Yes, I’m one of those dog owners.
I dress my dogs in T-shirts and neckerchiefs and throw birthday parties for them at the beach.
But I draw the line on buying them a $650 Chanel collar and leash set.
It’s a growing trend among dog owners: spoiling their pooches with designer duds, lavish digs and, of course, the highest quality, most expensive dinners you can imagine.
The Beverly Hills Mutts Club, a high-end pet boutique in Southern California, sells collars with Swarovski crystals and pearls, wools and cashmere coats, and an Italian “Diva Bed” for $1,400. That’s more than my own bed costs. (Sandra Bullock, Jamie Lee Curtis, Susan Sarandon, Billy Joel and Vince Neil are regular customers.)
Then you’ve got the standard Rodeo Drive brands such as Prada, Coach, Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue — all of which sell pet-related gear at brand-name prices.
But other pet retailers are tapping into this latest trend, selling everything from air-conditioned dog houses to video cameras you can put on your dog’s collar.
What do you think about this trend? Commonplace these days — or dog-gone ridiculous?
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11 Comments
Dog gone ridiculous perhaps, but the businesses are catering to the pet owners not the pets. Robin Williams was once said cocaine was God’s way of saying you make too much money. These days I think it is the whole spectrum of pet products. I see dogs with coats on in the winter, did the dog say he or she was cold? But as a libertarian I have to say ‘it’s their money and their dog’ so have at it, it is a free country. I am curious though Cat, did you always love animals or did you come by it later in life? I loved pets when I was a kid and could take or leave them now. I understand the cycle comes around again when you get older, having a pet dog around might be cool when, and if, I hit my late 70’s. I will say I am one of those pet owners that fed the dog the table scraps. I also used to let the cat sit on the dinner table when I ate. And when the kids had ice cream and the dog would take one lick and then my son the next I didn’t see anything wrong with that. Now if my son had been allergic to any of this the story would be different. My pets were always a big part of the family. The dog would sleep with my son and so would the cat, even the bunny rabbit. It was one big happy family except for the cat periodically trying to eat the fish… I guess I really don’t draw the line on what other people do except if it is cruel. I’ve seen pets with collars and outifts on too tight and it restricts their movement and happiness, I do not like that at all.
I think much of it has gone too far, in my opinion. I think it’s cool to treat your pet really well. I mean, you likely paid upwards of $500 dollars for him or her, you pay monthly bills for meds, food, training, and grooming…a pet is an investment of sorts and I will ALWAYS say to pamper your investments!
But Swavorski crystal? Prada? Gucci? I just don’t know…that’s likely more money than I’d ever spend on myself! But hey, if someone has got the money and that’s their prerogative, then I say, “play on, playa!”
My dog often complains to his therapist that I went with the low-bidding canine orthodontist, and his teeth are not as straight as they should be. I have to make up for it with very expesive gifts.
i don’t have any animals now.my wife is alergic to animal dander, pretty much across the spectrum of the usual domestic critters.
growing up we always had dogs, usually between three and five. but they were bird dogs. they were treated very well, and i think my father loved them as much as he did my brother and me, but they weren’t pets. we also had a house dog, IKE, a boston bull. we got him in 1952, hence the name. that dog lived until 1967, so, the whole of my youth. afterward we had two Siamese cats, Simon and Schuster.
if people want to indulge their dogs and cats, go for it. it’s as much fun for the little kids as it is for the owners. what kind of topcoat is Sunny wearing this winter?
I indulge my pets not with fancy collars, or clothes, or houses, or this and that–but with constant attention. Since I work at home, I can walk them three times a day (or two if the dog park is on the schedule, which it usually is three or four times a week). I’m always hugging or petting them, and letting them sleep at my feet while I work. My GF and I also cook their food. Brown rice, boiled chicken or ground turkey, green peas and carrots, and a doggie multi-vitamin. They LOVE their food and their coats are so shiny! They also sleep in the bed with us at night also.
I think this kind of attention is the more worthy way of “spoiling” your pet, rather than buying expensive things.
Hello Cat!
We don’t buy expensive things for our dog and cats. They wouldn’t care or even know any difference, it’s only for the owners satisfaction. We buy treats for them and sometimes give them table food on special occasions. We already have spent thousands of dollars on vet care already through out the years.
CAT: I’m with Max3. Dogs luv fuud! Treat them to the carnivore delights that trigger their ancestry. A small rare steak with bone is their favorite. Although if too fresh they want to bury it for later. One thing about dogs is unconditional love…they are better than people in that department.
Well, I buy my current cat Innova food. She’s got allergies to corn. Kitties and puppies have never been known to climb corn stalks to get an ear of corn. Don’t know why manufacturers put corn in pet foods. (Well yeah, I do $$$ and the are mega food factories anyway.) So yeah, based on the money I spend to get her good food, I guess you could say I pamper her.
hahaha replying to myself … wanted to add that if your vet carries Science Diet or IAMs (corn products) he or she may well be getting money from these manufacturers…
@Maxcat OMG, don’t even get me started on Science Diet. A large reason that I switched vets was the “constant” advice to switch to Science Diet. Any little problem that came up, “Oh, you should have them go on Science Diet!” I mean really, what do we all know (if you’ve ever researched dog foods)? Corn as a first ingredient (much less at any level) is not good since it is mostly filler and no nutrition.
Of course, I found out that Hills (the maker of S.D.) does indeed subsidize tuition for many veterinarians in exchange for selling/recommending it later.
@MaxMaxMax Good info, I don’t want to get you started, but I am almost as upset with the factory pet food makers as I am with Cargill, ADM and all those who make factory food for humans. Here in Ohio people are being sickened by the factory eggs makers who have ties with the guy in Iowa who owns the egg factories who not too long ago did the recalls. Sigh.