What to get for the dog that has everything?

If you enjoy spoiling your pet pooch (and who wouldn’t, really?), but find that pet shops these days are lacking in sufficiently luxurious accessories, you might benefit from checking out the vast world of canine haute couture. The craze for glamorous gifts for dogs is no longer reserved for the fashion-obsessed or celebrities, nor is it still an “Only-in-America” trend. There are a number of successful shops in Australia offering only the best for your dog, from designer jackets to bejewelled hair clips and everything in between.

Finn and Sootie, a “pet emporium” based in Victoria, is one such shop that stocks items for the hippest pets and their owners. In the jewellery section alone, there are necklaces made with Austrian crystal, handmade knitted flower hairpins, and even crystal tiaras if you really want to make your pet feel like royalty.

Or if you prefer timeless style and elegance whilst keeping Fido fighting fit, have a look at the “Growlex Watch Toys”, the “Pawda Bags” or the “Jimmy Chew” (get it?) soft toys.

By far my favourite, however, are the dog carrier handbags, as popularised by Reese Witherspoon and Chihuahua in “Legally Blonde”. These are ostensibly for carrying around your smaller, more delicate pets, but they would probably work just as well as ordinary handbags, albeit ones with mesh ventilation windows.

If you really have a hankering for dogs in dress-up, Downtown Doggy might be more your thing. This shop is located in Teranora, NSW (but will post anywhere in Australia or internationally) and carries some of the most elaborate dog-clothing I’ve see in awhile. Highlights include a punk-style jacket (complete with pin-badge), chenille harnesses and distressed leather ‘˜town jackets”.

Judging by the success of these sites, doggy haute couture looks like a fad that’s set to stay. It may seem crazy at first, but really, if you can’t lick ‘em, why not join ‘˜em?

More sites

http://www.dogue.com.au/index.html

http://www.thehautehound.com/ (US.)