I’m what’s referred to as a SINK (single income, no kids) and as such, that means my two rescue dogs are absolutely spoiled rotten. The first thing I buy every payday - Black Friday included - is dog food, poo bags and an extra special treat for Phoebe and Frank.
As well as being the owner of two slightly naughty Staffy crosses, I’m also an avid bargain hunter, editor of The Mirror’s TeamDogs newsletter, spent an entire year writing only stories about dogs, and run my own dog blog sharing the adventures of Phoebe and Frank. I’m barking dog mad, and while I wouldn’t consider myself an ‘expert’ per se, I’m definitely enthusiastic.
Now a consumer writer, I’ve combined my somewhat unusual skillset and specialist subjects to bring you the best deals you can buy your pooch this Black Friday. From treats and accessories, to some more unusual picks like treat-tossing cameras, pet vacuums and even doggy DNA tests - all of which have received the paw of approval from both myself, and the dogs.
Lily’s Kitchen
This Black Friday, Lily’s Kitchen has launched 30 per cent off sitewide, plus free delivery. There’s no code needed, and the discount will automatically be applied at the checkout. There don’t seem to be any exclusions, either, meaning that the Christmas collection - including their advent calendar, festive treats and three bird feast - are also reduced.
Some shoppers have even reported getting a free advent calendar with large orders. On a Facebook post, one said: “Great offer Lily’s I’ve ordered, got 30% off and the free advent calendar too. I had ordered one and my doggies would have needed to share now they can have one each, thank you.”
Another wrote: “Great deal, I ordered £90 and got a free advent calendar. No clue how my 3 dogs will share that though.”
It seems owners have been taking advantage of the deal to stock up on their pet food pantry, with another commenting: “Great offer ... just ordered 50 tins.... my dogs love Lilys....”
Some of our tried and true favourites from Lily’s Kitchen include the festive collection, adorable Bedtime Biscuits, and their tins of wet food , which we often use to top Phoebe and Frank’s kibble. If your dog already loves the Bedtime Biscuits, the festive version is adorable for a Christmas Eve snack.
Top tip for saving? If you order items in bulk, you’ll save on buying them individually AND get the 30 per cent off, deal stacking for a double saving. You can find some of the biggest savings here.
Pooch and Mutt
Similarly, Pooch and Mutt has also launched a 30 per cent off sale. Customers who use the code BLACKFRIDAY at the checkout will be able to knock nearly a third off their bill. But the more you spend, the more you can save, as those spending over £70 could save 35 per cent with the code BLKF35 - plus you’ll be able to pick a free gift.
Phoebe and Frank really enjoy Pooch And Mutt’s offerings, and some of our favourites are already reduced, too. Their salmon oil is currently on sale for £12.49 , down from £13.49, which means it would be £8.75 with the code. Moreover, the £39.99 ‘first of its kind’ dental stick advent calendar is now £20.99, or £14.70 with the code, making it a much more pocket-friendly price.
When you add your items and go to check out, you’ll be given the option to choose a free gift. We got to pick between a Pooch and Mutt bandanna, or a choice of dental sticks in either peanut butter, or the superfood variety.
One thing I will say is that Black Friday isn’t the only time you can get these kinds of offers on Pooch and Mutt. If you sign up to their newsletter, they regularly send out emails about new products, or containing discount codes. I’ve often found delivery to be super fast (scarily so, sometimes) and they do occasionally throw in the odd freebie, too.
Wisdom Panel
Having rescue dogs means you can never really be certain of their breed like with a pedigree pup. The Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Kits have gained immense popularity among pet owners seeking to uncover the genetic makeup of their beloved canine companions.
The handy kit tests your pet’s saliva and can uncover their ancestry based on over 350 breeds, revealing their mix down to the one per cent. I’ve used these kits on both of my rescue dogs and have been amazed at how easy they are to use, how quickly the results come back, and the results themselves.
Ahead of Black Friday, the sought-after DNA test kits have been reduced from £99.99 to £59.99.
To complete the test, owners just swab their dog’s cheek, send the kit to their lab in Scotland with the provided pre-paid envelope, and the results are emailed within four weeks. The DNA testing kits are not just fantastic for curbing curiosity, but also allow owners to better understand their pets needs, test for health defects, and offer advice such as how much your dog should weigh and what exercise they need.
Hundreds of owners have left reviews of the testing kits on Amazon, praising them for being ‘accurate and easy’ to use, with many sharing heartwarming stories about their rescue dogs. Though one said they ‘expected more for the cost’. That said, you can purchase more advanced Wisdom Panel tests , but I enjoyed the information the ‘essential’ kit offered.
Furbo
If you’re looking for a new pet camera, the Furbo 360 dog camera has hit its lowest ever price, having been slashed from £199 to £139, saving 30 per cent on the RRP. According to price history checker camelcamelcamel, it was down to £159.99 in March for Amazon Prime Day - but Black Friday sees it £20 cheaper.
This camera has provided invaluable peace of mind, and its features are fantastic, from the 360 degree view, to two-way audio and treat tossing. It’s integrated really well into the home and neither of the dogs have tried to pull it off the side and eat all of the treats in it yet, which is why we named it our Mirror choice pet camera.
Black Friday is undoubtedly the best time to bag this camera at its lowest price - having been reduced by the same amount for the past two years. It’s very unlikely that we’ll see it cheaper elsewhere. What’s more is that it’s only £20 more than the newly-reduced Petcube Bites 2 Lite, now £119.99 on Amazon. And it’s well worth the extra spend for the quality, sleek design and superior functionality.
Dyson V8
Every owner knows how tough it is to keep on top of pet hair in the home, but one of our favourite cordless pet vacuum cleaners might be the ultimate solution. The Dyson V8 ranked as our second best pet vacuum cleaners against VAX and Shark, and is now reduced for Black Friday.
The Dyson V8 vacuum was £329.99 and is now £100 off at £229.99 . One of the only things going ‘against’ it during our comparison was the price, too, after we found it to be the lightest and most powerful of the three - though it did prove tricky to empty and it takes a while to charge. Read our full head to head test here.
Oodie
And last but not least, there’s the Oodie which has been keeping Phoebe toasty in the dipping temperatures. The retailer has slashed up to 60 per cent off almost everything on the website, including their pet Oodies.
As it stands, all of the styles are currently sold out - but don’t lose hope yet. I found that by checking the website each day, some of them come back into stock, while others sell out, and visa versa. It means you could get your hands on one from as little as £23 , if you’ve got your paw on the pulse.
Alternatively, if you simply can’t wait that long, Online Home Shop has also reduced the price of their canine wearable blankets - and they’re equally as adorable from £3.
What will you be getting your dog in the Black Friday sales?