How to Pamper Your Pooch

The “Imari” dog dish. Obviously worth $2,400.

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our out of every 10 American households own a dog, according to the Humane Society of the United States, so it makes sense that there are many companies catering to the needs and whims of dog owners. But the level of pampering that some owners lavish on their dogs may seem a tad excessive.

There’s really no limit to how much you can spend on your dog. You can buy a high-end dog dish that features 14.46 carats of diamonds and a 24K gold bone, or you can get the “Imari” dog dish designed by Peter Ting that retails for $2,400. If you’re feeling thrifty you can opt for a modestly priced Dyson groom brush for $90. 

There are plenty of designer dog accessories out there as well. Even Brett Michaels, singer for the hair metal band Poison, has gotten in on the pet accessory game. His “Pets Rock” line of pet products is sold through PetSmart.

A prototype of a pet-sitting robot.

Of course we all know there are dog parks for dogs to run in and dog beaches for them to swim at, but did you know there are also meet-up groups for dogs? Well not only for dogs, but for owners and their dogs. In Chicago, pugparty.com sponsors meetups for pugs and their owners.

The PugParty events are often held at Chicago Party Animals, a rental facility in the city that hosts various animal-centric events including meetups, adoption drives and birthday parties. That’s right—birthday parties. Chicago Party Animals offers “four themed dog or cat parties: Rock Star, Diva, Sports and Disco,” according to the CPA web site. And in case renting a hall for a private party for your dog or cat isn’t enough, CPA also offers “video and photographic packages to be a keepsake of your event for years to come.”

And if all these things seem a bit over the top, just wait, because in the future you’ll be able to buy a “pet-sitting robot” that will play fetch with your dog while you’re away, and a pet tanning bed for those dogs that like to laze about in the sun, even when it’s dark outside. These products are still in the testing phases, but expect to see these and many more pet-pampering products hitting store shelves before long.