There is no cross-species relationship that tops that between humans and dogs. How far will dog owners go to please their canine companions these days? Let us count the ways …
Sanctuary!
All charity starts at home. Paris Hilton spent $320,000 for her doggie mansion—a two-story, white Italian-style structure with a tile roof and wrought-iron railings on an upper outdoor balcony. It is home to a variety of small breed dogs, including Pomeranians, Mini-Pinschers, Teacup Yorkies and Chihuahuas. Inside, these lucky dogs have beds, feeding stations, air-conditioning and heating, while outside they enjoy the run of their own personal fenced-in lawn complete with a tree for their toilet needs. But it seems an English surgeon one-upped her with a super dog house for her two Great Danes in Gloucestershire, England. She commissioned architect Andy Ramus to build a climate-controlled doghouse that cost over $400,000. It’s equipped with automatic dispensers of chilled and filtered water, a spa, a 52-inch plasma TV and a retina scanner installed at the front door to stop any other dogs from getting in. Is the price ouf or your dog park? Those on a tight budget can get a Louis XIV pet pavilion for a mere $23,900. That would allow you to buy that Italian 22-karat, gold-thread pet mattress for $3,000.
Road Trip!
If your pet lives in a mini-mansion all day, you can’t just drop him off at a kennel when you travel. And so, a growing number of places like D Pet Hotels, a nationwide chain, offer pickup/drop-off chauffeur services in a Ferrari, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley, Porsche or Rolls Royce. Awaiting these privileged boarders are indoor dog parks with human play leaders, down-tempo chill music, indoor gyms with treadmills and personal trainers, chefs and spacious private rooms with beds and wide screen TVs. Some pet owners are using these hotels for day care while they work. The Pooch Hotel chain offers the usual fare: aromatherapy, bathing, massage, pedicures, facials and 24-hour webcam access.
How does that make you feel?
Is your dog stressed out? No doubt you’ve heard of doggie Prozac. But there is a myriad of more personal remedies—like massage, acupuncture, Reiki and hypnosis—even psychotherapy and psychics for deeper issues. And if your overweight dog’s self-esteem isn’t improving with these modes of therapy, there is liposuction available for your big-boned friend. But this warning for those seeking therapy for your dog: As anyone who has seen the TV show "Dog Whisperer" knows, in many cases it’s the owner whose behavior needs modification.
Does this make me look fat?
If therapy doesn’t cut it, we all know the well-timed shopping spree cures all. What says happiness more than a couture futuristic royal harness dress? This rich velvet and silk dress has over 2,000 Swarovski crystals, its waist adorned with white ostrich feathers and crystal pearls. Price: $6,600. Not for you? Check out Roberto Cavalli’s line of pet clothes catering to “pooch couture.” The collection features a variety of elaborate satin bathrobes, silk shorts and velour tracksuits.
And Blingo was her name-oh
Your shopping spree is not complete without some jewelry and accessories. So, you may want a Louis Vuitton monogramed carry sac for $2,550. And an 18-carat gold and silver leash for $300,000, which attaches to a 52-carat diamond collar for $1.8 million. Not good enough? How about a $4.2 million tiara?
Come Hither
Wait! You almost forgot the perfume. You can’ have your dog smelling like a ... dog, can you?. Check out Michels VIP Parfums for dogs, which come in male, female and unisex offerings. Prices range from $180 to $4,800 If you want to go top drawer, you may like Mandarin Blossom and Pink Grapefruit-scented pooch. These fragrances are offered by invitation only.
Let’s eat out tonight
Is your dog still down in the dumps? Maybe we’re overthinking this. What dogs cherish more than anything is food. Toby, a poodle owned by Ella Wendel, the last remaining sister of a New York family that amassed phenomenal wealth in the Gilded Age, dined nightly at a brass table with a velvet tablecloth and napkins in his home on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. Today, professional gourmet dog chefs have become increasingly popular and are must-hire for pet hotels. The next logical step is a dogs-only restaurant—like The Dog Chef Café in Baltimore. There, gourmet dog chef Kevyn Matthews offers dishes like Indu's Chicken, a combination of garlic chicken, beans, vegetables, olive oil and turmeric, and Raven's Fish Pate, which pairs vegetables with codfish and fish oil. Bring your own $1,128. 22K gold leafed Borocco Pet Bowl (pictured here) by Versace, if you must.
A New Model
Some must face the fact that their dog is hopeless—disobedient, aggressive and fatally flawed. Solution: Get a new one. Maybe it’s time to go big. Perhaps a Tibetan Mastiff, which typically ranges between $2,000 and $7,000. But the most expensive mastiff ever sold was priced at an incredible $1.5 million. The Red Tibetan Mastiff, named Hong Dong ("Big Splash"), was raised on a diet of beef, chicken, abalone and sea cucumber; his price tag can be attributed to his superb lineage and breeding prospects. At least the new owner, a wealthy coal baron, will be able to make back some of his money by lending his dog to breeders, who promise to pay as much as $100,000 to have his genes added to their breeding lines.
Sound mind and body
Real estate developer Leona Helmsley’ created a media sensation in 2007 when it was revealed she had left $12 million in her will to Trouble, her white Maltese Terrier. It was $2 million more than she willed to two of her grandchildren. But Helmsley’s was not as unusual as one might think. In 1977, a judge ruled that a chimpanzee has equal status as humans when it comes to trust and estate law. Since then, 38 states have passed laws allowing for “pet trusts.” Previously, only children and disabled adults could be the recipients of such trusts. Later, a judge reduced the $12 million trust fund left to Trouble to a paltry $2 million after the dog’s caretaker stated it would be enough to keep the dog in luxury for the rest of his life.
Rest in Peace
There are over 750 pet funeral homes, pet crematories and pet cemeteries across the country. The industry is growing across the globe. If the traditional cremation or casket is not good enough, you can always have your dog mummified for anywhere from $7,000 to well over $100,000 with a company called Summum, depending on size and materials. Or perhaps you'd prefer to keep your pet's remains close to you at all times. You can do that by having the corpse rendered into a synthetic diamond with a company called Life Gem. Prices range from $3,000 to $25,000.