For those of us who have a special dog or dog lover in our lives that want to find a gift that isn't something the recipient would think of on their own, but that would be greatly appreciated and definitely not repeated by someone else in their lives, here are a few ideas.

• sPaw day - Buy a gift certificate at a local boutique doggie dayspa for a special day of pampering and grooming.  You might want to include a nice grooming brush and bottle of doggie perfume/refresher spray with the package.
• Bath Basket - If you like the sPaw idea, but want the focus to be on the at home spa, make up a cute Art of the Bath basket that includes all the essentials.
• Daycare - A day at a doggie daycare would be a nice treat for the well mannered dog that needs a little social interaction.  Make sure you choose one that is size appropriate for the dog that would be receiving the gift.  Some daycare facilities are for dogs 30lbs and under, others accept dogs of all sizes.  You might want to get a feel from the pet parent first, to see if this is something they have been interested in.  Also check out various facilities and make sure you choose one that could be a long term solution for the pet that falls in love with the experience. 
• Homemade dog biscuits - What dog doesn't love getting a nice batch of cookies made with love? Choose all organic ingredients and use dog themed mini cookie cutters. 
• A crystal collar by Roxy and Lulu - For the dog that has everything, a hand-crafted Swarovski crystal collar is just the right present to "wow" everyone.  Matching leads are also available.
• Speaking of Swarovski, Susan Lanci makes an elegant Swarovski dress for GW Little that is just stunning and perfect for the holidays for a little princess. 
• PetTag Creations offers unique handcrafted pet identification tags that are made in Maryland.
• Songs to Make Dogs Happy is a music CD designed especially for dogs to ease their tension and help with separation anxiety.
• For the new pet parent or pet parent soon to be, PetFinder's The Adopted Dog Bible by Kim Saunders, is a must have. 
• For the dog parent with a holistic bend, a subscription to The Whole Dog Journal would be an excellent choice, bringing very helpful information to the reader.
• For a nice getaway vacation gift, consider a trip to Restful Paws Inn, near Sturbridge, MA. Restful Paws is a small bed and breakfast that caters specifically to pets and their people.  They even have a bone shaped therapy pool on their property for canine guests.