Houseguest gifts
Staying with friends who have a dog? Bring this
Updated
A thoughtful host gift for dog owners covers the people first and the dog second: something small for the house when you arrive, and nothing handed to their dog until you ask. A monthly treat box works as the thank-you you send after the visit, shipped to their US address.
What should a houseguest bring to a home with a dog?
Bring something for the hosts first. They opened the door, the guest room and the calendar, and the gift is for them. A small thing for the dog can ride along, as long as you ask before anything goes into the dog's mouth.
That last rule matters most. Their dog may skip a protein that yours eats, and only the owner knows the list. So you hold the treats until you hear yes, and then you hand over one piece at a time, the way the owner says. The host's side of this question is on our page about guests feeding your dog, so the house rules are left there.
Which host gifts suit people who live with a dog?
Choose something that fits a house where a dog shares the floor. Here are a few that earn a place on the shelf.
- A pack of lint rollers, since somebody always leaves in dark pants.
- Good hand towels, kept near the door for muddy-paw season.
- Coffee or tea for the early walk.
- A sturdy leash hook, if their leash currently lives on a doorknob.
- A print made from a photo you took of their dog during the stay.
None of it needs a brand or a scent. The print is the one that costs you only a little time, and it shows you paid attention to the dog as well as the hosts.
Should you bring a gift on arrival or send one after the visit?
Both can work, and they do different jobs. The arrival gift is the handshake at the door, and the thank-you box is what you send once you are back on the highway home. A small thing in hand when you walk in says you came prepared. A package sent after says the visit stayed with you.
The after-visit gift can go by mail to their US address. This page gives no ship days and no arrive-by dates, so pick a moment that suits you and do not build a plan around a specific day.
How does a treat box work, sent as a thank-you to a host?
It is a box for their dog. Before you order, ask the hosts which proteins their dog goes without, because the person ordering is the one who tells us. A Dog box takes one or two dogs and a Cat box takes one cat, so their dog needs just one box.
The box holds our own single ingredient treats, produced in Malvern, Pennsylvania, in small batches. The theme and lineup change monthly. Treats are for now and then, an extra alongside the dog's usual food and not a replacement for it.
It ships within the US only. Gift boxes can be sent to someone else's address inside the US. This is a subscription, and its terms sit with the start button, so check them before you order. A message riding along in the box is not something to rely on, so thank the hosts yourself, by card, call or text. For the wider picture on sending a box as a gift, the dog gift box page is the place to start.
More ideas for people who share a home with a dog sit on the guides hub.
Questions
Is it rude to bring a gift for the dog and nothing for the hosts?
It lands badly if the people get nothing. Bring something for the hosts, even a small thing, and treat the dog gift as the extra. The hosts are the ones who invited you, so they come first.
Can I share my own dog's treats with their dog?
Ask first, every time. Their dog may skip a protein that yours eats, and the owner has the list. Hand over a single piece only after the owner says yes, and put the bag away afterward.
What if we are bringing our own dog to stay?
Bring your dog's own bowl and sealed treat bags, and keep them in your room. Follow the hosts' rules on where and when treats are given. Ask on arrival where the bowls can sit, so they stay out of the hosts' way.
Is a treat box too big a thank-you for a weekend stay?
As a subscription, it suits close family or a long stay more than a single night. The terms beside the start button say how it renews. For a short visit, the small gifts from the list may be enough on their own.
What is a good Thanksgiving host gift for someone with a dog?
Use the same ideas as the list above: towels, a leash hook or a print of their dog. For the dog, bring something that is not from the table, and check with the owner before any treat changes hands.
When should a thank-you gift go out after the visit?
Soon after you are home is fine, while the weekend is still fresh. This page gives no ship or arrive-by dates, and the box ships within the US only, so choose a day that works for you.