5 unique gifts about dogs that will charm any owner - not just for Christmas!
- adrienne koehazi
- May 6
- 6 min read
As dog owners, we know that our pet is not just a cuddly toy, but part of the family. So when we are looking for a gift for them, we want to find something really special and unique. A gift that reflects the love and care we have for them.
In this blog post, I've put together 5 unique dog -related gifts that will not only make your heart beat faster, but also support small local businesses.
Whether you're looking for a gift for Christmas or any other occasion, this list will help you find the ideal surprise that you'll be happy to give to your pet or yourself.
Meet the 5 unique gifts about dogs that are sure to put a smile on the recipient's face!
Lucius Manufactory: hand painted dog portraits on wooden plates
Behind the name Lucius Manufactory, Melinda paints her dog portraits with heart and soul. Melinda named her brand after her own puppy, Lucius, and her business started out of her love for her dog. Lucius was the dog model that she painted the very first wooden plate of.
Melinda says:
"Initially I painted canvases, then in September 2022 I ordered some wooden blocks to paint Christmas motifs on them. I started and then I looked at Lucius and thought: Why not paint a portrait of him on a wooden plate? I could already see it in my head, his name on top, two paws next to it, the portrait and the satin ribbon tied around the end."
Melinda's paintings are not just simple pictures, but memories that speak directly to the hearts of their owners - often of pets that have been passed away. Melinda has painted nearly 100 portraits in the last two years.
Lucius Manufactory's products are based on photographs sent by their owners, so each creation is completely unique and personalised. During the ordering process, Melinda will discuss all the details with the owner, including the choice of background colour and, in the case of a wooden slice, the choice of satin ribbon. The paintings are finished with acrylic paint and the finished artwork is sealed with a gloss varnish to ensure durability.
The range of products is varied: magnets, wooden plates, individual or double portraits can be ordered. Prices depend on the product chosen.
If you're reading this post later than 2024, check out the current prices and ordering process on Lucius Manufactory's Instagram page, which you can find here:
Frambo Design: when the use of materials is intertwined with creativity
Under the brand name Frambo Design, Heni creates unique and stylish steel plate dog products. They are both practical and decorative.
The business is built on the expertise and creativity of Heni, who spent many years designing industrial machinery as a mechanical engineer and then transferred this knowledge and passion to her own business. Heni is currently a mother of a girl, and will have another baby next year. In fact, she has two other “daughters”, Raspberry and Cranberry, the cocker spaniels.
Heni tells us about the start of her business:
"I've always dreamed of having my own small business, where I have complete freedom to decide what I want to do and how I want to do it. After the birth of my son, I felt the time was right to start. I wanted a creative business where I could use my professional background. I am a mechanical engineer and I have designed various industrial machines from steel. I wanted to create products that I could connect with emotionally. My products are mainly for dog owners and parents with small children. I'm also a mum and an owner of two puppies, both roles significantly shape and make my life happier."
Two of Frambo Design's standout dog products, the dog Christmas tree ornament and the leash hanger, are perfect gifts for any dog owner who likes to combine style with functionality.
The Christmas tree ornaments are made of steel in the form of dog silhouettes. The ornaments are painted and decorated by hand, making each piece unique and special. Of course, these ornaments can be hung on the tree not only for Christmas, they can also be placed anywhere in the home!
Frambo Design's leash hooks are also made of steel, making them durable and practical. The hooks are painted with industrial quality paint, so they are guaranteed to be long-lasting and resistant. The really special detail is that Heni sticks the dog's name on it in the form of a vinyl sticker. Double-sided adhesive tape is used to easily attach the hangers to the wall (this is included in the package).
All Frambo Design products are made with a unique silhouette, for mix-bree dogs Heni tries to provide the best silhouette for the dog based on the photo.
You can reach Frambo Design via their Instagram page:
Horgolt Vadon: crochet wild and unstoppable
Horgolt Vadon embodies the creative dream of Melinda, who started learning to crochet on her own in January 2024. She creates all kinds of unique, handmade creations, whether it's a crocheted animal or even a special wish like an Ambulance. Her work combines the softness and texture of chenille and cotton yarns to bring any unique idea to life.
Melinda particularly enjoys being approached with custom orders. The chenille yarn she uses gives a soft and plush effect, while the cotton gives a stronger and more durable effect. Whether it's a special gift or a completely new idea, Melinda is always open to a challenge.
The name of Horgolt Vadon (Crochet Wildly or Crochet Wilderness) reflects Melinda's free creative approach. The name is ambiguous:
"I knew that I didn't want to crochet just one animal, or not just animals... but anything you wanted. That's why I called it “wild”. In two senses, lots of wild animals and wildly, meaning unstoppable."
Melinda's first creation was an octopus, which has been a memorable start for her ever since. Of course, Melinda's challenging creative approach gives us dog lovers the chance to ask her for as many dog commissions as possible using her own photos of our doggies!
Since each piece is unique, the exact price depends on the complexity and size of the pattern.
Find more exciting crochet projects on Melinda's Instagram:
FunnyGrey DogDesign: Unique dog accessories made of natural materials
Anna behind FunnyGrey DogDesign mainly makes leashes and collars from cotton rope. Her brand focuses on the use of natural materials such as cotton, leather and canvas.
Moreover, the leashes are very often painted by Anna herself, so only a limited number of each is made. No two painted leashes are ever the same. In fact, for some time now, there have also been items made from recycled materials, such as belt pouches. Anna designs these to a size that will comfortably fit everything you need for a dog walk.
Anna tells us how she started her business:
“I became a dog person 8 years ago, a ”six-legged" one. Working with dogs, walking and learning has brought into my life a hobby that I always missed. From the beginning I loved to delve into all kinds of topics related to dog ownership. So I did a dog training course and since handmade things have been close to me since I was little, I created the FunnyGrey brand. My long-term goal is to make FunnyGrey not just about nice leashes and accessories, but also about a community that takes responsible dog ownership to heart."
The FunnyGrey brand aims to add a little something extra to everyday walks and accessories to match your style. If we as owners have the opportunity to choose accessories that suit us and our puppy, why not? It will make your daily walk even more enjoyable.
Anna's vision is that dog equipment should not only be practical, but also beautiful, stylish and comfortable!
You can discover the FunnyGrey DogDesign brand on Instagram. For exact prices, visit Anna via her Instagram page:
PetPortrait by adriennekoehazi: when the dog lover starts painting
I'm closing this series on gifts about dogs with one of my own. Like me, many dog creators' stories begin with a special relationship - mine with my puppy Marci.
My very first painting was of my dog Marci, after I had to say goodbye to him due to a serious illness. The painting also served a therapeutic purpose, as I tried to come to terms with his death. However, it quickly became a passion and since then I have had the pleasure of painting several other dogs.
Even as a child I loved dogs, I was always drawing wolves and dogs. I never seem to have outgrown that passion - but now it's my job, and I do it from the heart every day. This is why I started my Instagram page in the summer of 2024, to share my love of dogs with others.
Dog breed descriptions and illustrations have been part of my Instagram feed since almost the very first week. I'm collecting more information and interesting facts about the different dog breeds, and I'm also creating a digital portrait of them.
In addition to more general descriptions of the breeds, I have also started to make personalised descriptions on request.
It's a humorous, full-colour, digitally illustrated dog character sheet featuring your doggy as the main character! Based on your photos and description, I'll draw a full-figure portrait of your best friend, and add 5-10 of his or her unique, cute features. The end result is a printed painting that's extraordinary, catchy and heart-warming.
If you are interested in the portraits and the dog breed description, visit my website:
You can find my Instagram page here:
