Dubai :Beds for Dh12,000, organic shampoos and conditioners, Swarovski jewellery, the latest fashion straight off the runway, personalised, engraved bedsheets, pearl necklaces, pedicures… No, this isn't the life of an A-list movie star, this is just the run-of-the-mill, everyday stuff some pet owners in Dubai indulge their darling pets with.
Samir Shroff, owner of Pampered Pets, a high-end dog boutique in Dubai Marina, sells Dh12,000 Swarovski crystal-encrusted wooden beds with velvet sheets and the option of your dog's name engraved. In the four months since Pampered Pets first opened its doors, Shroff has already sold nine such beds.
At Ed's Pets in Jumeirah, a box of a dozen freshly-baked cookies for canines sells at Dh89 each. Ed Hardy carrybags can go up to well over Dh500 a piece.
Pet's Delight in Mirdif specialises in pooch pedicures, with an array of nail polishes that are safe for dogs. BedHead, one of the leading brands for women's hair products, has their own range of PetHead products sold locally.
Pampered Pets also sells Fursace bags for dogs, Hard Bark Café guitars, Jimmy Chew and Manolo Barknik shoes, iPaw phones, organic perfumes, designer dog gowns, Paul Frank inspired couches… When it comes to how much pet owners are willing to do to indulge their dogs, the sky's the limit.
Emma Vorwerk, owner of the Berry Behaved line of products and self-admitted parent to Chloe, a three-year-old rescued dog, has no qualms when it comes to splurging on her pet pooch. While most dogs have one or two beds, Chloe has three - one in each room of the house.
"She is one of the most spoilt dogs ever, since she has access to my entire range of products," said Emma, whose products are available both online and through major pet stores in the UAE.
"Being a girl, she likes her pink, so her favourite toy is a pink leather bone. She sleeps in a pink bed, has a pink brush I comb her hair with every day, wears little pink dresses and hoodies, and even has a pink retractable leash," she said.
Never lonely
Shroff, meanwhile, shares his three-bedroom JBR apartment with Chewy, Hugo, Caesar, Calvin, Chloe and Channel: six chihuahuas each with their own unique character. "With them at home, I'm never lonely. They're all the family anyone could ever need," says Shroff. "It all started with Chewy. She was my first dog and pampered to the high heavens. Soon, I decided I needed a partner for her, so Hugo entered our lives. Before I knew it, Chewy and Hugo had given birth to four little ones of their own. In fact, I was the one who helped Chewy deliver her babies."
Today, each dog has its own collection of summer, winter and rain wear, plus top-of-the range toys, accessories and gourmet treats. Mum Chewy though, is perhaps among the most pampered pets in Dubai. For her upcoming third birthday, Shroff has ordered a custom-made Swarovski crystal-embellished, handmade bed from the Chien Vivant Couture collection. Designed by Las Vegas-based French designer Neely Neu, the bed will be the only one of its kind in the world and comes with a whopping tag of Dh14,500.
To celebrate the day, they will have Pampered Pets' gourmet handmade birthday cakes for dogs with fresh fruit toppings, blueberry dog muffins, mini-pizzas that are pooch-friendly and delectable donuts with carobs as a replacement for sugar. With ingredients flown in from the United States and each item veterinary-approved, Chewy is sure to have one of the fanciest birthdays in town.
Pets are their babies
Emma says, "As any dog-owner will tell you, their pets are their babies. Just as any mum would spend on baby essentials without blinking an eye, so would anyone who's chosen to parent a pup." Case in point: Human Vs canine grooming. For her hair, Emma zips down to Geant and buys off-the-counter products. When it comes to Chloe, however, it's a different story. "I wouldn't dream of putting anything besides organic, top-of-the-range products on her skin. Her shampoos and conditioners cost a lot more than I would be willing to shell out for myself," she says.
"She's my baby and will be treated as one. For her grooming needs, I take her to Woofotel, which is also where she sleeps, in her own hotel-style room, when I go on holiday."
Pampered Pets, which has an in-house spa for dogs, provides more than just a brush and cut experience. "We have various beauty regimens for dog-related issues such as excess shedding and dry skins," says Shroff.
Mohammad K., owner of Pets Delights, has just introduced a new treatment at their grooming centre: Pedicures with choice of nail polish to match the pet's accessories. The salon also offers various hairstyles for different dog types. "Most popular at the moment," says Mohammad, "is the Mohawk. Naturally, we use gels and products that are safe for dog skin."
Shroff says, "Like children, dogs have their own personality. However, unlike children, they can't speak and express that personality. Which is why I feel that doggie attire is often much-needed. Petite, shy dogs are often seen in soft pastels, while the more boisterous ones wear hoodies with bold slogans. Each of my puppies has a different wardrobe to suit their personality. As Calvin is the smallest of the lot, he gets pampered more than the others and, as a result, ends up wearing a lot of metrosexual styles and colours. At night, he sleeps in a sweater when the air-conditioning gets too cold for him. His mum, Chewy, often wears a pearl necklace and off-shoulder dresses to announce her femininity. Her partner, Hugo, is an attention-seeker and as a result, enjoys walking around in T-shirts with bold slogans."
When it comes to designer gear for dogs, the choice is vast. While Ed's Pets sell miniature Ed Hardy hoodies, capes and tees for dogs, Pampered Pets takes it one step further and sells the latest collection fresh off the runway from New York Pet Fashion Week. Brands such as Ruff Love are among the most popular with pooch fashionistas. However, for a touch of elegance there are Oscar Newman dresses which often cost up to Dh600. The dresses are from the limited collection, are all handmade and draped with pearls and crystals. For males, there are Toru hoodies in macho styles with slogans such as Bark Club, Bring it On and Beastie Boys, "most popular with bulldogs," reveals Shroff.
At home, away from the limelight and constant dog-eat-dog fashion stakes, these pooches continue to enjoy a life of indulgence. From custom-made couches to Dh700 port-a-potty grass patches complete with their own fire hydrant, engraved pillows and bedsheets, special toothbrushes and designer beds with Channel and Louis Vuitton labels, the term ‘a dog's life' has taken on a whole new meaning.
