Having a dog can be the best thing in the world, but it can be seriously hard work. I recently added a puppy to my pack and was quickly reminded of the trials and tribulations that come with being a dog parent, plus the love and joy that's never far behind.
Now is a great time to treat your four-legged pals, or pick up a handy piece of kit that can make your life as a pet owner that bit easier. You might already be aware that Black Friday is on the horizon, falling on November 24 this year, but if like me you always have your eyes peeled for the best deals, you'll be pleased to know some retailers have gone early and already made some offers live.
I've had a trawl through Amazon and a couple of other places to pick out five of the best dog-related deals you can already snap up.
Tapo cameras
If you suspect your dog might be suffering with loneliness or separation anxiety when you're heading out then it can cause a lot of worry. One of the brilliant - and very affordable - solutions brought about by modern technology is pet cameras. Most work by simply plugging them in and connecting it to the Wi-Fi.
You'll then be able to keep an eye on what your dog is up to via an app. The Mirror's Gareth Butterfield is a big fan of Tapo cameras. Speaking of the Tapo C210 2K 3MP Pan Tilt Security Camera, which is reduced to £22.99, he said: "I have two of these, one in my office and one in my master bedroom, and they're honestly all the camera you'll ever need. I've mounted them in the windows which means, at the touch of a button in the app, I can rotate them to a defined "mark" in either the garden or the room. One faces out to the front, the other out of the back.
"Their resolution is superb, they never let me down, and even at the original price of £40, they're very affordable." I also have one of these myself and have found it really handy for keeping an eye on the dogs when I'm out. It does lack some of the more dazzling features of the pricier cameras, but does a solid job.
A more advanced pet camera was our Mirror Choice for the best product of its type, but at £199 it's quite a bit more expensive.
The Furbo camera is our favourite pet security camera on the market. It lets you hear and speak with your dog and toss treats on the go. It's also got a 360 degree viewing range, automatic tracking to watch your pet as they roam, and colour night vision to check up on them in the night, too!
Grooming comb
I recently got a German Shepherd puppy to add to my Sprocker Spaniel and while they're amazing company, boy do they shed some hair. Keeping on top of grooming and deshedding is essential to limit the amount that ends up on the floors and furniture, not to mention, it helps keep their coats healthy.
This grooming comb is almost half price, with 41% off the RRP. You can pick it up for £5.94. It's nothing ground-breaking but a chance to save a few pounds on an essential item.
Advent calendar
If you really want to treat your dog this Christmas there's a dog advent calendar from Pooch and Mutt. The price has been cut from £39.99 to £20.99.
The dental stick advent calendar is said to be ‘the first of its kind’ to ever exist, containing 24 individually wrapped dental sticks in the brand’s four flavours: Limited Edition Cheese Fondue, Peanut Butter, Turkey & Hemp and Spirulina & Mint.
Car seat cover
It's arguably the worst part about having a dog, the mud and general mess. While an old towel on the back seat of the car sort of does the job of protecting the seats, there are special covers that are designed to drape over a far bigger area, and keep those mucky marks at bay.
You can currently save a tenner off this VSPETCC Dog Car Seat Cover. Key features include a mesh window and storage pocket, it's also scratchproof and is designed to fit various vehicle sizes. Savvy shoppers can pick it up for £19.99, down from £29.99.
The reviews are broadly very positive, but a small number said the product ripped after a few days.
Non-spill water bowl
One of my pet hates is walking into the kitchen wearing socks, only to tread in the water my dogs have just spilled all over the floor while having a drink. If it's an issue you face too then there are certain water bowls that claim to address the problem. One such product is currently on offer on Amazon at £9.99, down from £17.99.
One reviewer said: "Great bowl, boxer doesn’t dribble water now when walking away - it’s brilliant." Another added: "Great size and weight. My collie pup gets spooked by his reflection. This bowl solved the problem and he can’t flip it over."
One reviewer said they had an issue after their puppy learned how to dismantle the bowl.