Top Ten Gift Ideas for Those Who Love Dogs

It's true, we love our dogs. But sometimes the responsibilities of dog ownership can be a bit much, at least if you want to do it well. There are a lot of gifts you can give that make the tasks a little easier, a little less expensive, or just more enjoyable. Here are some ideas:

1. A retractable leash. Do your dog loving friends leash walk their dogs? If they do and they use old fashioned leashes, it can be a chore. You can make their lives easier with a gift of a retractable leash, which allows the pooch to have a little more leeway but the owner maintains control by being able to limit the length of the leash when necessary. Wal-Mart sells one model for about $15 for small dogs. If there isn't a store near you they have a variety of retractable leashes on their Web site.

2. Pet insurance. Just like most types of insurance, pet insurance can give pet owners peace of mind. Predictably, the cost depends on the size, age, breed, and possibly the geographic location of the pet's home. You can learn much more about pet insurance by reading about it on the Associated Content Web site. See Resources for the URL.

3. Micro-chip. Pay to get your dog lover's pooch micro-chipped. Like pet insurance, micro-chipping will provide the dog's owner with great peace of mind. The chip is only about the size of a grain of rice, and contains information that can reunite a lost dog with a distraught owner. It's no more painful than a vaccination and takes about as long. The price varies by veterinarian. Some vets charge less if the dog is there for another reason as well, so if the pooch is due for a vaccination or checkup, that's the best time to do the chipping. Humane societies may do it for less. The price could be as low as $10 but more likely around $25.

4. Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul. If you're not familiar with the Chicken Soup books, they are full of carefully chosen, heart-warming stories that touch the soul. You can log onto the Chicken Soup.com Web site, or find it in most bookstores. Or try Half.com, where many brand new books are sold at deep discounts (they're cheap, but they can take up to two weeks to arrive, so order early). See Resources.

5. Obedience classes. Of course, you don't want to offend the dog's owner who may think his pooch is perfect. But if you know the owner is interested in some kind of training classes but can't put out the money, offering to do this might be a welcome gift. Ask around at vets or groomers that are local to the dog owner, to find out who does the best, most cost-effective job of dog training. Or look in the yellow pages or search engine for the local area. A six-week class may cost in the neighborhood of $80. This is something the owner must do along with the pet, so before you pay for classes, make sure the owner is willing and has the time.

6. Basic Health Care Books for Pets. Here are two good ones: What if My Dog...?" by Jim Evans, or The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats by Prevention Magazine. What if My Dog...? is especially helpful in figuring out whether you've got a problem that requires a vet visit, or just a little special home care. Most pet owners have questions from time to time and having some good reference books can set their minds at ease. Either book should be available brand new for under $12, but you may find a brand new copy on Half.com at a deep discount.

7. Dog calendar. Calendar producers have picked up on the fact that we love our pooches, and they've made an abundant supply to choose from. Best of all, you will likely find a calendar made for just about any breed. You can find some dog calendars at a dollar store, and the prices go up from there. With some of the more expensive dog calendars, part of your purchase price is donated to an animal charity like a humane society. That's a plus for pet lovers.

8. Travel. The travel industry is recognizing more and more that we want to take trips with our pets, and they're working to make it easier. You can give your pet lover the gift of an online subscription to Takeyourpet.com, which highlights businesses that are pet-friendly. Takeyourpet also provides excellent articles about pet care. A full year subscription is less than $15 and is delivered right to the dog lover's computer. Or, take the gift a step farther. You can look at Takeyourpet's free version and see if there is a pet-friendly vacation package you can give your dog loving friend. See Resources for the URL.

9. Pet Stroller. If your dog lover enjoys a good walk but, for whatever reason, Fido can't keep up (joint ailments, old age, or other physical problems) you can give them both the pleasure of each other's company with a pet stroller. These are also good for very small dogs like Chihuahuas that may love to walk with their owners, but have limited capacity for distance. Walmart's Web site has them for about $85, big enough to carry a dog up to 27 pounds. See Resources to link to a picture.

10. Donate. For the dog lover who has everything or for whom you just can't find the right gift, you can touch his or her heart by donating to an animal charity, especially one that is local to the gift recipient. If you don't know what charity this person favors, here are some suggestions that represent the values of many conservatives: Animal charities, such as Best Friends, a no-kill animal shelter Or the Another Chance Animal Welfare League (See Resources for the URL). And, if you make the donation in the name of your dog lover, he or she will get a tax deduction (or you will if you make it in your name.)