The holiday season is creeping up on us again, and if you’re anything like me, you’re already brainstorming pet business client gift ideas to show your pet parents some love. I used to go a little overboard with client gifts when I first started my dog walking and pet sitting business. I’ve run the gamut, from overly artistic when my skills didn’t quite match (some of the creations I see still displayed proudly make me cringe a little!), to incredibly time-consuming (poring over a year’s worth of photos to find the perfect ones for a personalised collage).
After years of trial and error (and some questionable craft attempts), I’ve figured out how to make clients feel special without breaking the bank. Here are 10 super cute ideas that won’t have you eating noodles for lunch all through January. Top them off with one of our personalised pet Christmas cards and you’ve got a budget friendly gift that will be kept forever.
Pet Photo Calendars
This is my go-to now for a personalised, fun gift that pet parents enjoy year round. You can go totally DIY on this one with a Canva template (then have it printed and bound locally like I do), or you can use the templates provided somewhere like Vistaprint. I do adventures, so I have a vast library to choose from at the end of the year of their pets having the time of their lives. This is what I have had the best feedback from, so this is standard gifting for me now.
Pet Photo Magnets
We all take photos of pets during our visits anyway, so here’s something fun that will always bring a smile to a pet parent’s face. Add some holiday flair (baubles, mistletoe etc in the corners) to pet photos in Canva, then print a 6in x 4in for just a few cents. Grab some magnetic sheets from the $2 Shop, print the photos at home, cut them to size and stick them on. You’ve got a personalised gift for a couple of bucks that’ll make clients smile every time they grab milk from the fridge.
Personalised Pet Treat Jars
These custom jars are the perfect blend of practical and personal. Grab some plain glass jars from the thrift store or find some cheap on Amazon, get some of those vinyl letter decals to spell their pet’s name, and fill them up with organic dog treats (forgive the shameless plug). You can get really creative and get those chalkboard labels, or print them out and stick them on with flour and water paste. The labels won’t last, but they’ll look great on the day.
DIY Dog Toys
There are plenty of dog toy crafts you can Google, and order the supplies on Amazon. You can also find them cheap at dollar stores or thrift shops. I’ve recently added hand made snuffle mats to my store, I was going to order them and resell as a package with my treats, but then I decided I wanted to go handmade with everything. It makes me feel good to know I am upcycling old fleece blankets and making something beautiful and useful. I am following this tutorial here at the Animal Humane Society.
Photo Bookmarks
Do you have the kind of client that always has a book beside their bed? Personalised pet bookmarks can create a cheap and thoughtful pet gift by printing their pet photos on card stock and punching a hole at the top for some decorative ribbon. Bonus points for using your brand colours. These personalised keepsakes will cost you next to nothing, and your clients will be over the moon to receive something so thoughtful and tailored to their furry friend.
Mini Emergency Kits
Get small containers and fill them with basic pet first aid supplies — get ideas from this list. Glue on a label where they can add their emergency numbers. Useful, thoughtful, and about $5 each.
Printable Pet Emergency Kit
The holidays are the perfect time to show your pet-sitting and dog-walking clients just how much you care about their dear friend. This printable pet emergency kit contains a key ring and wallet card, ensuring their pet’s crucial information is always close at hand in an emergency. You can order these acrylic key rings on Amazon and have something that looks really professional for pennies each.
I had these printed professionally onto plastic cards and gave them away as a mailing list lead magnet for a Pet Expo, then used them every time I had a stall. They were super popular and grew my list in leaps and bounds every time. This customisable template makes it easy to deliver a personalised touch that’ll remind pet parents of you long after the season ends.
Personalized Photo Booklets
If you’re Gen X (like me), you’ll remember those old school flip books that used to fill every book case. Unlike my children, I miss old school photos albums, and having real prints to look back on, rather than them languishing in a folder on your computer, gathering digital dust. Compile and print your best pet photos from the year into a treasured booklet petr parents can flip through again and again.
Bonus: No Budget Pet Business Client Gift Ideas
Here’s a couple of no-budget pet business gift ideas which you probably already have the supplies for, or the app on your phone.
Custom Phone Backgrounds
Take all those beautiful photos that you have ad create simple phone wallpapers using free apps like Canva. Send them via email or text — literally costs nothing except your time. (Plus, they’ll think of your business every time they check their phones.)
DIY Pawprint Ornaments
Who doesn’t love a good DIY project? Channel your inner Martha Stewart and whip up some salt dough pawprint ornaments. Sure, it might get a little messy, but if you’re just starting out and there really is no budget for pet parent gifts, this is a fun idea, and they will be kept forever.
What I’ve found is, it’s not about how much you spend — it’s about showing clients you actually care about them and their pets. I’ve learned that people remember thoughtful gifts way more than expensive ones.
What’s your go-to pet business client gift ideas? Drop a comment below — I’m always looking for new ones!
