Doggie Booties, Jackets, Beds and Other Christmas Gifts for Man's Best Friend

Holiday shopping can get hectic, I know. Usually, one of the last "people" on my list is our dog, Wagner. (It's pronounced just like it's spelled, and not pronounced like "Vahg-ner", the composer. She's named Wagner because she wags her tail a lot.) Whether you're shopping for your own dog, or someone else's, here are a few suggestions for the perfect dog gift:

Doggie booties. Although many people might laugh, or even scoff at this, doggie booties are serious business. If you live in a region that salts its roads in the winter, your dog needs booties. The "pads" on the bottom of the dog's feet are highly sensitive to road salt.

The salt will cause their pads to crack, and even bleed, causing great discomfort to the dog. Booties can be found everywhere: pet speciality stores, major discount retailers, drug stores, and I've even seen them at the dollar store.

I used to think that it was weird that they're sold in pairs when, in fact, a dog has four feet. But because doggie booties are easily lost, I would recommend buying three pair so that you have a couple of back-ups when the dog comes home missing a boot. Booties start at $1 a pair, and I wouldn't pay more thatn $5- $6.99 a pair for them.

Reflective leash. A reflective leash is a particulary good gift at this time of the year. As the daylight hours get shorter and shorter, it's more and more likely that the dog will be taking her walk in the dark. A reflective leash ensures that she can be seen by oncoming cars.

They come in a variety of colors and lengths, and usually the reflective parts are in the shape of cute little paws. The leashes can be purchased at pet speciality stores and major discount retailers. Reflective leashes are usually priced between $12.99 - $24.99, with the less expensive ones being at the discount retailers.