PELE, president of Phideaux Dog Collars, is a black miniature Poodle and was adopted at Burger King where his prospective new owner had stopped to get a burger and came away with a hot dog instead. Pele gives a mean "make my day" imitation of Clint Eastwood. His imitation of Elvis Presley is unequaled in that Pele can play dead better than most. He loves to play ball and can keep a balloon in the air for hours on end. He appreciates impeccable grooming, but doesn't want anyone messing with his ears.

HOT DIGGITY DOG, Pele's executive assistant, is a neutered, silver poodle of the toy variety who is very active politically. Although he is very entertaining most of the time, his owner is trying to make him stop imitating sexually-active presidents. He uses the excuse of a dysfunctional puppyhood at a kennel where he stayed in a cage for months before being adopted by a well-meaning matron who didn't know he was a liberal.

FILBERT, the newest addition to Designing Dogs' Management Team is a two-year-old black miniature Dachshund. He first came to the attention of Designing Dogs in 1999 when he won the Savannah Wiener Dog Races wearing a Genuine Phideaux Collar. Filbert's motto is look like a winner and you'll be a winner. Read the whole story on the winning wiener on Our News Clips page.

CHARLOTTE is a designing dog whose fiery, red-head temperament runs from Poodle cool to Poodle outrageous. She prefers all things French and is considering a career on the stage. She and Hot Diggity Dog are currently "an item" and a pack of canine paparazzi is trying to get a photo of them vacationing together in Maine.

VICTORIA, called Tory by her closest friends, is a Fox Terrier. This designing dog can sleep standing up. When she's really angry, she turns her back on you and faces the wall acting as if she couldn't care less...and she doesn't. Tory is an international dog (having traveled to Canada) and loves tomato juice baths. Her owner loves them, too, especially after Tory has been skunk hunting. Tory summers in Maine and winters down South on a working plantation where they grow carriage horses and martinis.

LAPIS is a blue merle Australian Shepherd with Betty Davis eyes. She stays on the lookout for alligators when vacationing down South and tries to stay out of the way of anyone named Jock. While Lapis is a member of the canine aristocracy, she is not an elitist and befriends everyone she meets. Lapis is the president of Barkers Anonymous.

ARIEL, a huge English Mastiff, could have been a working dog, but was adopted at a young age by a working woman, so she guards the home front and keeps Sam the Siamese in line instead. Ariel loves all things British and sports a collar featuring the British flag. She loves picnics and has designed a watermelon collar to be worn and enjoyed when eating outdoors. It isn't true that Ariel can eat a whole watermelon by herself, but she has tried.

RHETT (nicknamed Gut Butler because of his massive girth) is a fine pound-type dog with a mixed Southern heritage. Although his father is rumored to have been a cad, Rhett is a Renaissance Dog. While he loves all things mundane, he particularly enjoys opera and is able to practice his singing for hours and hours when his owners are away. Rhett has several collar preferences and his designs run from a traditional blue collar to a William Morris-type design with Acanthus leaves and subliminal tea roses.

MCCRAWFORD is a Scottish Terrier and an avid golfer. He is the king of hole-in-one shots since he can race the ball to the green and dig a hole to catch the ball before it gets there. He is learning to play the bagpipe and is quite good at it. McCrawford is very mischievous and likes to tell doggy jokes. If you know any, e-mail them to him at Ourdiggity@aol.com.

BARCLAY is a stock broker when not designing for dogs. It is not true that he is a rogue trader, although he is prone to run amuck. Barclay is a Whippet with massive holdings in dog biscuits and chewies. His portfolio also includes a small amount of cat and squirrel chasing, but is diversified enough to include digging for buried treasure and night barking.

BEAU, is a standard French Poodle and a very distinguished writer. While he has adapted to city living, it is true that you can take the dog out of the yard, but you can't take the yard out of the dog. Beau is writing a new novel about good and evil in Savannah. The working title for his book is "Gone with the Bones." He also writes a monthly column for Fire & Hydrant magazine.

