Parade Pets' 'Best in Show Awards 2026': 40+ Best Pet Products, Editors and Experts Say
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Let's be real: Your pet is more than a family member. They're your favorite family member. Have more than one? Consider it a tie for the top spot. (We won't tell any applicable parents, partners or human children.) Naturally, then, you don't want your pup or kitty eating just any old kibble, snoozing in a run-of-the-mill bed or using anything less than the coolest cat tree.
In short, your fur baby deserves only the best. At Parade , we get it because we're right there with you. Many of our editors and writers are pet parents themselves who also pore over pet product reviews and descriptions with a fine-tooth (grooming) comb. We want our pets to eat the healthiest diet, play with fun and durable toys and travel in total luxury. But we also know that pet marketplaces are a dime a dozen (thanks, Internet). Also, these days, some review pages simply don't pass the sniff test. There's nothing compared to hand-tested recommendations from people who love their dogs and cats as much as you do.
That's where we come in. We've tried products that have failed and ones that have changed the game for our pets (and us—and our furniture). We want you to know about them. From treats and food to vacuums and toys and paw protection in between, these are the 40+ pet products we're not shy about championing. They're practically purr-fect, so we call them "Best In Show."
How We Tested These Pet Products
Listen, reviews have their place—they can help you set baselines and filters. But at Parade , we want more for our pets and yours. So, we're not just reading reviews–we're diving deep with testing done by the team and their own pets. Products are evaluated by a team of writers, veterinarians and pet behavior experts. Our pets also joined in the chorus (and their voices absolutely mattered). From there, we narrowed the list to the best of the best and eliminated the rest.
As such, "Best in Show" signifies a product that stands out in performance, safety and user experience. You can trust that if a product is marked "Best in Show," it works, lasts and is something pets truly love. We think you'll love it, too. Without further ado, here are the champion products.
Pet Home Essentials
Pet hair on chairs and couches? A litter box that reeks? These pet parent pain points are not the nature of having a little "beast." These workhorse litter boxes, air purifiers and vacuums keep your home looking and smelling sweet.
Best Kitty Litter: Dr. Elsey's
Chewy
After sifting through numerous litter options, Dr. Elsey's Kitty Litter became the clear winner. Its odor control is so good that guests think multi-cat families are pet-free—ditto for the heavy, non-tracking granules.
"Dr. Elsey's is the one litter I always recommend to fellow cat parents," raves Brittany Galla, Parade 's Editorial Lifestyle Director. It keeps odors under control, forms hard clumps that make scooping easy, and I don't feel like I'm constantly sweeping up litter from every room."
Best Odor-Blocking Litter: Arm and Hammer Double Duty Clumping Litter
Walmart
Arm and Hammer's Double-Duty is something of a workaholic when it comes to making your home smell fresh, and that was purr-fectly alright with ParadePets Editor Mary Hawkins. "I swore by this kitty litter when my precious cat was still alive and wouldn't use anything else," Hawkins says. "The odor control alone is second to none, and you never knew I had a litter box, even though I lived in an apartment at the time." Arm & Hammer's formula includes baking soda crystals, which nixes pee and poop odors right away. The dust-free, low-tracking formula and no-spill spout make keeping house with a cat a breeze.
Best Unscented Litter: Tidy Cats
Chewy
Parade Social Media Director Devon Sherer searched high and low for a cat litter that absorbed smell without having a smell. "Fresh scent" wouldn't cut it for someone who admits she "hates smelling litter." She finally landed on Tidy Cats Free and Clean Unscented, which provides odor control through activated charcoal in a clay litter. You won't find fragrances or dyes on the ingredients list. "It does a great job of covering up any odors without making itself known," Sherer says. "It clumps great and is pretty low-dust. I also appreciate that we can find it at many retailers and that it comes in varying sizes."
