The popularity of dogs is at an all-time high, it seems. Gone are the days of a mixed breed family mutt as the common pet, and now pedigree, grooming and designer clothes are standard on neighborhood dogs.

This past week saw another Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner (German shorthaired pointer named C.J.), which inspired me to return to the fun field of canine collectibles.

A charming wooden dog box features a handcarved Scottish terrier and a round toy ball the puppy pushes with her front paws. The dog’s tail is a lever to open the smooth round box. Found at an antiques show, it may have been intended as a fancy tobacco box originally but could be used for any small trinket.

Another item is a Scottie dog doorstop, which includes a heavy construction made of a plaster or cement material and dates to the early 20th century. Many collectors find doorstops fun to seek and save, and this one would be perfect propped in a cozy home setting.

There is a cute little plastic toy dog by Tarco Toys of Chicago. This neat little puppy holds a magnetic bone in his little pink mouth, which can be removed by a child and waved in front of the dog to get his tail wagging.

Another collectible is a lovely old wooden bowl painted with an image of a St. Bernard dog. This wooden bowl is large and is similar to treenware, woodenware from the 18th and 19th centuries. Treenware includes spoons, bowls, food molds and other kitchen items and is totally functional is design. This bowl was probably made for display rather than use, however.

All these collectibles are perfect examples of how easy it is to get caught up in the canine collecting habit. There were 143,445 listings on eBay at the time I wrote this column, so you won’t have any trouble finding inventory.

Most collectors shape their collection around a favorite breed or type of treasure, such as poodles or dog figurines.

If you can find a copy of the collector’s book for those fascinated by dogs, called “Flea Market Fidos,” written by Barri Leiner and Marie Moss, it is the “first-of-its-kind guide to hunting down canine collectibles and giving them pride of place in your home.”

From paint-by-number terriers to Diana Thorne dog drawings, this irresistibly illustrated volume offers “inspiration and information for both first-time collectors and serious dog devotees.” Published in 2002, it sounds like a perfect title for collectors.

Schiffer also has a collectible book available, published in 1999, written by Patricia Robak, considered the first broad-based survey and price guide for dog memorabilia of all breeds.

Marketing giants like the Bradford Exchange know the weakness that dog lovers have for their four-legged friends, and it has lots of new collectible merchandise to prove it. On its website, it lists everything from jewelry to sneakers, designed around a specific breed fromdachshunds to German shepherds and everything in between.

To so many dog owners, there is nothing better than the unconditional love that they enjoy from their faithful pets. People love to talk about their dogs, hurry home to feed and care for them, and spend a lot of time and money on them. It’s no wonder that dogs enjoy the same enthusiasm in the world of antiques.

Purebred breeds are sort of like fine antiques in a way when you consider pedigree (provenance) and value.

Because this area of collecting has so much available, from postcards, toys, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, glassware, artwork, photography, needlework, bookends, cookie jars, Staffordshire dogs, salt and peppers, and on and on – you’d never be finished with your puppy treasure quest, that’s for sure!

For comments or suggestions on local treasures to be featured in Antique of the Week, Maureen Zambito can be reached via email at: zambito maureen @hotmail.com or by writing in care of this newspaper.