It’s Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season. The time to start looking for the pawfect gift for your pup, yourself, or the dog lovers in your life.

There are many sites with holiday gift lists for dog lovers but I’ve found most of them have items that are very expensive, not affordable for the average shopper. Since it’s been a tough year financially for almost everyone I decided to make it my mission to come up with great gifts all priced under $50. There is something on this list for everyone, showing you don’t need a lot of money to give a special gift.

1. Books- They really are the pawfect gift because they’re inexpensive and there is a huge range of subjects to choose from. This year people can use a laugh more than ever, so why not give the gift of laughter? Give them them BAD TO THE BONE: Memoir Of A Rebel Doggie Blogger by Bo Hoefinger.

Let’s get this clear right away: I’m a dog.

I’m 1’10” and weigh 63 lbs, and although I’m a mutt on the outside, I’m a purebred on the inside. My good nature comes from the Golden Retriever side of the family, while my stubbornness is clearly from my Chowchow bloodlines. I’ve got Rastafarian ears, a black tongue for licking, and paws that should be on a dog twice my size.

I type 60 words a minute.

My name is Bo, and this is my story.

Join this incorrigible canine as he welcomes us into his life, complete with his wacky “parents,” a constipated feline housemate, and chipmunk warfare. Bad to the Bone is an unforgettable, laugh-out-loud tale of love and loyalty that reveals the true heart of a modern American family. It’s 100% funny, 100% true. The book is dedicated to all the rescue and shelter workers who make this world a better place and a portion of the proceeds goes to help homeless animals. It’s the pawfect stocking stuffer priced at $10.17 on Amazon.com, click here to order now! Or buy at your favorite retailer online or near you.

2. Dog Treats– I found Waggy Tail Dog Treats online, they offer the cutest selection of holiday cookies. The company was started when Jamie, the founder, couldn’t find any treats for her dog Molly that didn’t bother her allergies. Having a pup, Copper, with many allergies I know how hard this can be. Waggy Tail canine treats are created with no fillers, preservatives or chemicals and use only all natural ingredients. Their canine treats are also low in calories for dog owners concerned about their dog’s weight. They have a Christmas assortment of cookies with 17 treats for $24.99. This is one treat no pup will be able to resist.

3. Dogtronics Toys– Every dog loves toys, and every owner loves watching their pup play with them. One of our favorites are the interactive dog toys from Dogtronics. The motion toys bumble, tumble and wiggle. The sound toys hoot, howl, and quack. And the light toys twinkle, flash, and blink. We gave the Nutty Squirrel as a thank you to the foster mom who took care of our new rescue, Patience, and her pup Howard literally went nuts. The squirrel, which makes noise and bounces around, had Howard barking and running around it, he was fascinated. Julie, his foster mom, made a video and I must have laughed for five minutes. Dogtronics toys are sold at Walmart and are super affordable, priced between $4.99-$14.99. Not bad for hours of fun.

4. Magazines– For the literary dog lovers in your life, magazines are pawfect. Keep up with all the latest and greatest dog news and products with one of Bo’s favorite mags, Modern Dog. Cherished family member, best friend, pampered pooch, canine kid Modern Dog magazine celebrates all the contemporary canines out thereregardless of pedigree. They have a terrific holiday special, order a $15 subscription for yourself you get a gift subscription for just $5. The magazine is published quarterly so this is a gift that the recipient will enjoy throughout the year. Another great magazine, The Bark, is also offering a $15 subscription with an added $9 for a gift subscription.

5. Custom Dog Portrait– Many dog owners dream of getting a custom portrait but usually it’s cost prohibitive, this is where Terry Stanley comes in. She’s an amazing artist and offers 5×7 custom portraits starting from $30. That’s right, $30! We got one of Bo and it came out terrific. Also, each month she actively supports a non-profit organization that helps dogs service dogs rescue dogs the humane society by designing products featuring the organizations mission. Give a gift certificate to someone for a custom dog portrait and you’ll have a best friend for life, and I’m not talking about the dog.

6. Dog Memorials– For anyone who has lost a dog Peternity is the place to get a wonderful memorial for your beloved pup. Plus, the purchase of your pet memorial will directly save the lives of needy animals. Every month Peternity donates 10% of its profits to a different struggling organization. Most of the urns and gravemarkers are over $50 but I wanted to give special mention to the single photo pet memorial bracelet. It’s $44 and a lovely tribute to your beloved pup that you can wear and enjoy everyday.

7. Mess Mat– Crypton Super Fabrics has a very cool pet line and one of the products is their stylish mess mat to put under the dog bowl. It wipes clean and dry and imparts an unmistakable sense of style to the room, your pet and you! Sloshed their water, spilled their kibble? No worries! Their reversible, spot-free, easy-to-clean Mess Mat will have your dog drooling for dinner (or last night’s leftover steak bone) with glee. The best part, it’s only $29.

8. Molly Mutt Dog Bed Duvets– Want a new look for your old dog bed? Molly Mutt is the place to go. Their diy dog bed kits are an exciting new approach to keeping textiles out of our landfills. Cover your existing dog bed with the Molly Mutt dog duvet, or – here’s the cool part – fill it with the old clothes and bedding you’ve got laying around your house. This is a fun and inexpensive way to give your dog’s bed a new look for $40 and under.

9. Harry Barker Bucket– I chose The Harry Barker Jingle Gift Bucket on cuteness factor along with price, and it really does come with great stuff. Gift Bucket includes: Good Dog Gift Bucket, green Hemp Bone Toy, Santa toy, green Donut Toy, multicolored Celtic Ball, red Cotton Rope Bone Toy, Bird Dog Treats, 3 Championship Balls (one red, one green, one beige) and a red Jingle Bell Collar. All this, plus you can personalize the bucket with your dog’s name, for $49.50.

10. Custom Dog Bowl by Debby Carman– We’ve had contests with artist Debby Carman of Faux Paw Productions before, she creates one-of- a-kind custom ceramic pet art. Her whimsical creations are a gift to cherish and I have an unbelievable offer just for Dogsters. Although she normally sells her custom dog bowls for $69 you have a chance to get one for $50 if you order before December 25th, she has never done this before, it’s a one time offer so don’t miss out. Contact Debby via email letting her know you are a Dogster member and would like to order a bowl, she’ll take good care of you.

So, there you have it, 10 terrific holiday gifts that won’t break the bank. Even if you have no money to spend for gifts you can still do something special for someone, make coupons to give out. You can give a coupon book offering free dog walking, or a free dog wash. It doesn’t matter, it’s the thought that counts.

Remember to give back this season, share some of your time with the homeless dogs at your local rescue or shelter. Donate some items on the shelter’s wish list, spend time walking or playing with the pups. Volunteering costs nothing, and the love you get back from the dogs… priceless. Isn’t that what the holiday season is really all about?

Happy holidays from our family to yours!