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.

Chew Toys For Every Dog

I'm always trying to think of ways to keep my dog occupied, and I've become a little bit of a connoisseur when it comes to chew toys because Riley goes through them so quickly. Below are a few options that you may like (based on my own experiences with Riley), depending on what you're looking for.

For dogs with bad breath:

Dental Mint Rawhide Chew Treats
$9.99
The rawhide cleans plaque off your dog's teeth, and the mint freshens his breath. The best part is, these chews won't stain your carpet.

For dogs with crazy-strong jaws:

Natural Rawhide Compressed Bones
$5-$25, depending on length
If your dog goes through rawhides far too quickly, and you don't want him to get an upset stomach, try this. Because the beefhide is compressed, it takes nearly triple the time for your dog to finish. Plus, it's much less likely to splinter and cause your dog to choke.

For dogs who could use a teeth cleaning:

Busy Buddy Bristle Bone
$14.99
This bone has nylon bristles and rubber nubs to stimulate your dog's gums and clean off plaque. Just note that you have to buy the Gnawhide chews separately.

For dogs who get bored easily:

Active Snacker Tug Toy
$16.75
Ok, so this isn't necessarily a "chew toy" per se. But, this tug-a-jug toy is interactive, so it will keep your dog occupied for hours. You fill it with treats (most kibble works just fine), and your pup has to figure out how to get the pieces out.

Does your dog have any favorites?

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.

Interactive Dog Toys

If you want your dog to stay occupied for hours—and you don't have the time or energy to throw a tennis ball 7,000 times—Fetch Dog has a few brain teaser-type toys that claim to be able to keep your pet busy while you watch that Real Housewives marathon.

They have four different games: the Bone Spinner, Magic Bones, Dog Brick, and Dog Tornado. All apparently pose a different puzzle "designed to capture canine curiosity, engaging dogs in the hunt for tasty rawhide—and the positive reinforcement of a job well done." (All games are $39.75-$49.75.)

I don't know about your pet, but my dog loses interest in a Kong toy...even when it still has a treat inside. She'll sit and stare me down for 45 minutes until I cave and just give her a treat right out of the bowl. She's clearly no fool; and I clearly have no willpower.

Has anyone tried one of these types of toys for their dog? Do they work?