classic oil painting or a soft watercolour. For the dog whose owner takes them very seriously, a Royal or Renaissance portrait. You can try them all free.
No photo? Give a gift card
If you can't get a good photo of their pet without giving the game away, a Fancy Pet gift card lets them choose for themselves. It's emailed, straight away or on the morning you pick, for any amount from £10 to £75. It's in pounds, used in one order and lasts 2 years.
What it can go on
Everything is made to order (2–5 working days) and then posted. The delivery time and cost are shown on each product page before you buy.
- Greeting card from £55×7″ on thick paper, blank inside. The easiest one to add to another present.
- Socks from £15Crew socks with their dog printed all over. Socks don't carry a name.
- Mug from £1911oz, dishwasher-safe, with the dog's name under the portrait if you like.
- T-shirt from £27A soft unisex tee with the portrait on the chest.
- Framed print from £3911×14″ framed and ready to hang; larger sizes too.
Questions
Do I need a perfect photo of their pet?
No. Any clear photo where you can see the face works, even one from social media or a family group chat. You'll see the finished portrait free before you buy, so you know whether the photo was good enough.
Can the dog's name go on it?
Yes, on most products: it's lettered beneath the portrait. Caps and socks don't carry a name.
Can I send it straight to them?
Yes. At checkout, put their address as the delivery address. There are no prices in the parcel.
Does it cost anything to try?
Seeing it is free, and we'll email you the full-size file free too. You only pay if you choose a print, mug, card or other product.
Related
Free to see. No account, no card.