Some people think buying a luxury pet item for their dog is about as necessary as getting shoes for a fish. And then there are those other people.
Those who wouldn't think twice about dropping $100 on a leash...Those who wouldn't go out for love or money without their furry baby wearing a designer collar.
You know the type. The Paris Hiltons and Lisa Vanderpumps of the world. And if you're one of them, fly your flashy flag high. There's no crime in spoiling those you love. But for the rest of us who buy their treats from Petsmart -- okay, Dollar General -- and had no idea they even make dog socks, let us "Ooh" and "Ahh" over the following:
Eight Luxury Items for Dogs
1. Beds/Bedding -- There are faux-fur beds, fringed beds, even orthopedic beds for dogs, but I think my favorite is the sofa bed. There's just nothing cuter to me than to see Barney sprawled out on a mini couch.
Think you could spring for a $500 bed for your best friend? They're available. Some even have Memory Foam in them. Well that changes everything.
There's even a 22k gold-thread pet mattress for $3,000. If I had that kind of money to blow, I'm afraid I wouldn't use it for Sparky's lounging area. Hope it comes with free shipping.
2. Collars -- What do you think of when someone mentions Versace and Dior? Clothes, right? Well, they've put their names on more than that.
Versace offers a refined studded collar and leash set for dogs called Medusa that sells for $725. Well la-dee-da. And Christian Dior's version has a logo-engraved padlock and is made in Italy. It sells for $450. Chump change.
If you're looking for a collar that's a bit more palatable pocket-wise than those, fashion-forward dogs enjoy the ones with flowers, bows, and crystals at www.susanlancidesigns.com in the $25-$100-ish range.
There are also collars that light up, neon-colored ones, and those that are non-porous. Just prepare to be the envy of the bitches in the neighborhood.
3. Treats -- Want to get fancy-shmancy? Try the 100% Organic Chicken Apple Sausage Bites. Forty-five bucks for a 4-pack. They better come with magic powers that make my dog talk for that price. www.petplate.com
Or you could try the Organic Pumpkin Dog Treats in the UK (although you'd need to fly there to pick them up) that have egg, molasses, pumpkin seeds, and prune juice in them. www.mungoandmaud.com They're around $25 US, but hey, they come in a hessian drawstring bag.
Know a dog who has been a little under the weather or just had that all-important spay or neuter? Be polite and gift them the Get Well Soon! Cookie Box from Canadian bakery www.wufers.com. One box is around $40 but who likes to be sick with no cookies! Side note: I laughed for five minutes at the adorable-ness of these stinkin' things.
Come on, nothing makes our best friends happier than a treat so splurge a little. And grab a glass of milk for yourself. Me thinks you might be trying one, too.
4. Carriers -- Want your dog to have the ritziest mode of transportation? The Black Double Nouveau Bow Luxury Dog Carrier by Susan Lanci for $720 at www.doggie-diva.com is certainly a good start.
It's accented with four rows of Swarovski crystals and bows. Other than that, it looks like a black tote bag. And for this kind of money, I could be sipping a Mai Tai on a Hawaiian beach. Folks, go buy a tote bag, smack a few decorations on it, and call it a day.
Another luxurious choice is a sleek, 360-degree ventilated carrier. Not covered in crystals but sharp and a steal for "only" $225. That's a car payment.
But if you have the cash, and a teacup Chihuahua, have at it.
5. Toys -- 1. Starbarks 2. Chewy Vuitton 3. Barkweiser 4. Dog Perignon…(Some writers have too much time on their hands.) But these are the totally cute, albeit pricey, dog toys available on www.tailsinthecity.com. No buck-fifty squeaky toys here.
However, if you want a good belly laugh, just check them out. And for $10-$50+, spent on a toy that would be shredded by my dogs in 15 mins., buy that fuzzy champagne bottle.
6. Bowls/Feeding Systems -- At www.lepetluxe.com, your fur-friend can eat in style. Meet the Old World Antique Scroll Feeder, the pièce de résistance of what your dog can eat from, doesn't suit my fancy but can be yours for $142. It's iron and hand-crafted.
I can proudly say my dogs use half of the set -- the two quart stainless steel bowls that come with it.
Moving on to Ceramic Dog Bowls with a Wooden Stand. Doesn't sound like too much of an investment. Not according to www.markandgraham.com. It's raised off the floor and will run you about $140.
I looked at least three times to see if there was something special about it like a diamond at the bottom of the bowl, but besides the fact you could have it personalized, I guess wood is more expensive than I thought.
