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.

Designer Dog Beds

My friend Ashley recently told me about a cool site for dog beds that I hadn't heard about. It's called PawDigs, and while some of their beds are a little pricey, they're definitely worth it.

Beds by Madison Avenue Mutts

They carry a variety of beds from two of my favorite companies—Harry Barker and Madison Avenue Mutts. You can choose beds by size, and they even carry orthopedic pads, mats for crates or traveling, and variety of eco-friendly designs.

Here's their site if you want to take a look! http://www.pawdigs.com/

Eco-Friendly Dog Shampoos

I admit it; my dog is not the most hygienic of pets. She is oblivious when she pees on her own foot; she rolls in dead worms; and she likes to dig holes in grass so she can eat the dirt beneath it. She then proudly tracks her skanky mess all around my apartment with her little paws. As a result, I’m a little obsessive about washing her, and I do it in my own bathtub. I’m always looking for good dog shampoos, and a month or so ago, a friend forwarded me a Daily Candy for pets. It included an amazing line of dog products from TrueBlue. (They also make cool bowls, leashes, and carriers.)

TrueBlue grooming products are “detergent-free, tear-free, easy-to-rinse, pH-balanced for pets, hypo-allergenic, bio-degradable, and cruelty-free, with no sulfates, parabens, or artificial colors.” They make eye wipes, ear wipes, and even dental “swipes”—although it’s unclear to me what these dental thingies entail. The best part is, all of their products smell glorious.

Some other companies that have these include: Earthbath, Botanical Dog, and Bio-Groom.  

Do you have any favorite grooming products for your dog? 

Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags

If you don’t scoop your dog’s poop in the city, you’ll be slapped with a $250 fine. You’ll also have a whole bunch of pissed off people coming after you on the street. So, you’re going to want to keep your butt covered by carrying little bags around. Sure, there are dozens of dog doodie bags, but one company, Flush Puppies, has created water-soluble, 100 percent biodegradable ones. (The average plastic bag can take up to 1000 years to decompose in a landfill.) If you choose, you can even flush these down your own toilet. (Meh. That would be difficult for me from a psychological standpoint, although admittedly very environmentally responsible.)

Sign by PetPro

According to the Flush Puppies website, in a city of 100,000 people, dogs can generate about two and a half tons of feces per day. That's almost two million pounds a year. Since I have zero math skills, I had someone help me confirm the following numbers: In New York City, where there are approximately 10 million people, that means dogs generate about 250 tons of waste per day, and almost 200 pounds per year. That’s a lot of shit.

Flush Puppies were created by three University of Florida grad students, and their site is pretty damn funny. If you want to try out the product, it’s $3.99 for 15 bags, and you can get them on their website here.