Some people say that I'm just a little obsessed with my three-year-old, Lexie. I feel guilty walking out the door in the morning; spend all day thinking about her at work, and rush home to be with her at the end of the day.

"It's not normal," they say. I disagree, especially every time she looks up at me with those big, sad eyes and wags her tail.

You see, Lexie's a Black Lab and Golden Retriever mix. I know that she's not a REAL child, but she seems like a child to me. She depends on me for important stuff—like food, toys, hugs, and lots of love.

And since I'm so nuts about her, I try to make sure that she has all of that, by doing a lot of my canine-related shopping and research online.

For example, one of my favorite places to go from the comfort of my own home is the RC Steele web site. RC Steele offers a wide selection of pet treats, toys, chews, beds, and more—all at rock-bottom prices.

After I found this site, I officially swore off shopping at "real" stores for good. (I've also found this to be true for almost any other kind of shopping, by the way—grocery, clothes, CDs, etc.)

Dogtoys.com also sells a huge variety of—you guessed it — dog toys. The best part about this site is that you can search by breed. For instance, I clicked on "Lab", and it listed the toys that their customers listed as favorites for Labs. Pretty nifty.

Believe me, I know, because I had to use it once when Lexie accidentally swallowed the batteries from the remote control! It also lists information on grooming, training, and breeders.

If you're having trouble deciding what type of dog is perfect for you, go to Purina's interactive Breed Selector . It asks you specific questions about your ideal dog's size, activity level, temperament, coat, and more.

The 2000 Dog Names Web site contains a huge list of dog names arranged in alphabetical order. It even tells you what the most popular dog names are in America right now. (Sam is #1, just in case you were wondering.)

If you're just starting out with your new puppy, you might want to check out Don't Shoot the Dog. It contains a lot of handy information about training.

You'll find it useful during the difficult "break-in" period, when you, your pet, and your valuable personal belongings and furniture are adjusting to one another. All I can say is bookmark this site. (And I'm glad I'm not you. My dog's an angel now!)

One of the coolest sites out there is Travel Dog, which lists hotels, restaurants, beaches, and parks across the country which gladly welcome our furry friends.

What a great way to plan a family trip! This site also provides information about dog camps and doggie day care. A travel agent is also on hand to help if you have any questions.

Finally, one of the best sites out there is Cool Dog Site of the Day. Every month, visitors can vote on their favorite dog site. They've had some real winners in the past.

Both the home page and the winners tend to have excellent graphics, sound, and animation. In addition, the content is great. This site is run by dogmark online magazine.

All of these sites have taught me so much about loving, protecting, and providing for Lexie. In fact, I'm always searching for more sites about dogs. This way, Lexie and I are both happy. She gets treats, toys, bones, and food...and I get to stay home with her while I shop for them!