Oh well. My pups will keep bending down to eat.
7. If I had included dog clothes here, I would have written a book. So I chose one piece that made my jaw drop -- The Camel Champagne Fox Fur Coat (for dogs, not us) from www.ruffhouzin.com.
I scanned quickly for the word "faux" because oh the irony and thank gosh it was there. It is a beautiful piece of work, I must say.
Although it's a bit too Cruella de Vil for me, Prissy can sport this for $120.
8. And the granddaddy of them all, the dog treadmill...Don't worry. It has full side bars on it so Bootsy can't fall off.
Note: Dogs need regular walks so all their senses can be stimulated.
But in defense of the "fake walk," older dogs and arthritic dogs would get benefits from the apparatus. This one will set you back about $1,500. It's remote controlled, designed for the pads of a dog's paws, and even has an incline feature. And bad weather? Never a problem.
If you're looking for a steal, Amazon has one called the dogPACER for $555. My gosh, they DO have everything.
Okay, so there may have been a little snarkiness in this article but otherwise, I hope it gave you an idea of what luxury items are out there for our sweet dogs. When it comes right down to it, they deserve any good thing they receive.
Now go get a beer and a Barkweiser and have a great afternoon with your best friend.
Jen Flatt Osborn is an animal freak and was born with a pen in her hand and a deadline. You can visit her at jenflattosborn@writeawaycreations.com, www.jenflattosborn.com and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jenflattosborn/.
References:
1. https://incrediblethings.com/lists/14-ridiculously-expensive-pet-products/ -- 14 Ridiculously Expensive Pet Products -- By Jenni Chasteen
2. https://www.versace.com/us/en-us/medusa-collar-and-leash-set-z1008/ZDOGSET04-ZPL00005_Z05_S_Z1008__.html?lgw_code=16402-ZDOGSET04-ZPL00005_Z05_S_Z1008__&gclid=CjwKCAjw092IBhAwEiwAxR1lRnqafZTFwVbP0r245OmTBls_AtrYCjUVIo2PS8dxu-qbzpBPGRfM9BoC5o4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds -- Versace
3. https://www.dior.com/en_us/products/couture-4373PLYSE_H05E_120-dog-collar?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplp4373PLYSE_H05E_120&sc_intid=4373PLYSE_H05E_120&gclid=CjwKCAjw092IBhAwEiwAxR1lRuaZXjs9ojK2K5LHChghxKB2JZCYa0vSLJQX3V6CkjuPimUW9FIiaxoCiAoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds -- DIOR
4. https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-dog-beds-expert-recommendations.html -- The Strategist -- 21 Best Dog Beds, According to Dog Experts 2021 -- By Liza Corsillo and Dominique Pariso -- Updated June 23, 2021
5. https://www.doggie-diva.com/products/black-double-nouveau-bow-luxury-dog-carrier-susan-lanci?gclid=CjwKCAjw092IBhAwEiwAxR1lRn889Xo7gkK7_K6KjbTflaslFn4SbXmlm8y1NQZvOzaDJdWP3qmn7RoC8EUQAvD_BwE -- Carrier
6. https://arloskye.com/products/the-pet-carrier?gclid=CjwKCAjw092IBhAwEiwAxR1lRv9ARVv_n_cYw-Enih9anQi7V_Ax9Zbu_pviC7A4XJpMf2yPJyT6ERoC9DYQAvD_BwE -- Carrier
7. https://comfycavern.com/products/gopet-usa-large-breed-treadmill-pr725?currency=USD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw092IBhAwEiwAxR1lRp_QA0jVLsL9xguFpKGWUhKAqOJDfuHxvzO2vve6JPVsLc_1q03zCRoCXkwQAvD_BwE -- Dog treadmill
8. https://www.amazon.com/dogPACER-3-1-Dog-Pacer-Treadmill/dp/B007Z59K6I/ref=asc_df_B007Z59K6I/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242019590609&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4165473754128991044&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027805&hvtargid=pla-414264831979&psc=1 -- Dog treadmill
9. https://ruffhouzin.com/products/camel-champaigne-fur-coat?variant=32939289804903&gclid=CjwKCAjw092IBhAwEiwAxR1lRgQ8cGtbaINCcMwSoBoK_mPstcqXWcRlrIgaeYS3CqXBZtmCeLMZNRoCmHkQAvD_BwE -- Faux-fur coat