Best Smart Litter Box: Modkat
Modkat
Litter boxes can be more than a nose-sore (if you don't have the right litter). Traditionally, they're not that stylish. Modkat isn't your cat's grandmother's litter box. Its sleek, modern design fits in—or dare we say, stands out stylishly—in a home. It comes in four models (front-entry, dual-entry for multi-cat households, top-entry and tray), as Modkat knows how particular cats are about their "thrones." Functional as it is "fashionable," the box is designed with a lid to ensure you also spend minimal time scooping and cleaning it.
Best Robot Litter Box: Litter Robot by Whisker
Whisker
An early-comer to the self-cleaning litter box game, Whisker began making them in Y2K. Today, it has three models you can choose from to suit your cat's size and the number of kitties in your home: The Litter-Robot 5 Pro (5 cats, 3-30 lbs.), the Litter-Robot 4 (4 cats, 3-25 lbs.) and the Litter-Robot EVO (2 cats, 3-19 lbs). The self-cleaning models sift through waste, and you can go at least a week without emptying one if only one cat uses it (and forever without smelling one, regardless of how many kitties you have). The latest model, the 5, is a total tech-savvy upgrade with an integrated dual-camera system and monitors waste at any level.
Best Litter Box with Monitor: Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System
Amazon
ParadePets writer Eve Vawter isn't here to shoot the breeze—not when it comes to Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System. She currently. has two automatic robotic litter boxes in her house. "Real talk… I still keep coming back to the Tidy Cats Breeze System every single time," Vawter says. "Every. Single. Time. Because nothing, and I mean nothing, keeps litter from tracking all over my floors the way the Breeze does."
Vawter credits the Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System's anti-tracking pellets and absorbent pad for keeping dust off the floor and the smell out of her house. "It is just clean, and that is honestly all I have ever wanted from a litter box situation," Vawter says.
Best Pee Pad: Qeil's Reusable Puppy Pads
Amazon
Accidents happen, but when they happen often, they can cause stress for the whole family—pet included. And the "circle of life" often means that you'll deal with them earlier and later in your dog's life. Qeil's Reusable Puppy Pads were a worthwhile investment for Alani Vargas, Parade 's Senior Lifestyle Editor, who uses them for her rescue pup, who sometimes pees from anxiety. A completely waterproof bottom layer keeps your floor dry. The super-soft flannel is gentle, but the durable product can withstand many wash cycles—and urine washes out easily without a pre-rinse.
Best Dog Blanket: Lesure Waterproof Puppy Blanket
Amazon
Two things are true: Dogs deserve coziness, and your couch deserves to smell fresh and look clean. Lesure Waterproof Puppy Blanket has made both things possible for Vargas, who uses the blanket (which comes in multiple colorways and prints) to keep a barrier between her dog's hair, body and odor and the couch. When Lesure promises waterproof—they mean it. No dog drool or pee has ever reached her couch. "I adore this waterproof blanket," Vargas says. "I have it in two patterns that I switch out between baths so it's always fresh. The material also makes it stay in place. This is an essential for any trips or as a good protective layer for couches, beds, you name it."
Best Dog Bed: Lesure Pet Orthopedic Bed
Lesure
Lesure's orthopedic bed has dreamy features you'd want if you were shopping for a mattress for yourself at a department store—memory foam (that contours in seconds to cradle aging or pained joints), base foam (strong support for larger dogs) and responsive foam (to help senior dogs rise with shine). Low entry and an L-shaped bolster make it easy to enter and exit, and to support sleepy heads.
Best Upright Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark Rotator Pet Vacuum
Target
There are plenty of fish in the sea, but only one Shark Rotator Pet vacuum. It can grab pet hair from carpets and floors you once thought had become "part of the furniture." The vacuum also features odor-neutralizing technology and a self-cleaning brush roll, ensuring your home smells fresh and you have time to enjoy it. A 3XL-capacity dust cup and an anti-allergen, complete seal with HEPA filtration are nothing to sneeze at, either.
