Don’t have a gift for your pooch yet? Check out some of these Christmas gift ideas you can give your dog! Some of these are also great gifts for your dog-lover friend

• Alpo Chop House – How about giving your pet a “special” meal this Christmas? Our dogs love Alpo Chop House, so every Christmas we try to give our dogs a can each. We usually mix the wet food with the dry kibbles, but for Christmas, we let them have something special — their favorite, all wet dog food!
• Beggin’ Strips – Another treat our pets can’t refuse! They go crazy over Beggin’ Strips. If your dog fancies these treats as much as my dogs do, I’m pretty sure this is a gift they would surely love.
• Customized dog tag – Your dog might not appreciate this as much as you would (since a pet tag is mostly for information purposes). But pets like Shantee — who enjoys wearing “things” — certainly will! It’s like having a custom “pendant!” You can get one customized for your pets (and even decorate it with charms!) from Will Wag for Tags.
• Doggie clothes – Perfect for dogs who like to dress up! Get them something new this holiday season, something they can even wear and show off during your parties. Dogs who love attention will definitely enjoy wearing new stuff (I know our Shantee certainly does). Check out Doodles Paw Couture, they even have holiday-themed dresses for your pooches!
• Pooch accessories – How about a new collar for your pet? Or a harness with a brand-new leash? Or maybe even a portable water dispenser? You can get these and more from Bow & Wow. They’ve got lots of stuff for your pets, and with your purchase, you could even help out a pet in need with their current Christmas program.
• Pet massage and Grooming – If you’re sure (and I do mean absolutely sure) your pet would like a massage from a stranger, then by all means get him one for Christmas. Same goes for grooming. But if the massage or grooming session would only stress your dog, it might be better if you give him something he’ll enjoy more. After all, you wouldn’t want your pet to be stressed out because of your “gift,” would you?
• Doggie day out – Got a very social dog? Take him out for a doggie day out! Dedicate an entire day just for him, visit pet-friendly places like Eastwood City or Bonifacio High Street where your pet can meet up with his fellow canines for an afternoon of fun!
• A Christmas “walkies” – Saving money this Christmas? Well, here’s one gift I’m pretty sure any balanced dog will love: WALKIES! Just make sure you give your dog his Christmas walkies before the usual Yuletide fireworks, or you’ll both end up stressed out instead of having fun

But you know what? Even if you don’t give your dog a gift this Christmas, he’d still love you just the same. He’ll be happy as long as he has you. Such loyal and caring creatures — that’s why we can’t help but love them!

Tiendesitas is a trendy shopping center you will find along C5, Ortigas Avenue, corner E. Rodriguez Avenue. Shops there are basically Filipino-centric (you can buy art, antiques, food, novelty items—all Filipino made). But the best thing about it for dog-lovers, is the Pet Village.

You’ll find a variety of pet stores in the Pet Village, where they sell the cutest pooch apparel (I actually bought a sweater for Sheero before—she gets cold during the cold season of December). You also a lot of choices on where to have your dog groomed—they have quite a number of dog parlors there. And because there are a lot of dog parlors there, the cost of having your dog groomed is pretty reasonable (you won’t feel that bad spending too much on your dog!).

I’m really glad there’s another shopping center that’s pet-friendly! Do check it out with your pooch.

I’ve already brought Sheero there once, and she had the time of her life. I was worried when I brought her there for the first time, actually. I had no idea that the signs I saw all over Eastwood that says “Eastwood City is a pet-friendly place” or something like that meant that I CAN bring her shopping with me. I just thought she can only roam the open areas, but no. I’m allowed to bring her even INSIDE the mall itself, as one of the guards kindly corrected me.
If you’re looking for a mall where you can shop and bring your dog along with you, well, you can try the one in Eastwood City. After all, who said that your dog can’t enjoy “gimmicks” too?

It might be best to give your dog a bath first before going there though… Because I tell you, dogs roaming the mall do attract attention. It’s kind of embarrassing to be caught with the smelly mutt, don’t you think?