Behind every dog is a gift-loving human

Before you buy another squeaking busy bee or hand-knit puppy vest, consider, for a moment, the other end of the leash. There stands a perfectly generous human who regularly showers her pup with the best treats and toys money can buy. While she would not begrudge her furry sidekick a thing, the sight of his holiday payload -- plush bed, bakery-fresh cookies, couture luggage -- is apt to make her feel a little left out.

So think smart. If you're crazy about someone who's crazy about dogs, why not focus on the human side of the equation with practical gifts that enrich the joint venture?

I take inspiration from real life, which this time of year means romping in the cold, wet and muddy outdoors. Reduce the soggy misery of a dog-walking friend with the Mucksters Pet Lover's Shoe ($54.95) from the Muck Boot Company. Available at Crown Hill Pet Supply, these foam-and-rubber slip-ons are designed to keep feet dry and grit-free. Even better, the easy-to-clean soles significantly reduce the "ugh" factor of encounters with dog pies.

For those forced to ramble on dark, slippery streets, Crown Hill Pet Supply also has a full range of illuminated and reflective collars and leashes, and collar lighting systems, such as the Puplight ($20.50). Like bicycle headlights attached to a collar, Puplights are supposedly the beam of choice for Secret Service dogs.

Because most people are taller than their dogs, an adjustable reflective vest, like those favored by savvy cyclists and crossing guards, is another safety-smart gift idea. The Nathan Night Fall Reflective Vest ($28), available at REI in South Lake Union, offers eye-boggling tricolor reflection.

For those on your list who take outings to another level -- lots of dog-park field trips and hiking -- consider the Dingolope Dingo-Dog-Duffel ($64.95), a quirky, locally made, multipurpose carryall available at Mud Bay. Inspired by the needs of a Blue Heeler named Waylon, the water-sealed nylon duffel has room for toys, treats, water, leashes and booties, plus extra pockets and cords for waste bags, towels, a cell phone and keys. With drawstring, collapsible bowls attached to each end, the duffel slings over the shoulder or converts into a dog pack.

If you know folks with big, particularly hairy dogs, shave time off their post-walk drying sessions with a Soggy Dog towel ($28), engineered for this one task. (If you don't believe me, check out the directions.) Made from extra-absorbent terrycloth with pockets in four corners, these towels make it easy to swab from inner ear to tail tip. One strategy to share from the trenches: On cold, wet nights, pop the towel in the dryer before heading out. This makes a toasty homecoming for all parties concerned. You'll find Soggy Dog towels at Mes Amis on Queen Anne, where the charge for holiday wrapping will be donated to PAWS in Lynnwood.

On the subject of fur, adhesive lint rollers (around $4) are a welcome token for friends who share their homes with all species of shedders. They're inexpensive and available nearly everywhere, including most drugstores.

One final suggestion for the dog lover's den is a book about dogs. Top of this year's list has to be Patricia B. McConnell's For the Love of a Dog (now in paperback; $15.95). A behaviorist and zoologist living with two border collies and a Great Pyrenees on a sheep farm in Wisconsin, McConnell explores the fascinating emotional lives of dogs and their people. The result is an eminently readable collection of facts, stories and insights that can't help but enhance the dog-human bond.

Finally, score eco-points by wrapping gifts for dog-owning families in biodegradable poop-scoop bags. Perfect for the holiday are green Business Bags (made from corn and available at Urban Dogs in Bellevue Square; $6.99), which are inscribed with the message: "There's no business like dog business."

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