Dogs are wonderful creatures. Adorable, loyal, free or judgment and back-talk (okay, maybe not completely free of back-talk), they provide humans with friendship, companionship and love. Dog owners are their own special breed too, meeting fellow dog owners while on jaunts to the local park, forming friendships for both person and pet.
Celebrity Influence
With the ever increasing celebrity culture, nearly every newsmaker can be seen with dog in tow. Along with this trend came the explosion of the doggie clothing industry. Think Paris Hilton and her teacup Chihuahuas, fully decked out in matching mini-outfits and hot pink collars laced with diamonds. Celebs as well as regular folk can spend as much on doggie clothing and accessories as they do on their own gear.
Sweaters, tees and even doggie bikinis can be found at luxury dog boutiques in nearly every major city in North America. Vancouver’s prestigious Yaletown district has Barking Babies, an adorable store with a white picket fence entrance that offers everything from rocker tees like AC/DC and The Rolling Stones to polka dot bikinis and varsity jackets for one’s favorite furry friend.
What’s Wuff Got to Do with It
The fact that people love their dogs enough to warrant some degree of spoilage is normal, while others tend to veer towards the more extreme, pampering their pets as much as proud parents would their own children.
Perhaps the loyalty received from one’s dog is what makes it worth every penny. After a hard day of work or during a difficult time in life, nothing seems to compare to the greeting received by a dog. Dogs are even used in nursing homes to help bring some joy to elderly residents.
Completely free of judgment, dogs welcome people with the same thrill and excitement generally only reserved for celebrities. A dog is its owner’s number one fan, which would explain why it seems fitting to splurge on those super cute ‘it’ items.
Shake Some Tail
Doggie fashion shows have also become the norm, giving companies a chance to present their latest goods to a captive and emotionally-charged audience. Really now, who could possibly resist a puppy sporting a raincoat with matching rain hat? Not many.
Those savvy enough to open dog boutiques are clearly reaping the benefits, with celebrity stopovers and loyal customers coming back time and again – not to mention adorably outfitted dogs that generate smiles from complete strangers. Many a conversation has been started over a well-dressed dog, opening the lines of communication for people – something that, unfortunately, has gotten somewhat lost in the world of tech gadgets and social networking sites.
More than Threads
For those who scoff at dressing dogs, just think of the fun and joy it brings to others, and the lines of communication that are opened up. Something so super sweet may just be the key to revitalizing the lost art of human conversation.
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