Our dogs are an extension of us. They’re not just furry creatures who slobber everywhere and beg for food all day. They’re OUR furry creatures who slobber everywhere and beg for food all day! And, like us, they deserve the best… in quality and in style. Now, we don’t mean tiny pink velour track suits for your tiny pink Chihuahua. And we don’t mean glittery pastel collars with rhinestones that spell out “Princess” or “Baby.”
Dog products have come a long way in the past few years. Years ago your options consisted of not much more than the ubiquitous squeaky rubber balls, plaid flannel dog beds, and generic crunchy kibble. But these days toys are made of recycled plastic or shaped like sushi, dog beds come in designer styles with quality fabrics to match any home’s interior, and gourmet, organic, healthy foods (in very enticing packaging) are gaining great popularity—the latter partially owing to the wisening-up of owners due to the recent and massive commercial pet food recalls.
While there are a growing number of chic pet product stores popping up on the streets and on the web, there are also more and more popular, non-pet-focused retailers cashing in on this big new trend. Pottery Barn offers an incredibly cute Stoneware Dog Treat Jar that fits right in on your kitchen counter next to your pistachio-colored KitchenAid mixer. And on a larger scale the furniture company offers an entire Entryway Dog Bed Cubby that holds a cushy sleeping place as well as a whole organizationally-minded cubicle design to store all of pooch’s organic treats and fancy toys. In terms of clothing, J. Crew has even created a “crewmutts” line offering dog clothing pieces that are actually cute and classic, not cheesy and embarrassing.
People are starting to think of their pets more and more as family members—a long-awaited societal outlook for the long-time animal lover who has always thought this way. Of course pets are family. Anyone who has grudgingly allowed their pooch to sleep on the bed— because, admit it, you like it too—can attest to this fact. And anyone who has left their dog at their employer-provided dog daycare (yes, they do exist) can also heartily agree.
So we buy them the sushi-shaped plush toys, the cherry almond grain-free dog treats, and the designer patent-pending waterproof dog collars. And although our critics may tell us, that these things “are just for the owner,” you know deep down that your furry family member gets that you’re giving him something special.
Below are some of the cute things we’ve found that every pup owner—and pup—would love to have:
Entryway Dog Bed Cubby from Pottery Barn
Ellipse Designer Dog Bed from Pamper Me Puppy
Wowo Pod Designer Dog Bed from Pamper Me Puppy
Reversible Microsuede Chocolate Collection from Muttropolis
Dog Treat Jar from Pottery Barn
Sushi Dog Toy Combo from Bark Slope
Frog and Turtle toys made from 85% post-consumer recycled soda bottles by West Paw Design
J. Crew Anchors Aweigh Dog Sweater
Cole Haan Multi Stripe Dog Sweater
Simply Solid Collection Dog Collar by Dublin Dog
Cherry Almond Grain-Free Dog Treats by Sojos
Mellow Mutt Chamomile & Lavender Chicken Breast Jerky by Dogswell
