Everyday Alaska

Everyday Life in The Last Frontier

Dogs

The Best Halloween Costumes for Dogs

by

I’m not one to dress my dog up in sweaters, raincoats, and tutus, but when it comes to Halloween costumes we’re all in! Ever since our pup was a rambunctious little (but actually giant!) lab, I’ve been getting Halloween costumes for him. Believe it or not, I put a lot of thought into these costumes (he’s my baby, after all). I wanted to share his costumes of the past years with you since I think they’re the best Halloween costumes for dogs. The costumes listed below come in a variety of sizes, so whether you have a small shih tzu, an extra large lab, or anything in between, there’s something for every pup!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

The Gregarious Giraffe

Trapper spent his first Halloween as a giraffe, and boy was he cute! He didn’t know what to think of the costume situation at first, but was he excited! You can order your fur baby this giraffe costume here.

The cutest giraffe in Alaska.

A Perfect Pumpkin

For year two we went traditional with a pumpkin costume. I was a pumpkin for my first Halloween, so I thought he should be a pumpkin at least once. He was a wild little pumpkin, so all of my photos of him in costume are blurry, but you can check out a variety of pumpkin outfits here. I think this is one of the cutest ones.

A Proper Postal Worker

Year three has been my favorite costume so far, and I don’t think any other will ever top it. Trapper’s obsession with our USPS delivery driver (who gave him treats whenever he saw him outside) led me to find this costume for him. Our pup even posed like a proper gentleman for photos, so I think it was his favorite, too. You can find this cute pup postal worker costume here. They have UPS costumes, too!

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays this lab from the swift completion of his appointed rounds.

One Tired Taco

Who doesn’t love tacos? I know hotdog dog costumes are popular, but why not switch it up a bit! I thought the taco costume idea was funny. Plus, as you can tell from this snoozing guy, it’s clearly pretty comfortable.

One tired taco.

A Distracted Dinosaur

I thought this was such an adorable costume. It’s fun, colorful, and kept him cozy in the snow. He was much more distracted by his trick-or-treat candy corn, though, so there was no good photo opportunity of our big guy in his dino costume. P.S. This dinosaur costume is a great option for very large dogs as it goes to 4XL.

A dinosaur on a snowy Halloween.

A Bucking Bronco

This year we’re going buck wild with a cowboy rider Halloween costume. Trapper will be the bronco (or bull?) and his rider will be in for quite the adventure this Halloween!

That’s a wrap of the best Halloween costumes for dogs! I hope you’ve found an idea that both you and your best bud will enjoy and get a good laugh out of. And don’t forget those dog treats for you pup’s trick-or-treating, too!

The Best Dog Gift Basket Ideas

by

Shopping for you best friend can be difficult, especially if that friend has four legs and is a little furry. But not to worry, I’ve got your shopping list covered! Making a gift basket for a dog is basically the same as making one for a hooman, I mean human. Take time to think about their interests, age, what they would use or need, or a theme, and then check the ideas below to see what matches your little (or big!) buddy the best. The sky’s the limit, and you can spend as little or as much as you like on your pup’s gift basket. 

You can start your dog gift basket a couple different ways. Maybe you have a puppy that needs a bigger bowl? Start with the bowl as the “basket” and fill it from there. Maybe you have a sporty pup that you’re getting a new frisbee for? Start there and see what type of basket or container would be useful. Check out the ideas below to get started, or mix and match ideas to suit your furry friend!

A quick PSA before you start shopping, as well. Make sure that the toys, treats, and items you purchase are suited to your dog’s age, size, and chewing strength, follow the included instructions for the items, and supervise your fur baby while they’re playing.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Puppy Love

Oh, the puppy stage. So much biting, training, treats, and squeaky toys. And don’t forget their adorable little faces. For puppies, I’d suggest getting them a new bowl, since they do grow so fast, or a toy basket to use to hold their gifts. After that, I’d fill it with the following things.

Out little buddy when is was actually little.

Travel and Adventure Buddies

If you have an outdoorsy pup that goes everywhere with you, have I got the ”basket” for you! This dog travel bag is the bees knees. It comes with plenty of pouches, dog food storage bags, two collapsible bowls, and a poop bag pouch. Just fill it with these fun treats and necessities, and you’re ready to go! It has really been a game changer since our lab Trapper goes everywhere with us.

Beach day with our buddy. Check out ways to keep your pup cool here.

The Practical Pup

What do you get the dog that has everything? Great question! I’ve been asking myself that this year as I’ve been trying to figure out what to get our good boy for Christmas, and this is what I’ve come up with. Since he’s four now, he really has all that he needs. An overflowing toy basket, a large variety of treats, a comfy bed. So, for his ”basket”, I’m being selfish this year and getting him something that will benefit both of us. I’m purchasing this dog bowl set up, and a food storage bin. I know, not very exciting for him, but I’m thrilled! Plus, I plan on filling it with these item’s that I know he’ll enjoy. Shhhh, don’t tell him!

