This month Fletcher tried out Aldi’s pet range.
We all love to spoil our pets, especially at Christmas. Fletcher’s Christmas stocking gets bigger every year. It’s full of new toys, chews and treats, all of which I individually wrap as he likes to tear open the paper.
It’s almost as if Fletcher understands that Christmas Day is special. He’ll cry to get up earlier than usual, he runs around the house with excitement and dives head-first into his stocking, pulling out each gift. In reality it’s probably the smell of the treats that get him over excited, but I’d like to think it’s his intelligence.
Our Christmas morning is spent opening presents. Fletcher’s stocking first of course, while we drink tea and eat the festive edition M&S biscuits. Fletcher is allowed one treat to enjoy while we open our gifts. He usually opts for a Pedigree Jumbo. We then wrap up warm, pop on Fletcher’s festive collar and head out for a long, frosty walk.
Even my family buy Fletcher presents. By the end of the day he has a new fully stocked toy basket. With online searches for buying a puppy increasing by 120% over lockdown, and from the number of bouncy puppies I have seen on my recent dog walks, we’re going to need inspiration for doggy gifts. Fortunately, earlier this year, Aldi launched its Pet Essentials range.
If you’re looking to buy a present for your dog or a family or friends’ pet, their range is certainly worth a browse. There’s a choice of beds, chew toys, trendy bowls and even items such as an automatic ball launcher, pet stairs and pop up play pen. I tried the play pen for Fletcher, thinking it would stop him causing carnage in our friend’s gardens when we visit. He sat in it for a mere 20 seconds, looked at me and hopped straight out. This one might be better suited for puppies or small pooches.
Fletcher was impressed with the toys. He loved the football sized ball with chew ropes attached. In fact, it temporarily replaced ‘red’, his favourite toy bone. He loved shaking it around, bouncing it on his nose and playing tug of war.
I’ve already started collecting treats for Fletcher’s stocking. I smuggle them into the house and put them in a safe hiding place, far away from his inquisitive spaniel nose. I’m still yet to decide on which toys to buy him, however they’ll be squeak free – nobody needs that noise on Christmas Day!
