Last-minute gift ideas for your furry or feathered family members

Treats? Toys? Tricks? Sometimes pets are as difficult to buy for as people. If you haven’t shopped yet for your furry or feathered family members, we’re here to help with some last-minute gift ideas, ranging from brand-new to tried and true to the gift of an experience you can enjoy together.

• The Frisco volcano hide and seek puzzle plush squeaky dog toy is perfect for active dogs with a penchant for play. The soft volcano holds six plush dinosaurs with squeakers that will capture your dog’s attention. Pulling the dinosaurs out of their volcanic hideaway will keep your dog entertained. Replacement dinos are available when tough chewers do a number on the originals.

• The Kong Wubba comes in small, large and extra-large sizes, and the combination of squeaker and tassels provides multiple points of interest for your dog. The squeaker will have their ears perking up in interest, and the tassels are fun to grab in play.

• For traditional toys, we like the durable rubber Kong, which comes in a range of sizes and chew strengths and can be stuffed with kibble, soft cheese, peanut butter, baby carrots and more. Freeze a stuffed Kong before giving it to your pup, and you have a long-lasting treat to keep them occupied.

• If your dog loves playing fetch, you won’t want to be without the Chuckit, which turns your arm into a rocket launcher. Throw a ball farther and longer until your dog is worn out — but your arm isn’t. For short-nosed — or any — dogs, Chuckit has a set of two Breathe Right Fetch Balls to accompany its launcher. Made of lightweight natural rubber, they float and can be stuffed with treats.

• The goDog dragon chew toy is a favorite among people whose dogs tend to gut their soft chew toys. Thanks to tough, reinforced seams and minimal stuffing, the goDog toys — also available in the form of an alligator or dinosaur — may last a little longer than the typical soft toy, and the company offers a one-time replacement within 30 days.

• If you’re looking for the gift of an experience, something you can both enjoy, sign up your dog for a fun trick class or an introductory class on agility, barn hunt, nose work or other fun dog sports.

• A cat’s favorite holiday, of course, is Boxing Day, but as much as they love a nice empty box, you can provide other gifts they’ll appreciate just as much. Cats love interactive toys, and they love variety and novelty. Meowbox provides all of those. The kitty subscription service, $23.95 per delivery, arrives monthly or bimonthly and contains five to six different cat-tested and -approved toys.

• Cats go, well, bananas for the Yeowww! organic catnip-stuffed banana. The curve of the 7-inch toy makes it fun for bunny-kicking as your cat enjoys the catnip-induced sensation of elation. It comes in a three pack, so multiple cats can each have one or you can provide a “new” one to your cat when the first one gets boring.

• Foraging is an innate bird behavior, and you can encourage it with a good selection of toys. Look for items such as Super Bird Creations bagel cascade toy, perfect for shredding and destroying — yes, destruction is the purpose of a great bird toy — and the Planet Pleasures foraging perch bird toy, which combines a natural perch and support for foraging behavior. Climbing is another favorite avian activity. Prevue Pet’s 17-inch naturals rope ladder is made from natural materials and is fun for chewing, climbing, shredding, and pecking.

• Don’t forget pocket pets! They love to chew — they need to chew — and you can find clever, attractive wooden toys to give their teeth and jaws a workout. Frisco’s grapevine is suitable for rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, gerbils, rats, and mice. The company also makes a caterpillar chew toy for hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, gerbils, rats, and mice.

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker. Pet Connection is produced by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, journalist Kim Campbell Thornton, and dog trainer/behavior consultant Mikkel Becker.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Pet Connection: Holiday gift ideas for your furry friends