Best Vacuum and Grooming Kit for Pet Hair: HomeSurePet
Chewy
This innovative, precise grooming kit and vacuum is a grand slam if you're looking for efficiency and convenience. A triple-layered sound insulation vacuum that operates at 45 decibels can quell noise-induced pet nerves. The versatile grooming kit includes multiple combs (needle, thinning and silicone), clippers and a lint brush. Plus, a removable dustbin, filter and filter foam make maintenance a cinch.
Best Pet Carpet Cleaner: Nature's Miracle
Chewy
You love your pet, even when they have an accident (or get sick—ugh/aww). But let's be honest: Stains and odors are vibe fillers, even if your furry friend is the life of all of your parties. Nature's Miracle gets the stains and stink out in less than 15 minutes with an enzymatic cleaner. Just spray it. You don't have to pray, but you do need to wait 10 minutes and then—miraculously—it's like nothing ever happened. The cleaner works on carpets, hard floors, furniture, fabrics and more.
Best Pet Stain Eliminator: Rocco and Roxie Extreme Stain & Odor Eliminator
Amazon
Your pet is adorable. The remnants of their messes are not. Vargas has had to deal with her fair share of potty-related accidents (of both varieties) in her home from her dogs and cats. She hails this cleaner by Rocco and Roxie as "by far the best odor eliminator for all things dog and cat pee, especially cat pee."
That's not an easy task—IYKYK (and Vargas knows). Plus? She notes this cleaner is, "kind of magic when it comes to stains," including hard and impossible-to-wash items like rugs or couches.
Best Cat Tree: Mau Cat Tree
Amazon
As a mom of three cats, Vawter has seen plenty of cat trees, and they share common threads: They're "Ugly, carpeted and something you spend the rest of your life trying to hide behind a couch or a plant."
The Mau Cat tree has given that story a shake-down. Vawter's eye finds the modern design with hand-woven wicker basket cushions "cool-looking." It can also handle three rough-and-tumble felines. "It actually belongs in your home," Vawter says. "The design is sleek enough that I actually do not mind it being the first thing people see when they walk in, which for a cat tree is basically a miracle."
Best Air Purifier: Alen Corporation
Alen Coproation
When you can't live without pets but have to live with allergies (and sometimes near wildfire smoke), Alen Corporation's Energy Star-rated line of air purifiers features medical-grade HEPA filtration capabilities that help protect your respiratory system. The technology removes 99.9% of dust, viruses and allergies larger than 0.1 microns and can cover more than 1,000 square feet in half an hour, allowing you to breathe easier.
Pet Wellness
Wellness isn't even a buzzword in the human space these days—it's part of our culture. Unsurprisingly, upgraded supplements, balms, powders and fur-friendly home exercise gear have gone mainstream in the pet zeitgeist, too. Yet, as with humans, pet wellness picks demand a discerning eye. And since you're a pet parent who loves your fur baby, we know you have that eye.
Best CBD Oil for Pets: Tribe Tokes Wild Salmon CBD
Tribe Tokes
Omega-3 and CBD are popular ingredients in human supplements. But they're not in Tribe Tokes' Wild Salmon CBD to appeal to humans. The brand built it specifically for dogs and cats. EPA supports skin, coat, brain, and immune health, and dosing is based on pet weight. The oil takes the edge off anxiety related to separation, loud noises like fireworks, travel and vet visits. It uses salmon sourced from clean Alaskan water and CBD isolate, so there are few impurities and no THC.
Best Pet Home Camera: Blink Outdoor 4 Camera
Best Buy
It's not technically made for pets. But this tech-forward system was basically made for ParadePets editor Ni'Kesia Pannell's sweet-but-destructive Great Dane. "Not only is the video quality crisp and clear, but the audio is also amazing," Pannell says. "Both Bishop and Gambit (my GS) have no issues hearing me when I need to lay down the law or give a little love from far."
The 24/7 system includes infrared night vision, an impressive two-year battery life, and enhanced dual-zone motion detection that alerts your smartphone to movement stat .
