HAUTEDOG

By Joyce Becker Lee

According to the American Pet Products Association, tradition dictates that at least half of all pet owners will spend at least $210 million on pet gifts this holiday season These gifts will run the gamut from treats to clothing to accessories and bedding, and will include the outrageous as well as the practical We decided to present you with a few unusual, upscale and chic presents for your pampered pup, and maybe you’ll find a treat for yourself as well

Elegance to the max! Couture silver and gold cocktail dress (from $235) and gold gown ($185)

Gifts To Wear

In the area of apparel, you can find doggy clothing in every material from denim to lace to fur (faux and real) Sweaters are always a great gift and come in all kinds of designs, from whimsical to traditional Depending on where you shop, prices can run up to the stratosphere; but whatever you wish to spend, you’ll find outfits that are cute, glam, outrageous and even some that are practical!

For those tough guys: A freedom hoodie jean jacket ($215)

A classic sweater is always sharp: Phuyu black-andwhite classic Nordic Isle sweater ($75)

Looking ready for winter in a camouflage parka with fur-trimmed hood ($38 44)

Bling

You can share your love of luxury with your dog in many ways Try a matching set with jewelry for both of you from Diamonds in the Ruff Ruff, like this hot pink and white pearl set from $215

Photo courtesy Diamondsintheruffruff com

The style is in the details, from the chevriot tweed trim to the zipper pockets in this parka ($38 44)

Keep your pup chic and weather-safe in a powder blue trench coat with tartan lining ($34 35)

For timeless chic, how about a snakeskin collar ($85), and matching harness ($85) and leash ($115), all from BowhausNYC, a great shopping stop for luxury apparel, accessories, and necessities

Photos courtesy bowhausnyc com You’re matching your jewelry, how about matching pup/person purses? For the ultimate in opulent match-ups, try the Leonardo Delfuoco two-tone crocodile ipad bags for you and your pup ($5,119 for both) from Forzieri/

Photo courtesy VeryFirstTo com

And this holiday, you can even wear dogs on your feet! BOBS for Dogs from Skechers has a delightful line “of dog-centric shoes, including Paw-fection and Gentle Giants (each $45) All are available at Skechers com and Skechers retail stores, and part of each purchase price goes to help shelter animals (see sidebar)

Photos courtesy Skechers com

Or wear your heart on your sleeve literally with a pair of cufflinks bearing the visage of your beloved pet ($260) from Uncommon Goods For a funky twist, the company also offers a necklace made from a mold of your dog’s nose, complete with your pup ’ s name engraved on the back ($210–$290)

Gifts To Lounge On

Every dog needs a bed to cuddle into, and today’s choices include therapeutic beds for older dogs, as well as high-end cuddle bags made of materials from velvet to chinchilla Today’s trends follow two lines: luxury styling or structural wizardry Two shown in the luxury category include the Jezebel silk canopy bed accented with Swarovski crystal and freshwater pearls ($1,425) found at Diamonds in the Ruff Ruff, and the more moderately-priced black toile crate cover ($109) from bowhausNYC

This black toile crate cover adds comfort and decorating pizazz to your home.

Photo courtesy bowhausnyc com

The Jezebel dog bed lets your dog rest in utter luxury

Photo courtesy Diamondsintheruffruff com

When is a dog bed not just a dog bed? When it becomes both furniture and objet d’art! Two high-end architectural wonders include the Dedalo from Pet Superfine (price available on request), and The Leo from Murphy’s Paw (two sizes and styles priced at $1,359–$1,499)

The Dedalo is made from overlapping cold bent steel strips hand-fashioned by Italian crafters into a futuristic sphere with a comfy puppy pad Photo courtesy petsuperfine com

The Leo blends modern design to a mahogany cabinet with an ingenious space-saving dog bed and storage unit perfect for small spaces

Photo courtesy murphyspawdesign com

Sometimes your pup needs more than just a plain bed For cool nights, or for older dogs suffering from arthritis, you can give the gift of comfort with the Achy Paws Self-Warming Pet Mat (starting at $19 99), which increases blood circulation and soothes tires muscles to provide natural, restorative relief

The Self-Warming Pet Mat eases tired or achy joints.

