By Meredeth Barzen

This holiday season you don’t have to leave any dog or dog lover off the list because there’s no shortage of inspired gifts from local artists, manufacturers and shops. Here are a few of our favorites for you to check out as you check off your list.

Clothing

For doggie clothing that has it all — style, attitude and an eco-friendly twist — visit the Climutt online boutique. All pieces, conceived and created by local designer Sydney Holcomb, are made from pieces of fabric that were formerly parts of human fashion statements. (**Mention Sidewalk Dog in the notes portion of your online order and save $5 through Dec. 31, 2008.)

Hip clothing from Climutt.

Gear

Now every dog — big dogs included — can look fashionable with collars and leashes from bark+biscuit. Everything is created by local designer, Alisha Zavadil, and is heavy duty enough for everyday wear.

Designer collars for big and small dogs from bark+biscuit.

And, no parent of a Sidewalk Dog should be without the Stunt Runner leash from Stunt Puppy created by local Ken Goldman. The versatile leash is perfect for running, walking or shopping with your dog, tethering them outside at a pit stop or when you need a short lead to get to and from the car to the dog park.

The versatile Stunt Runner leash for running, walking and shopping, from Stunt Puppy.

Art

Give the dog lover in your life a lasting memory of their dog by gifting a painted portrait from artist Jessie Marianello, founder of Stray Dog Arts, or Sarah Anderson of Lintu Art. All you need to commission a portrait is a photo for the artist to work from.

Print and photography from Lintu Art that capture’s your dog’s personality.

Commissioned art from Stray Dog Arts that capture’s your dog’s spirit.

For any pet lover who has lost a pet or whose pet is experiencing a serious health issue, Pet Reliquaries, by local designer Lisa Havelin, creates custom lockets and pendants to  help dog parents keep their loved one close to their heart at all times.

Pendants from Pet Reliquaries.

Also creating beautiful stone sculptures to celebrate and commemorate past and present pets in our lives is local artist Mark Clements of Follow The Muse. His sculptures can be personalized and are great for outdoor or indoor display.

Follow the Muse hand-sculpted stone to commemorate your pet.

Photo Sessions

And though no dog lover I know is void of photos of their dog, you may consider a professional photo session that can function as family art. Consider gifting a photo session with Patrick Nau or for family-oriented flair, Sara Beth Photography if it’s all about the dog, or Olive Juice Studios for their unique “dog-umentary” approach.

What dog lover wouldn’t love a professional photo featuring their dog, like this one from Olive Juice Studios?

Give Back and Save a Pet

More than 100 shelters and rescue groups around the Greater Twin Cities area are in need of food, toys, treats and monetary donations. Why not consider gifting a donation, in the name of a dog lover on your list, to his or her favorite animal welfare group? For a list of groups throughout the Minnesota visit Petfinder.com. You can also check out their Sponsor-A-Pet Program where you can also see a list of local shelters who have individual pets who need sponsors to provide food and care.

More Ideas

Leave no dog off your list! For more gifts and ideas be sure to visit local stores Bone Adventure, Lulu and Luigi and Corazon.

Jessie Marianiello has always taken her passions seriously and refined her knowledge of them through her higher education studies. But for this English Master’s Degree candidate, it’s the brush, which tells great stories about dogs, not the pen, that has all the power.

“I have always played with painting and even studied it, but I didn’t feel entirely comfortable as an artist. So I pursued a Master’s Degree in English, ” said Marianiello. In the meantime, something special happened.

While working at the garden shop in her neighborhood, Marianiello met many dogs. “They became my best friends, and everyone they belonged to became my best friends, too,” she said. “I had to paint them. Once I finally did, something clicked. I felt like I had come home. Dogs completely connected me to my style of painting like never before and my company, Stray Dog Arts was born.”

“I like painting portraits that tell a story. Dogs aren’t just dogs. They have big beings inside of them. I want my paintings to tell the story of who that being is,” said Marianiello.

Inspired by a trip to India a few years ago, she has begun developing a new idea to paint the stray dogs of India. Her hope is that her paintings will bring help and comfort to those animals. One day, she would also love to paint the dogs of Oprah Winfry and dog trainer, Tamar Geller.

Marianiello’s love of dogs doesn’t stop with the canvass. She and her husband are dog parents to two dogs: Anu, age 10, a husky/wolf mix and Louie, age 1, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They all live together in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis where Marianiello said she feels especially inspired by a balance of nature and city.

Marianiello’s work is now on display at Dunn Bros in Linden Hills through July where she is also offering 30% off of a portait through December 2008 (or while spots are available) for dogs who live, work or play in Linden Hills. She is also being featured in the July 2008 issue of local Edge Life magazine, the Fall 2008 issue of Modern Dog and August issue of Urban Animal out of Australia.

You can see her work now online at www.straydogarts.com.