If you’re not creeped out by a dog skeleton, you’re half way to being a student of dogs. If you wish you had an articulated dog skeleton of your own, you already are one.

“Dog people” spend a part of a lifetime “going over” dogs (feeling structure with their hands), pouring over videos, and watching movement, but there is no substitute for having a skeleton one can manipulate to understand structure. We sometimes speculate that we could have shaved years off our own learning curve had we owned such a thing.

With the holidays coming, we’re always thinking about unique gift ideas to give a confirmed student of dogs (including yourself). Mind you, skeletons are not inexpensive (the one here is $1,800), but if you’re going to take the plunge, a good source is Skulls Unlimited that carries everything from skeletons to skulls, teeth and individual bones.

Skulls Unlimited stipulates that all their natural bone specimens are legally and ethically obtained and doesn’t approve of destroying an animal solely for the purpose of gaining an osteological item. It goes on: “Our suppliers and their sources obtain osteological material from natural & predator deaths, road kills, food source by-products in exotic regions, legal hunting & trapping operations, and from attrition in zoological gardens. You can be assured of, and take comfort in knowing that your purchase conserve treasures and promote the ethical utilization of limited resources.”

For folks keenly interested in structure but short on $1,800, visit this site that offers interactive 3D models that can be rotated from various angles. It’s pretty slick.