ZORRO is a huge Lurcher. His designs have a Southwestern flavor and feature wild, unusual colors. His owners are currently trying to convince Zorro that he is not a lap dog but he doesn't agree with them. Zorro says that he loves hot colors because he wants to be a pharmacist some day. In the meantime, he continues to have a tire fetish.

ST NICHOLAS, nicknamed "Nikki-Nikki" is a handsome French Poodle who was abandoned by his former owners on Christmas day. It didn't take his new owners long to realize that he was a top designer. After seeing his resume, Designing Dogs put him to work immediately. Nikki's writing a motivational book for the homeless. "If I can find true happiness, it's possible for everyone else, too," he says.

CHLOE, another red-headed Poodle, is Charlotte's half-sister and believes in reincarnation. She is certain that she was a Chinese Pug in a former lifetime and insists on wearing collars with an oriental flair. Chloe has perfected her inscrutable look while meditating and is studying Buddhism and Cajun cooking. She winters in Florida and lives in Maine in the summer.

WINSTON, a pompous Pomeranian from Winchester, England, is a fastidious dresser and lunches at his private club every day. He is always included in invitations to sit in the royal box at the Ass Caught Races. Winston knows that he doesn't stink and hopes one day to make sure that he has the right ass. In the meantime, he keeps on checking.

PATRICK, an Irish Water Spaniel, is a banker. He is acting president of Bones of America, a secret banking system for canines, and recommends savings in dog biscuits as well as well as an account at the local pub. Patrick is planning for early retirement, since Bones of America is being considered for a merger with Barker's Bank of New England.

MARILYN is a blonde Chihuahua bombshell. Although she is getting up there in age, she has retained her school dog figure. Marilyn is not nervous when she shakes, she is just cold and needs a hug. Although diminutive in size, Marilyn isn't intimidated by anyone or anything. Her current boyfriend, Mr. X, is a politician and she is keeping a secret diary of their relationship. "It isn't true," Marilyn insists, "that Mr. X has kennel cough."

DOUG the Dalmatian is an actor who participates in summer stock. He isn't famous yet, but still leaves his signature everywhere in case some other dog is interested. Doug loves the fire hydrant collar because he is a real dog. He wears the polka-dot collar when he is acting out a CIA plot to expose those involved in importing fake chewies to the U.S.

ANASTASIA, a sultry red Afghan Hound, spends as much time as she can romping in Forsythe Park because she likes the way her fur looks while she runs. Her hobbies include admiring her own reflection in the French doors at her parents' rowhouse and shedding on the white antique sofa. She insists on being brushed at least once a day but only after she has been rewarded with a "cookie" for being so lovely. Her designs focus on the classic look for narcissistic canines.

ZELDA VAN DIGGERLY, or ZsaZsa to her friends, is an elegant Bouvier des Flanders who is a descendant of world champion bitch Leona Taxmenot Diggerly. She is a member of the "Visiting Dog Society" and volunteers her time spreading cheer at the Rottweiler Senior Center. Her favorite trick is eating anything that doesn't look or taste like dog food. She is very proud of her Palm Beach designs and wears collars with "glitz" when making guest appearances at local dog shows. She has announced that several new designs will be debuted with her new spring collection.

BANJO, works with his dad, Al, performing bluegrass music for tourists on River Street when he is not designing dog collars. This two-year-old Akita dances to the music with selections from his extensive repertoire including the Dog Trot, the Dingo Tango and the Rawhide Twist. He gives private lessons at the Arthur Furry Studio and is know to be somewhat of a doggie Casanova among Savannah bitches, rumored to be responsible for three litters in the last year alone.

RAMBO, is a junkyard dog. This retired pit bull spends his days chasing cats out of his dad's courtyard on Chatham Square and attempting to romance "Babette," the seductive Poodle/Yorkshire Terrier mix next door. He has a special talent for chewing anything leather and riding on the back of the motorcycle. He designs a unique line of biker dog collars for Designing Dogs including the "Skull and Cross Bones" and "Bad to the Bone" collars.