Happy "Howl-idays!"

The holiday season is upon us once again, bringing that age-old question, "What do I get for _____?" If they are a dog (or dog lover) the answer is easier than you may think. As long as you remember two simple rules - no chocolate and no cooked bones - you will do just fine.

The first idea is easy enough - custom-made collar covers. If you have a sewing machine gathering dust balls in a dark closet somewhere, go buy yourself a yard of festive holiday fabric and start sewing. One is simple to make; many are just as easy. The dimensions depend on how wide the collar is, taking into account how thick the buckle is, and how long the collar is. I usually double the width of the widest part of the buckle and add 5/8 of an inch for seam allowance. For length I add 5 - 8 inches onto the length of the collar so it will bunch up. You can go by personal preference if you want to add less or more. To sew them, turn under the ends first and sew them down. Nothing fancy, just a simple zigzag to form a seam. (If you have a serger, all the better.) If you plan on making more than one, before you cut out the individual strips for each cover, do the entire width of the fabric on both ends to reduce sewing time! A rotary cutter is extra speedy for cutting, but a pair of scissors works just as well. Cut strips apart the proper width (wider is better if you have a question on the dimensions) and sew the long seam with the fabric turned right sides in. Use a pencil, crochet hook, knitting needle, chopstick, or some other long, thin object to help turn them right side out and voila! You can make several and give them as gifts or donate them to your local shelter for a fundraising project. And a yard of fabric will make quite a few, so you can buy a yard each of many fabrics to make a boxful.

Combine these with simple homemade doggie scarves in matching patterns - simply take a triangle of fabric and turn under a seam to prevent raveling - and you're on your way to a bow-wowser of a holiday season.

Homemade dog cookies are also a great treat. (And MUCH cheaper than store-bought gourmet canine cuisine!) Discount department stores often have cheap craft baskets for a couple of dollars, so throw in some paper and a few gifts and you've got an inexpensive alternative to normal gift-giving fare. If you know the particular breed of a friend or relative's dog, you can often pick up breed cups and bumper stickers inexpensively at a pet store to add even more of a custom touch.

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