And finally, if you like to camp and want to provide safe sleeping for your canine camper, try the BarkerBag, an innovate pet bed from BarkerGear that zips on to a person ’ s mummy bag and gives your pup a warm place, safely restrained next to you BarkerBag even comes in a design that zips between two bags for total cuddling

Camping is more fun when your buddy is safely next to you

Photo courtesy BarkerGear com

Photo courtesy Green Pet Shop

If you live in the desert area, you might be more concerned with cooling than warming In that case, consider the Green Pet Shop’s Cool Pet Pad ($24 99–$84 99, depending on size), a pressure-activated, non-toxic gel pad that provides a cool soft nap area

The Cooling Pet Pad keeps your pet comfortable indoors or out

Photo courtesy Green Pet Shop

Or for a cool shower outside, you might also try the Hyper Pet Cool Down Doggie misting leash, Starting at $5 99, available at various online sites

Charities I The Gift That Keeps On Giving I Charities I The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Pet product companies are usually founded by those eager to provide happy lives for the animals who give us so much To that end, many of them also ally with different pet charities to help all dogs and cats live better lives Here are some of the above companies who pitch in to help others.

PETMATE COM has teamed up with Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation (muttnationfoundation com) to help fund the group ’ s rescue and adoption programs and also raises money for mill rescue and emergency disaster relief

For more information, go to www muttnationfoundation com

BOBS FOR DOGS FROM SKECHERS has pledged at least $3 million to Best Friends Animal Society, by donating 25 cents from each specially-packaged BOBS from Skechers sold in the U S to the group, which is dedicated to saving dogs and cats from kill shelters BOBS also partners with other charities and has donated 13 million pairs of shoes to children suffering from poverty, epidemics, and natural disasters in the United States and more than 30 countries worldwide

GIFTS FOR WHEN YOU’RE AWAY

You hate leaving your pet, but when you do, you want to be sure they are happy and comfortable

First of all, having food and water available for your pet is key There is a wide variety of products available, and your goal is to make sure they won’t run out or make a mess Two that we thought were interesting were from Petmate: the Portion Right Programmable Food Dispenser ($79 99–$94 99) and the Petmate Fresh Flow II Fountain ($59 99–$69 99) These innovative products make sure your pet gets the right amount of food and that cooled, filtered, oxygenated drinking water is provided throughout the day We also liked that Petmate pet products are American made using eco-friendly manufacturing techniques

More and more pet owners are relying on a pet monitor to keep track of their pets One of the most complete systems we ’ ve seen is the PetChatz ($379 99), which includes a two-way monitor that lets you and your pet have some face time But there’s more With the PawCall ($99 99) option, your pet can actually push a button to call and see you! It can also be programmed as a game button that will keep your pet entertained and busy while you are gone, and it will even provide a treat at the click of your remote!

PetChatz pet monitor with PawCall accessory. Photo courtesy PetChatz com

More and more pup parents are turning to DVD’s to keep their dogs company while they are out Try one of these:

While You Are Gone includes a walk in the woods where your pup will “meet” different animals There’s also a virtual game of fetch, as well as calming sounds

The Movie for Dogs, specially designed with stimulating sounds and visuals to keep your dog entertained

The mind of a dog is always fascinating, and here are some BOOKS for dog lovers to peruse:

The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs are Smarter Than You Think, by Brian

Hare and Vanessa Woods: published by Penguin Books Ltd A New York Times best seller

Gifts Just For Fun

Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know by Alexandra Horowitz: Scribner

The Art of Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog, by Garth Stein: Harper Collins A beautiful novel memoir “written” by Enzo, a faithful and beloved dog

If your dog is less than 30 pounds, you might try the Tether Tug Indoor Dog Toy ($49 99), a clever interactive tether toy that anchors under your furniture and gives your pup the fun of a game of tug-of-war, keeping him busy and active when you ’ re not available to play Available at tethertug com

We humans have a variety of clubs that provide us with things like books, fruits, desserts and wines every month why not a monthly club for dogs? That’s the idea behind BarkBox, a “Treat of the Month Club,” which sends a fresh box of 4–6 themed toys, chews, specially designed to fit your dog’s unique needs Plans start at $20/month, and all items are guaranteed, making it a gift your pup will enjoy month after month

Dog Sitter, Vols. 1 and 2: Sights and sounds of nature

Sophie: The Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog, by Emma Pearse; Da Capo Press

Charities I The Gift That Keeps On Giving I Charities I The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Part of the Bark & Co charity program, BARKBOX helps support 3,000 rescues, shelters, and dogcentric non-profits through its coupon program for subscribers For more information, go to https://bark.co.

UNCOMMON GOODS works with Goodwill Industries through its Give Back Box to help that organization in its mission to help people find work and strengthen their families

Whatever you gift your doggy pal with this holiday season, the most important gift of all is your love and your time Set aside special time each day to let your pet know how important s/he is in your life, and you’ll certainly have seasonal joy all year ‘round.