Best Budget-Friendly Pet Home Camera: Eufy C220 Camera
Chewy
If you can't splurge or bear to skimp on peace of mind about your pet, the Eufy C220 Camera offers a rare-to-find middle ground. The under-$40 camera includes clear-as-day 2K resolution, so you can easily "spy" on your furry friend. AI-powered tracking and motion detection, plus 360-degree pan-tilt capabilities, offer full-circle comfort. Meanwhile, no monthly fees for local on-device storage provide relief for your wallet, so you can fork over more dough for tasty pet treats to dole out when you come home to your very good boy/girl.
Best Pet Recovery Suit for Spay/Neuter: Kuoser Recovery Suit
Amazon
Kelsey Barberio, Parade 's Senior Producer, is still raving about Kuoser's Recovery Suit, earning it repeat-winner status for "Best in Show." Feeling the giant cones of shame are—well—shameful and "archaic." Barberio set out to find something better for her dog (and yours). She found a Velcro PJ-style set for her puppy on neuter day. "Not only was it absolutely adorable, but it protected his incision and kept him comfortable," Barberio says. "The material is very soft, and it comes in tons of cute patterns to match your dog's personality."
Best Pet Paw Balm: Burt's Bees for Dogs Nose & Paw Balm
Chewy
This USA-crafted balm is made with all-natural essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and protein. It combines power with a soft touch to protect your pet from the elements. Speaking of "soft," it'll keep your dog's nose and paws moisturized in all weather. It works like ChapStick, and ParadePets Editor Nora-Marie Santillan says she relies on the balm to keep her senior dog's nose comfortable every day. "She has one part of her nose that gets so dry and bumpy that I'm afraid it will get infected, but this Burt's Bees balm helps keep her little nose from getting dry," Santillan says. "She actually lets me put it on her nose via the stick and then rub the product into the whole nose."
Best Pet Protective Paw-wear: Wagwellies
Wagwellies
Another pet wellness product that's so nice, we had to include it twice, Wagwellies is making its second straight Best in Show appearance. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again and again: this is the best paw protection brand out there for the pups," Pannell raves.
Pannell used Wagwear's Wagwellies on her Giant Schnauzer a couple of years ago. Since then, her two pups have been seen rocking Wagwellies Mojave and Wagwellies Sports. "They are sturdy—good for cold or hot days, the rain, hiking and more," she adds. "We love them so much, we've collected a full lineup of colors, and I've even started purchasing them for Bishop, my Great Dane."
Best Water Additive for Healthy Teeth: Oxyfresh
If you read and hear advice from vets to brush your pet's teeth and go, "OK, but have you met my dog or cat IRL?" Oxyfresh's water additive for healthy teeth offers an alternative. Its non-toxic oral care water solution includes zinc and other ingredients that eliminate bad breath, remove plaque buildup and protect gums without your pet even knowing (it's tasteless and odorless).
Best Dental Care for Dogs: Fera Pets Dental Powder
Fera Pets
Fera Pets offers another fresh way to get off the oral hygiene struggle bus, which Hawkins was on with her feisty Shih-Tzu. "He will not let me brush his teeth, and I'm too scared to do a dental cleaning at the vet because of his age," Hawkins says.
A few months ago, Hawkins found this dental powder, and it's been a game-changer for her pup (and her). Natural, made with kelp antioxidants and a cinch to sprinkle on food, her dog is literally "eating it right up." Now, she can enjoy the sweet kisses, sans stench. The product also works for cats.
Best Cat Exercise Wheel: Furdear
Chewy
Unlike the rainbow one on a Mac, this is a wheel you can get behind—because your cat 31/10 agrees. The Peloton of cat wheels, it's durable, quiet and lightweight. It offers couch potatoes and active kitties a fun, fright-free way to play, reduce stress, burn energy, and calories and maintain a healthy weight. It's also a breeze to set up with fasteners, so your cat can hop on it shortly after you unbox the Furdear.
Pet Food and Treats
Arguably, there's no taller task than choosing a pet's diet with all of the fodder out there about raw food bowls, home-cooked meals and natural ingredients. Plus, we're more aware than ever of our pet's digestive strife. Your vet is your best option to bounce ideas and Internet rumors off of. But once you've decided on the best diet, these pet foods, treats, and feeding products will become fast favorites.
