5 Gift Ideas for Your Dog This Christmas

Written by: Tom Remp

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Photo via orvis.com

Our dogs deserve to be spoiled sometimes, especially during the holidays, and what better time to give them some extra treats and attention than Christmas? This year, go the distance and give your pooch a deluxe dog stocking filled to the brim with treats and toys.

To help you, we’ve put together a list of our favorite stocking stuffer ideas, especially tailored with your dog in mind. These charming and practical items will make great stocking presents, and provide your pet with the care and attention he or she needs throughout the year. From special treats to cozy rain jackets, quality grooming products to first aid kits, and durable safety collars to fun Christmas toys, we have a wide range of quality items that will make every canine happy this winter…

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Top 10 Men’s Stocking Stuffers for 2015

Rose Gold Chronograph
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One of the greatest things about a Christmas stocking is that there’s no age limit. However old you are, nothing will get you into the holiday spirit quicker than waking up to a stocking filled with special presents. At Orvis, we’re passionate about making sure Christmas stockings aren’t just for kids. Stuffed full of grown-up luxuries, our gifts section contains plenty of potential stocking fillers, perfect for each member of the family.

With our fantastic gift ideas for men, you’ll be able to give the man in your life the perfect surprise this winter. From a fine leather belt or cigar case, to a suave copper hip flask, these handsome and practical presents are ideal for anyone with a love of timeless tradition and the outdoors. Tastefully understated, a grown-up stocking is a fun and unique way to give Christmas morning some added flair and excitement, and a great means to make sure smaller luxury items are given the attention they deserve…

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The Best Christmas Tree Stand Ever

Written by: Deb German

‘Tis the season for fresh greenery festooned with pretty ornaments, tinsel, and twinkling lights: the unmistakable aroma and inspired beauty of a cut Christmas tree come but once a year. For many the Christmas tree stands as the centerpiece of this celebratory season of comfort and joy…

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Alternatives to Down Jackets

Down is one of the most tried and true insulating agents available for clothing and bedding. For hundreds of years people worldwide have worn down to stay warm. Russian trading records dating back to the 1600s list bird down as a popular textile. Today, down continues to be a desirable insulator for jackets, since it provides maximum loft, which in turn retains heat more effectively at a lighter overall weight than any other natural insulator. Thanks to technology, however, synthetic insulation has given us increasingly better alternatives to down for insulating jackets, sleeping bags, and more. Let’s take a look at two of the most popular down alternatives for jackets to see how it can keep you warm without adding unnecessary weight…

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10 Best Gifts Under $100

Finding the perfect gift for a person with persnickety taste, while shopping on a budget, can be a challenging task. Fortunately, at Orvis we’ve curated some of the best gifts under $100 for men, women, the home, kids and dog lovers, to make your holiday shopping for everyone on your list, simple, enjoyable, and most of all, rewarding. Here’s a sampling of some of our favorites from this holiday season’s gifts under $100…

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Through the Lens of Nostalgia: Objects to Thrill and Delight

Written by: Deb German

Orvis Bison Leather Football
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Autumn engages the senses. The distinct smell of dry foliage is the harbinger of what lies ahead, a last perfumed breath before the landscape lies frozen and dormant. Apples and pumpkins, wood smoke and conifers: these sensory reminders and others of their ilk take us by the hand (or grab us by the shoulders), and lead us down a pathway awash with memories, to our own cherished fall traditions, summer occasionally lingering awhile in the rear view mirror…

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Car Travel without Dog Crates: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Written by: Deb German

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Folding Nylon Travel Dog Crate
Photo via orvis.com

Well plenty, that’s what. All I can say is, traveling with two shepherd puppies, no dog crates, and one small child on a twisty mountain road somehow seemed like a good idea at the time.

Traveling with dogs is always challenging, with some dogs more than with others. Traveling unprepared for doggish situations is just plain stupid. No matter how seasoned you may consider yourself where dogs are concerned, you always need a travel crate, even if you elect not to use it. Always. I speak with the wisdom of one who was a party to unfortunate decision-making on an ill-fated trip with a pair of puppies, even when I should have known better. (Not to worry, everything came out okay. So to speak.)

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Lapping Up Luxury: Why Pets Love Bolster Dog Beds

Written By: Deb German

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Lounger Deep Dish Dog Bed
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Bet your dog rests her head in your lap opportunistically, just like she does on the sofa or chair’s armrest if you routinely allow her on the furniture. It should come as no surprise that dogs love head support: it’s a naturally comfortable position for them, and the bolster bed gives your dog the same kind of buttress when your lap is unavailable.

Bolster Dog Beds: Supported Comfort
It’s what bolsters are all about. Your own nighttime ritual probably includes at least some wakefulness in bed: reading, working on your laptop, a little late-night telly. Bolsters have long made themselves useful tucked under a pile of pillows; they give us the lumbar support we need to sit up comfortably in bed and elsewhere…

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How to Pack the Best Travel Clothes for Women

Written by: Deb German


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Packing the best travel clothing is as much about dressing in layers as it is about the specific women’s travel wardrobe you choose.

This is a cautionary tale of sorts, a manifesto for the woman with wanderlust. I’ve had occasion to travel alone for lengthy visits to New York City several times in recent years, but did not possess a stitch of women’s travel clothing, unseasoned as I was. In my defense, I got smarter each time, but also broke a few cardinal travel rules: I packed a mountain of clothing in an enormous, unwieldy bag; almost everything I brought needed pressing when I arrived; and I stupidly purchased stylish, new shoes for my first trip. That last bit was possibly the most poorly conceived decision of all. My feet suffered needlessly for days because of it, even after I abandoned the offending shoes.

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