If someone in your life adores their dog, it can be surprisingly hard to find a gift that feels like more than a mug. The best ones are about their animal, not about animals in general. Here are ideas by occasion, and a few for cat and horse lovers too.
Birthdays and Christmas
- A framed photograph of their animal at their best. Ask a friend or family member to find one.
- A custom portrait, painted or drawn from a photo.
- A good lead, collar or blanket that suits the animal's size and temperament.
- Something for the walks: a flask, a pair of gloves, a map of their favourite route.
- A personalised storybook about their own dog, cat or horse.
New puppy, kitten or foal
A journal for the first year, a few good chew toys, or a voucher for a first vet visit. Or a book that grows with them: begin it when they arrive, and finish it in time.
Adoption anniversaries
If they rescued their animal, the day it came home is worth marking. A storybook about how they found each other makes a lasting gift.
For cat lovers and horse people
The same rule holds: choose something about their animal, in their animal's own character. A cat who watches the world from a windowsill. A horse who whickers at the gate when you arrive. A book remembers these things in a way a photograph cannot.
About a Matt & Milly book
We make personalised watercolour storybooks about people's animals, written from their own memories and painted from their own photos. You can order one as a gift: you tell us about the animal (or ask the owner a few easy questions), and send photos. You see a proof before paying, with two rounds of changes, and then we print and post a hardcover. We are open about how it is made: the illustrations use AI image tools in a watercolour style, guided and checked by a person against your photos.