Amazing, Eco-Friendly Dog Collars

These are some of the cutest dog collars I've seen yet! Made by Mascot, they come with stripes in a variety of colors, a horseshoe print, or as a preppy sailor's knot. The collars range from about $18.00-$38.00.

Not to sound too girly and gushy, but these are really cute, right? The company also makes toys, accessories, leads, and apparel. Check them out here.

Holiday Gifts for Dogs (and Dog Owners)

A new Associated Press-Petside poll found that 52 percent of pet owners are planning to get their animal a holiday gift. (This is up from 43 percent last year.) To be more specific, that's six out of ten dog owners. If you're looking for any dog gifts for friends or family members who own dogs—or need inspiration for what to buy your own pet—check out these ideas. They're all pretty affordable, and they're definitely unique.

Harry Barker Jingle Gift Bucket
$47.00
This set contains so many cool gifts for the value!

Deck the Dog Collar
$24.75
This collar is super cute, and let's be honest: You'll always know what your dog's up to in the house.

DNA Dog Breed ID Kit
$69.00
It's on the expensive side, but I can honestly say that this was one of the best gifts I've ever received. If you have a mixed breed dog, you can learn more about his background, and it's a hilarious conversation piece.

Reindeer Antlers for Dogs
$5.00
For a measly $5, think of all the photo ops for your pet!

Dog Breed Needlepoint Stocking
$40.00
I've given this as a gift in the past, and while it's admittedly a little kitschy, people tend to love these. They feature 12 different breeds.

Hannukah Hound Spa Collection
$20.00
This contains Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo, Fur Butter, Dog Smog Remedy, and Fur Breeze.

Holiday Gift Set for Dogs
$29.00
Includes a stuffed gingerbread toy, a holiday-bulb chew toy, and a paw sticker (yes, kind of random), all in a collapsible bowl that can be used for food or water.

Cruelty-Free Dog Products

One of my favorite sites, Luxist.com, recently had an item on a company called House of Dog, which makes 100% cruelty-free products from faux materials. They make collars, leashes, beds, bowls, carriers, and more. (As an aside, you may be wondering what kind of animal-related company would actually produce "pro-cruelty" dog products, but I suppose the "cruelty-free" label here simply indicates that none of these are made from actual leather.)

Now, I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not a huge fan of a ton of their products from an aesthetics standpoint, but I still felt it was worth mentioning given the whole "cruelty-free" thing. Also, if you care, celebs such as Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Jewel, Cindy Crawford, Neil Patrick Harris, and others are all apparently fans of the line.

To take a look at their product line, click here.

Personalized Dog Tags

If you're looking for a pimped out, personalized dog tag, one new company has some pretty cool stuff. High-end dog jewelry designer Cuddly Ruff makes tags in both silver and gold, but the prices don't come cheap: They start at around $50.

They even make canine bling, if that's your, um, thing. Check out their site here. 

Stink-Proof Collars

I was reading my Daily Puppy update this morning and today they featured Stunt Puppy, a company that makes hardcore gear for hunting dogs. They have a variety of leashes, collars, and dog accessories, but one of the coolest things they make is an odor proof "Dry Collar."

I'm guessing that if you're an urban dog owner, you're not taking your dog out duck hunting every weekend. Still, your pet isn't immune to having a funky collar once it gets wet or slobbered on a few times. I can't tell you how many times I've reached down to pet someone's dog and then been grossed out at the smell of the dog's fur, and especially, the stench coming off his collar. Nobody wants to pet a dog with a collar that smells like old gym clothes.

Stunt Puppy's Dry Collar is made of BioThane, "a virtually indestructible" material that's lightweight and stays flexible in cold temperatures. They come in four solid colors: black, orange, green, and pink. Even better, they're very affordable at just $21. To buy, check out their website here.