Is Your Dog a Genius? Angela Pham’s Gift Picks May Hold the Answer
The photographer’s Japanese Spitz, Turtle, has mastered a dozen tricks, from counting to four to walking with a limp. So can yours!
share article
Photographer Angela Phamopens in a new tab produces campaigns for major brands — when she isn’t in front of the camera as a face of Glossier or growing her Instagram following as a burgeoning style icon. Somehow she’s found the time to train her Japanese Spitz, Turtleopens in a new tab, to master a dozen tricks — from ringing a bell to counting to four to walking with a limp — which she describes in her earlier article for The Wildestopens in a new tab. Impressive, right?! Lucky for us, Pham is sharing some of her genius training secrets by recommending interactive toys designed to engage dogs mentally and physically. Below, her selection of the best gifts for the dog prodigy in your life.
“These are great to teach dogs words. I used these to teach my dog numbers and how to count. You can start off with having a button for potty, food, play.”
“This toy is great for lazy owners who have high-energy dogs. Dogs go crazy over this, and it expends a lot of the dog’s physical energy, but none of yours.”
“I love to hide high-currency treats in this snail to give to Turtle whenever we leave her alone at home. It helps with her anxiety and distracts her for five minutes while we slip out of the house quietly.”
“This is a great interactive dog feeder for doggos who scarf down their food too quickly.”
“This puzzle toy is difficult, but I love food toys that challenge my dog. I feel like dogs innately like to scavenge and sniff for food, and this mimics that.”
Avery Felman
Avery is a writer and producer. She has written for numerous publications, including Refinery29, BuzzFeed, and V Magazine. When she’s not at her computer, you can find her reading, practicing her Greek on Duolingo, and delving into the Sex and the City discourse. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and their cat, Chicken, who rules with an iron fist.
Related articles
![]()
opens in a new tabPhotographer Angela Pham on Training Her Japanese Spitz
How she taught Turtle to ring a bell, open a door, count to four, and walk with a limp!
![Kat Dennings with her cat]()
opens in a new tabA Few of Kat Dennings & Her Cat Millie’s Favorite Things
From a super-realistic salmon steak toy to an elephant-grass woven cat pod, Kat clearly knows cats.
