-By Libby

Need a great dog lover gift idea? This past holiday season, I gave a tin of homemade dog treats to my dog-loving people friends.

Mind you, I'm no bird dog, but I was able to kill two birds with one stone on this one: See, you give the gift to the person and the dog. Everybody's happy. And it's simple and inexpensive to do.

Dog Lover Gift Idea #1:
A Tin of Homemade Dog Cookies

Here's what you'll need:

• A favorite dog treat recipe, made into a dozen or more treats (depending on how many gifts you'll be giving)

• Muffin cups

• Decorative cookie tin(s)

• Wax paper or tissue paper

• Bow(s) or ribbon (optional)

I was able to find a number of small 6x3x3 tins at the local Dollar Store.

Shopping tip: Do NOT ask Dollar Store personnel how much they cost.

If you're giving several dog lover gifts at once, like during the holidays, a smaller tin helps spread the love a little farther. But if this is a birthday or any holiday where you're giving just one gift, you may want to consider using a larger tin and adding more dog treats.

Note: If you're short on time, you could always go down to the local dog bakery and pick up some dog treats to put in your tin. They don't quite carry the same warm fuzzy feeling as homemade dog treats, but they'll do in a pinch. Regardless, they will be eaten, and they'll bring joy to all individuals involved in the exchange.

Dog Lover Gift Idea #2:
A Gift Basket Made Up of Homemade Dog Treats
(aka "Basket O' Love")

Many dog gift baskets are made up of more than food. They contain stuffed toys, chew toys, squeaky toys, and other knickknacks. Personally, (and I feel strongly about this) I feel the absolute best gift basket you can give to a dog will be made up of 100% food. I can probably speak for most of my canine pals when I say this: When given the choice between food or a toy, I will choose food every time.

So, to get the biggest emotional bang for your investment of time and love, make your gift basket contents 100% edible!

Pile them in there...

Then wrap with some red cellophane and a bow. -Fancy, huh?

Here's what you'll need:

• A basket. When choosing the size of your basket, ask yourself, "How big do I really want to make this thing?" The bigger the basket the more you'll want to fill it. And remember that bigger isn't necessarily better!
  

• Cellophane plastic wrap, or small colored cellophane bags. Get a few different colors if they're available.
  

• Two or three varieties of homemade cookies, including the cookie cutter/iced variety. -These cookies are especially festive, and they show well in a basket. You can decorate them for the occasion.
  

• "Grass" (cellophane or paper), or raffia, to line the basket.
  

• Ribbon.

Note that with a dog lover gift basket, the wrapping plays a key role in the presentation of the gift, and hence in the quality of the gift itself. Please take into account that a good wrap job goes a long way with most dogs. I encourage you to wrap creatively.

For example, if you've made a dog treat recipe that yields small treats, grab a handful, bundle them in a cellophane bag (or wrap) and tie a piece of ribbon around the top. With the larger, decorated cookies, be sure to use clear cellophane so the beauty of your artwork can show through!

Line the basket with "grass" and then place the wrapped cookies and treats inside. Depending on the size and shape of your basket, you may want to wrap the entire basket in cellophane. This helps to keep the contents in place, especially if the basket has to travel any distance.

If you're planning to ship the basket, keep that in mind as you wrap the cookies and line the inside of the basket. A little more padding is advisable, and make sure the contents are snug and not rattling around inside the basket.

These dog lover gifts are unique in that they are made by you. A handmade or homemade gift is often more meaningful than a store-bought gift.

Rest assured, if you give a gift like this, your Dog Love will shine through like a beacon, and make for a lot of smiles.