Ian Lynch’s 2020 Holiday Gift Giving Guide
December 08, 2020
How to give great gifts AND support fellow CKC members at the same time
We all know how important it is to support small businesses and our friends in the dog community this year. To help, I’m sharing with you some of my gift recommendations for the dog lovers on your list by featuring four small businesses owned and operated by talented, hardworking women who are members of the Canadian Kennel Club.
I have long admired the Quilted Hound’s line of coat protecting garments. CKC Member Breeder of Champion Standard Poodles Renee Koch puts her sewing and quilting skills to great use, creating a beautiful and stylish line that also serves a purpose. As an owner of a Standard Poodle, I was thrilled when a satin collar and four waterproof leg protectors arrived in the mail. The coat protecting collars are elegant, self-contained quilts. Satin fabric encases soft and comfortable quilt batting, and the stainless steel slip centered on the cuff attaches to your dog’s lead. The Quilted Hound’s Waterproof Leg Protectors are enormously helpful at keeping leg hair dry and clean. PUL fabric (same as baby diaper covers) is used to keep the hair safe from the elements and the elastic top and bottoms ensure they stay on. You often see the Quilted Hound’s Waterproof Leg Protectors used at dog shows, but using them on my retired show dog has helped keep her (and my house) much cleaner, so I would recommend them for pets as well. Washing them is a snap. I just rinse them in warm water, and they dried quickly by hanging them up.
As for the Quilted Hound Satin Collar –it’s gorgeous. The one that came for my girl Measha is fuchsia, so it looks awesome against her black coat (many colours, patterns, and even personalized collars featuring names are available). Not only do I love the look, but Measha walks as if she’s two inches taller in the collar. It’s like she knows she looks fantastic! Everyone who sees her in it gets life from seeing a dog so proud of herself. Breeds of various coat types will benefit from these products. Orders are cut and sewn to your specifications in the order they are received. Custom crafted by Renee for your bespoke dog. http://www.thequiltedhound.com/ Pricing starts at $24.50.
Leading Edge Dog Show Academy is the world’s first online handling and grooming school. Allison Alexander has been a professional handler for over 30 years and has piloted three dogs of three different breeds to Top Dog in Canada. The academy's goal is to mentor anyone interested in showing and/or grooming their dog, and since Allison is also a life coach, she mentors incredibly well. The school has grown to feature dozens of courses on a wide variety of breeds and teaches you secret tips you really can’t find anywhere else (trust me –I’ve looked). New courses are coming out all the time, and Allison also features expert friends at the academy. This online school has been a godsend amid the COVID-19 pandemic as it continuously provides me with new information, tips, tricks and techniques along with plenty of “aha moments”.
One of the greatest features of this online academy is how interactive it is. From
Facebook to YouTube, Twitter to Instagram questions are answered promptly by Allison herself. Whether you’re brand new to the world of dogs or a seasoned pro, you’ll be amazed by the offerings of the Leading Edge Dog School Academy and develop as strong of a sense of school spirit as I’ve gotten (I’ve been enrolled since 2017). Allison has generously offered a HUGE 45% off discount to our blog readers to enroll either themselves or a loved one until December 26, 2020. Enter code: THEDISH45 https://leadingedge-dog-show-academy.teachable.com/p/about-us. Pricing starts at $29.00.
Naomi Kane is a writer, breeder, and an incredible dog trainer. I've long respected all of her work, so when I found out she had developed a line of dog treats, I knew they had to be top notch. Like so many dog owners, Naomi found herself having to figure out one of her dog's allergies. Once she figured out what she could feed her Leonberger Tilda for meals, she then moved over to Tilda's treat options, which were quite limited. So she got herself to the kitchen and created her own line of all-natural, simple, wholesome ingredients, Tilda's Treats, and the rest is history.
Her classic recipe of Lamb, Rice, and Pumpkin is a favourite at my house. My dogs don't have any allergies, but their little French Bulldog friend Parker has difficulty with some foods. I gave Parker's owner a small bag of Tilda's Treats, and Parker had no reactions at all! A real score considering that dog's usual response to anything that isn't her stringent diet. Naomi has also released another delicious treat for the holidays. This one features turkey, rice, and pumpkin. Because of how nuts my dogs go for these treats, I would suggest stuffing a bag of both recipes in your pup's stocking. They will definitely be a hit come Christmas morning and all year long!
Naomi is also offering fantastic gift packs featuring a mug or tin with her famous Tilda's treats along with some sweet treats for humans as well this holiday season! Perfect for every dog lover on your list! http://www.tildastreatsfordogs.com/index.htm Pricing starts at $5.79.
Like so many of my talented groomer friends, Bryanna Fretz Mckenzie found herself needing an outlet for her creativity amid the first COVID lockdown earlier this year. While drawing in an attempt to help a friend design a logo for her friend's podcast, she started dotting. Plugging away, one dot at a time, she stumbled upon an art form called stippling. She first did a portrait of her Standard Poodle. Once she posted her work, Bryanna started getting commission requests from other dog owners, and a small business called Pet Portraits by Bry was born.
To provide incredible detail, Bryanna uses top quality paper and markers that range from 0.1mm to 1 mm. The result is an original piece that captures the essence of the beloved pet. As a professional groomer, Bryanna studies different breed coat types and textures, giving her the ability to translate them onto paper. Bryanna specializes in capturing each dog's unique expression. Pet Portraits by Bry offer a unique gifting opportunity guaranteed to bring smiles and even tears, but definitely joy for years to come. Direct message on Instagram @petportraitsbybry or email [email protected] - for commission inquiries.
Pricing starts at $250.
There's a great post that gets shared this time of year and reads, "This Christmas: buy local, buy handmade, buy from someone you know, by from self-employed. Remember, the big stores don't do a little jig when they make a sale. Help make someone jig this holiday season, especially our friends in the dog community.
The opinions expressed by authors on the Canadian Kennel Club Blog and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of the Canadian Kennel Club or any of its employees.
Les opinions et les commentaires exprimés dans le blogue du Club Canin Canadien sont ceux des auteurs et ils ne reflètent pas les opinions du Club Canin Canadien ni de ses employés.
Post Tags: Canada, CKC member, Feel Good, Holiday, Ian Lynch, Tips
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Ian Lynch
Ian Lynch is a comedian, on-air personality and Canadian Kennel Club member.