Doggie Toy Boxes

It's that time of year to be thinking of gift giving! Of course, family pets enjoy their share of gifts, too! After all, they have been giving the gifts of love and companionship faithfully all year long! So, what do doggies have on their Christmas lists for Santa Paws? Here's what is on mine! (They are good for doggie birthdays and other special days, too!)

Oh, who am I, you ask? My name is Angel, I am the youngest child of the Johnson family. I am a six year old golden retriever who loves to take walks, chase my feline brother around the house, and play around with my brothers and sister in the backyard (they can't run as fast as I can, but you'll have to excuse them, they only run on their back two legs for some reason?).

You see, my mommy is learning to be a "Rocket Mom" here on Squidoo. Her first assignment was to create a lens with unique gifts. When I saw her staring blankly at her computer, I went over to lick her hand and see if I could help. As she rubbed my ears, she ask me what kind of gift I would pick that would be unique but practical for pet parents. My first idea was doggy treats and bones, but she said that was too ordinary. She wanted something that would help both pets and their families. So, I gave it some thought, and here are some suggestions I'm going to ask my mommy and daddy human to get me this year!

**Photo credits and thanks due to my big human brother & photographer, T. Johnson.**

Dogs give humans so much love!

Have you ever had a day like this? You know the kind of day I mean. The day starts off when you diligently wake up 5 minutes before that noisy alarm thingy goes off to help get your family out of bed by jumping up and licking them in their faces. They grumble something unintelligently, but you know they are thankful that you woke them.

While they are taking turns showering, you prance on down to the kitchen to help finish off any breakfasts or unattended lunches. You know, they need to cut down anyway. I mean, did they really need that roast beef sandwich and cookies they put in that lunch bag? (No, the faithful dog has to eat it for them as a favor. We dogs burn off calories faster.)

Anyway, you successfully complete your job of getting everyone up and out to their jobs and schools on time, and now all you want to do is find your favorite toy to throw around and chew. But where is it? Hhmmm. Did you leave it on your bed? No, it's not there. Maybe it's under the dining room table? Nope. Near your dog dish? Don't see it yet! Maybe you left it on the couch? Go check, I won't tell your humans you were up there when you weren't supposed to. Not there? Now wouldn't it be great to have a special place to put all of your favorite doggie toys, bones, and supplies so you could find them? Don't you think a doggie toybox would be awesome about now?!?

What kind of bone do you prefer?

Here is another example all dogs can relate to in order to convince your human parents and Santa that you need a toybox of your own.

Imagine it is an evening that you have been enjoying playing with your toys and have left them all over the family room floor. Now, you're not the only one, your human siblings are pretty good at spreading toys all over the place, too! You are all having fun when Mom comes into the room. Uh, oh! You know from the look on her face that if the toys are not put away quickly, she'll start growling, and then it's no doggy treats for you after dinner! The children scramble to pick up all their stuff, take it into their rooms, and place in their toyboxes. There you are, wagging your tail at all the action going on around you when she says, "What about your stuff?" You carry your favorite toy over to drop it at her feet, and she just sighs. "Okay, let's clean up your things, too." She helps you collect your pull toy, chew toy, rubber bone, squeaky newspaper, teddy bear, and blanky. But, where do we put them? If only there were a place to store them when not in use that would help the room look neater ...

Oh, by the way, the doggie in the picture is my cousin, Marshmallow!

What do you think of cats?

A toy box would be a fantastic gift for Christmas (or anytime, for that matter), but how about some new toys to put in it! Woof, woof!! Your doggies will thank you with lots of warm licks and tail wags! I bet your dog will even let you play with them, too! I'm going to ask Santa Paws for these toys on my top 10 list!!