Best Raw Cat Treats: Stella & Chewy's
Amazon
As obligate carnivores, cats were fans of protein long before it became TikTok cool. Historically, domesticated felines can be finicky. But Stella & Chewy's has embraced the challenge, using it as inspiration for a line of free-dried, raw Dinner Morsels that serve as treats and toppers for other foods. Made using responsibly sourced animal proteins and with minimally processed ingredients, it's something you and your cat can feel good about. Flavor profiles include chicken, beef, turkey and duck.
Best Dry Kibble for Dogs: Purina One True Instinct
Purina
Pannell's dogs tried more food brands than she could shake a stick at, but each of them triggered stomach issues—sometimes even after working for a few months. Struggling to find something that could consistently nourish her fur babies without having to spend a small fortune, she turned to the True Instinct Turkey & Venison formula by Purina ONE, which doesn't have byproduct meal, preservatives or artificial flavors. It hasn't stopped working, and Pannell hasn't stopped buying it—or recommending it. Now, Pannell's two dogs "run to their bowls" during feeding time, and it doesn't cause post-meal digestive woes.
Best Puppy Food: Purina Pro Plan
Chewy
Winner, winner chicken dinner. Purina also makes Best In Show for its puppy food formula, Purina Pro Plan. Made with carefully selected ingredients, including antioxidants, protein, calcium and omega-6s, this 100% complete and balanced puppy food has everything your pet needs to support their immune system, skin, muscular and digestive health in their first year of life.
Best Dog Food for Sensitive Pups: Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care
Chewy
Hawkins has to be careful about what she feeds her precious senior Shih-Tzu, who has various health concerns. But she's been able to stick to Blue Buffalo-branded foods since he was a puppy. Made with limited ingredients and real protein, Hawkins loves that "it's sensitive enough on his little tummy and never upsets it," Hawkins says. It comes in multiple flavors, including chicken and brown rice and salmon and potato. But Hawkins' dog adores the turkey-and-potato recipe.
Best Fresh Food Delivery Service: The Farmer's Dog
The Farmer's Dog
Move over, human meal delivery kits. The Farmer's Dog takes the winner's circle for fresh food delivery in our dogs' books, and they're the most important ones as far as we're concerned. The Farmer's Dog brings fresh, human-grade complete and balanced meals to your doorstep. Simple, vet-developed recipes use gently cooked meat and veggies and exceed AAFCO standards. To get a personalized plan, you'll fill out a short questionnaire about your dog's needs and preferences. You can also pause, cancel, or reactivate your subscription at any time.
Best Dry Food Delivery Service: Sundays for Dogs
Sundays for Dogs
Dog food made with real ingredients you can actually pronounce—not synthetic nutrient blends or artificial preservatives—is the order of the day with Sundays. The subscription-based service offers air-dried, vet-approved dog foods and delivers them to you at a cadence that ensures you'll never panic as the bag lightens. Flavors include turkey, chicken, beef and fish. To ensure seamless service, you'll fill out a 3-minute survey about your dog's weight, breed, activity level, and health goals, and Sundays will calculate how much food your pup needs (and the cost).
Best Dog Food Topper: Beaumont Basics
Amazon
These tasty toppers are like a doggie version of the cherry on top. Vargas' rescue dog isn't all that food-motivated (a rare breed, indeed), but Beaumont Basics ensures she eats what she needs. "If I feel like I need to get her to eat some more, these do the trick," Vargas says. "I have her pick which flavor she wants that day between cheese and beef, and she loves mixing it up. And then it's hard to get her to stay before releasing her to eat—she finds these so yummy."
Best Training Treats for Dogs: Blue Buffalo Bits
Blue Buffalo
Yes, dog parents, we're giving you a second helping of Blue Buffalo. The high praise is warranted. Blue Buffalo's soft, chewy treats offer big flavor (like chicken) to reinforce all of your pet's "very good" behaviors. All the while, its protein-rich formulas use real meat first and include DHA to support cognitive development. At Blue Buffalo, preservatives and artificial flavors are in the dog house—not in recipes.
