The Best Gifts for Dog Owners in Brooklyn and NYC (2026 Guide)
I photograph dogs in Williamsburg every week, and I hear what their owners actually want. Here is the list, sorted by budget.
Under $50
Paw balm and booties for winter. From December to March, Brooklyn sidewalks are covered in rock salt. It dries out and cracks paw pads. A tin of paw balm or a set of booties is useful from the first snow onward.
A light-up or reflective collar. In December the sun sets before 4:40 p.m. in New York, so most evening walks happen in the dark. A rechargeable LED collar or leash makes a dog visible to bikes and cars on busy streets like Bedford and Kent.
Treats from a neighborhood pet bakery. Brooklyn has several small pet boutiques that bake their own biscuits. A box from a local shop beats anything from a big-box store, and it supports the neighborhood.
A tag holder for a tracker. If they use an Apple AirTag or similar, a sturdy collar holder means the tracker is with the dog when it matters.
$50 to $200
A grooming appointment. Especially before the holidays, when everyone wants their dog looking good for family photos. Book it or give a gift card from their regular groomer.
Dog walking or sitting credit. For an owner who works long days or travels over the holidays, a few prepaid walks is a real present. If you need help picking a sitter, here is my checklist for finding a dog sitter in Brooklyn.
A pet first aid course. The American Red Cross offers an online cat and dog first aid course. Ten minutes into it, most owners realize what they did not know.
A training class. Leash manners, recall or a puppy class. A better-behaved dog makes every walk easier, which is a gift to the whole block.
A warm winter coat. For short-haired breeds, small dogs and seniors, a proper coat makes January walks bearable. Check the size first: chest measurement, not weight.
The big gift: from $450
A professional portrait session. The gift almost every dog owner wants and almost nobody books for themselves. Gift cards start at $450 and cover everything: the session, the edited photographs and a framed print for the wall, with no extra fees later. It is personal without you having to guess their taste, because they choose the photo. There is more on why that matters in is a framed portrait of your dog worth it.
Go bigger with Signature or Heirloom. For a couple or a family, the Signature gift card ($750) puts the owners in the photographs with their dog and includes a framed 16x24 print. Heirloom ($1,250) is the full version: a longer session across the studio and a park, the largest framed print and a printed photo magazine.
Gifts that cost nothing (or close to it)
A donation in their dog’s name. A gift to a New York City shelter or rescue, with a card naming their dog. Good for the owner who says they want nothing.
An offer to dog-sit. If you live nearby and know the dog, one free weekend so they can get away is worth more than most things on this list.
A morning at the dog run, with coffee. Meet them at McCarren or Domino Park and bring the coffee. Low-key and very Brooklyn.
The Puparazzi Brooklyn gift card
Gift cards start at $450 and are available for every package:
- Essential, $450: 60 minutes, the dog only, in my Williamsburg studio or a Brooklyn park, 5 edited digital files and one framed 11x14 print.
- Signature, $750: 75 minutes with the dog and their people, studio or park, 15 edited digital files and one framed 16x24 print.
- Heirloom, $1,250: 90 minutes across the studio and a park, 30 edited digital files, one framed 20x30 print and a printed photo magazine.
An in-home session can be added to any package for $100. The recipient picks the date, and the card comes printed for you to wrap or by email, whichever suits.
On timing: printed cards need to be ordered by 18 December to arrive before Christmas. A digital card can be sent on any day of the year, Christmas Eve included. Nothing expires and there is no fee for holding on to it, so nobody has to rush.
See gift cards, compare packages and pricing, or book a session if the gift is for your own dog. No judgment.