Doing a photo shoot with your pup (lots of treats included) is always fun!

Sporty Dogs

Does your dog love playing outside and going for walks? Check out these ideas here, and use a metal tub as a gift basket and storage bin for outdoor toys.

A chocolate lab playing with his frisbee in a kiddie pool. Frisbees are great for dog gift baskets.
Slobber flying, a wagging tail, water everywhere. What more could a lab ask for?

Senior Buddies

As your best friend gets older it may be harder to find gifts for them. They’ve probably collected a lot of toys through the years, and maybe they don’t play as much, but they deserve just as much love. Instead of an actual dog gift basket, why not get them the bed of their dreams to relax on and leave them some special gifts on it.

My dog has had this orthopedic bed for almost three years now. It still has the same amount of volume to it, hasn’t got lumpy, and is so easy to wash. You could probably even have a mattress protector covering the inside foam incase your senior pup has accidents, and the foam will help their joints as well. Don’t forget to include a few fun things for your BFF as well, such as the items below.

  • Yummy Chummies (these soft salmon treats will be easy for your dog to chew)
  • Pill Pockets (if your buddy is taking any medicine these may help make it easier)
  • Large Stuffed Animal (good for your pup to nap with)
  • Food Mixers/Toppers (as your pup gets older their sense of taste may decline, using a topper may help their food be more appealing and tasty to them)
  • Puppy Scoops

Homebody Hounds

Is your little buddy not a fan of the great outdoors? No problem, there’s still plenty of gifts they’ll enjoy! Use a treat jar as a gift container and fill it with these fun goodies.

If you’re looking for the perfect dog gift basket ideas for your pup’s birthday, Christmas, adoption day, and more, I hope you’ve found them here! What breed of pup are you shopping for and what do you plan on getting them? Leave a comment below and happy shopping!

Load up a dog gift basket and get ready to party!

How to Keep Your Dog Cool this Summer

by

Please note this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. I am not a veterinarian or trained dog expert or professional. These are all my personal opinions. Please read and follow all warnings, directions, and ingredients on the following products, and be sure to choose the correct size of item or treat for the size of dog you have. As always, please consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet. 

Got a hot dog? We do too, and after trying some great pup products we’ve figured out the perfect list of items to help keep your best bud cool this summer. So, without further ado, here’s the list!

Furhaven Dog Bed

It’s never fun to try sleep when you’re too hot, so you can imagine it must be pretty miserable for your dog to try to sleep when it’s too hot as well. This Furhaven bed has cooling gel foam and comes in a variety of colors and sizes to keep your pup cool and cozy in style. Our dog loves this bed since it has a sofa-style bolsters for him to rest his head on.

Self Cooling Mat

While were on the subject keeping cool while having a snooze, I can’t forget to mention one of the best things I’ve bought for our boy, his self cooling mat. You might be thinking “self cooling, really?”, but it does work! Trust me, I’ve tried it myself. This Arf Pets cooling mat recharges itself to keep your pup cool and comfy. It is easy to fold up and store, requires no batteries, refrigeration, or water, and is easy to wipe down for cleaning. It’s really a win for everyone!

Cooling Bandana

Before finding this handy bandana I use to take regular bandanas, soak them in water, and freeze them to help keep our dog cool. Later, I found the All for Paws Bandana. This is such a handy and inexpensive way to help your dog cool this summer, while still enjoying being outside.

Trapper with his cooling bandana at the beach.
Trapper enjoying a nice beach day.

Ice Cream

If you’re thinking there’s no way you’re going to take your gallon of mint chocolate chip out of the freezer and give it to your dog, guess what?! You don’t have to! There are ice creams that are made exclusively for your furry BFF. The kinds we love for our baby are Frosty Paws and Puppy Scoops.

Splish, Splash

There’s not a more fun and refreshing activity for people and pets during the “dog days” of summer than playing in the water. Our pup loves swimming (don’t forget a life jacket for yourself and your dog!), drinking out of the sprinkler, and playing in his little pool (You can check out these pools for your pup, too!). We just have a kiddie pool that we use as a doggie pool and it’s the perfect size! (You can check out these pools for your pup, too!) This is also a great time to grab some of this shampoo and give your pup a bath, and try out some American made, floating WestPaw  toys!

Pet Cot and Canopy

Throwing some shade is a good thing in the case of keeping your pup cool. This pup cot and canopy is a great way to keep your dog cool while outside at your home or camping, and they can have a good snooze in style and comfort.

Enjoying the comforts of home while camping.

H2O

Hydrate! Make sure you keep your dog hydrated by having cool water around for them, but also be cautious and aware of how much they are drinking and playing as this could be a dangerous combo. Please read this article for more information before enjoying your fun in the sun.

I hope these ideas help keep the hot dogs for the grill and keep your pup chill this summer!

Chocolate lab in pool
Living it up in his kiddie pool.