Best Treats for Small Dogs: Trader Joe's Peanut Butter and Banana Biscuits
eBay
Trader Joe's Peanut Butter and Banana Biscuits hold holy grail status for Hawkins, her senior Shih-Tzu, and his sensitive gut — and other small-dog families around the U.S. for their reasonable size and (apparently) delicious taste. "They're dog-bone shaped and small, so they're perfect for giving to a small pup," Hawkins says. "I've tried plenty of other biscuits where I've had to break them in half or quarters. These are the perfect size for my pint-sized pup."
Best Treats for Healthy Skin: Native Pet Supplements
Native Pets
As a pet parent to two larger-breed dogs with chicken allergies, Pannell takes extra care in choosing healthy food and treats for her dogs. "I literally trust no other brand than Native Pet to deliver that," Pannell declares. "Both my Great Dane and Giant Schnauzer use The Daily—which has 11 benefits in one product—The Omega Oil and the Probiotic every day." Plus, Native Pets' supplements are clean-label and vet-developed, so they're natural fits for healthy routines.
Best Stick Dog Treats: Golden Rewards
Walmart
If flavor, shape or ingredients are sticking points for your pet (and you) when it comes to treats, Golden Rewards are likely hits. Made without byproducts, wheat or soy, these grain-free treats are unheralded superstars in the pet treat world. In Pannell's home, they're now just superstars.
"I stumbled across this brand one day while looking for pet cologne in Walmart, and I haven't turned to anything else since," says Pannell, whose dogs love the duck-based options. "They get so excited when I head to the cabinet to pull them out, and I've truly never seen them react better to any treat we've tried."
Best Calming Treats: Zesty Paws
Zesty Paws
Zesty Paws' functional supplement blend supports pets during storms, travel, fireworks and other stressful moments. The functional blend includes suntheanine (an advanced form of L-theanine), ashwagandha, chamomile, valerian root and L-tryptophan to help your pup stay relaxed in otherwise stress-inducing situations. The peanut butter-flavored treats are best for dogs with normal stress, nervousness and hyperactivity.
Best Treat Dispensers: Fable Pets
Chewy
"Don't play with your food" is not a rule that applies to dogs. Fable Pets has turned meal and treat time into fun time. Its puzzle toy boasts a weighted-base design, creating irregular motion that supercharges your dog's prey instinct and provides necessary physical and mental stimulation. You can put 1.5 cups of kibble, spread peanut butter on the top fins, and let your dog go to town while you run an errand, hop on a Zoom call, and take a shower with the bathroom door closed. The silicone material makes the game quieter.
Best Automatic Cat Feeder: Petlibro Smart Feeder
Petilbro
If your cat prefers wet food—as Galla's does—consider the Petlibro Polar Smart Wet Food Feeder a "game-changer." It keeps up to three meals fresh for three days, with a cooling pause that ensures your pet gets their food at the ideal temperature. "I love that it keeps meals chilled until it's time to eat, so I don't have to worry about wet food sitting out for hours while I'm at work or running errands," Galla says. And it doesn't add chores to her list because the stainless-steel bowl is dishwasher-safe.
Best Pet Water Bowl: Slopper Stopper
Amazon
Just the name is appetizing to dog parents with sloppy sippers, like PetHelpful writer Kathryn Bell's Goldendoodle. The Slopper Stopper is a product that lives up to its name, lowering water spills and trails by up to 85%. You can use it in the car and at home, and it's designed for dogs weighing in at 21 to 50 lbs. "The bowl holds up to a gallon of water, which is more than enough for my pup between refills," Bell adds. "Best of all, I'm no longer stepping into puddles every time I walk through the kitchen. My floors—and socks—stay dry, my dog stays hydrated, and it's truly been a win-win for both of us."
Best Treat to Keep Pups Occupied: Woof Pupsicle
Woof
If you need a minute (or 30 or more) of peace, the Woof Pupsicle offers it—and peace of mind. Made with only 10 high-quality ingredients, such as peanut butter and beef tallow, the Pupsicles are clean, mess-free, and delicious. Don't let the name fool you either—there's no freezer required. It's ready to eat when your pet is. Bonus: One Parade staffer said it "totally saved" her during her Aussiedoodle's teething years.
Pet Parent Solutions
Pet parenthood is a whirlwind of fun and gratifying beyond words. But you might also feel like a juggler in the center ring of a circus, making vet appointments, playing chauffeur, doing laundry, and keeping tabs on a mammal with a mind of their own. These travel systems, trackers, and laundry aids ensure you don't drop a single ball.
Best Detergent for Pets: Active Pet Laundry Detergent
Amazon
ACTIVE Pet Laundry Detergent Odor Remover is a bio-based enzyme cleaner to go after and eliminate slobber, dirt, and dog and stubbornly smelly cat pee from your laundry. It's worked like a charm in the Vargas household, where her cat regularly pees outside the litter box, and her rescue pup pees for attention. Even though her pets are—mercifully–having fewer accidents these days, she still uses it in every pet load.
"It just keeps everything fresh, and there are no lingering odors from my dog's feet, her slobber or anything," Vargas says. "Truly, a must-have in my household at all times."
Best Pet Tracker System: Tractive
Tractive
Tractive does so much more than provide live GPS tracking, virtual fences and escape alerts about your little Houdini (though it does both of those, too). It's a data-driven parent's dream. Tractive sends weekly well-being reports on your dog's activity and sleep. You can also receive alerts about changes in your pet's vitals, activity and sleep, which can be an early sign of pain. It also boasts a 2-week battery life. The Tractive is for dogs who are over 9 lbs.
Best GPS Collar: Halo Collar
Halo
The Halo Collar 5 is heaven-sent for pet parents who want to give their dogs freedom without sacrificing the knowledge their pup is a-OK. Pet parents have the power to set wireless GPS fences at home, on the road and even while off the grid. Its satellite data is refined by ground stations, giving pet parents 24/7/365 peace of mind. (The all-day battery life is a major plus, too.)
Best Leash & Collar Combo: Ruff Wear
Ruff Wear
Ruff Wear's extensive library of collars and leashes was designed for outdoor adventure, with both fashion and practicality in mind. Collars include waterproof or stink-proof ones, as well as others that are perfect for everyday wear. Durable leashes complement collars, including slip leads for a stroll around the block and hitch leashes that allow for secure control while climbing. Numerous prints and solid-color options let your dog make a stylish statement—products sold separately.
Best Pet Travel System: Tavo System
Tavo
Tavo's 3-in-1 Pet Protection System triples as a cozy carrier bed, pet stroller and safety-tested car seat. It, frankly, rivals what you find on the market for human infants. "The TAVO travel system is as good as it gets," Hawkins raves. "With a small dog, you have to be sure they're restrained in the car, and this car seat keeps him safe, cozy and happy, even on long rides."
Best Pet Carrier: SturdiBag
Sturdi
Sturdy is what you need when traveling with a beloved pet, and that's what SturdiBag provides. Perfect for small cats and dogs, the airline-compliant pet carrier keeps dogs safe, secure and cozy until you reach your destination. Flexible rods can fit tighter aircraft seat situations, and a soft, padded interior will have your pet feeling like they're flying first-class (even if you're in coach).
Best Dog Harness: Didog Harness
Amazon
Santillan has two Didog harnesses for her 20-pound dog and says it's the closest thing to "no-pull" on the block, courtesy of a piece that sits in the low-chest area. She slips it over her pup's head, and it snows on one side. Removal is so easy that she does it one-handed. "I would recommend this harness for small dogs, with the simple design for putting it on and taking it off, and the soft material that sits on the dog's body," Santillan says.
This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Life section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
