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I don't know who started this whole thing of dogs as accessories (Paris Hilton, perhaps?) but it sure seems to be catching on. I was shopping in a very "artsy" neighbourhood in another city a few days ago, and every single store was selling tiny jeweled collars, dog shirts with feather boa trim, dog dishes studded in rhinestones, even beaded necklaces for your dog.
Now, none of this would bother me, except I met a young woman with a lovely little Shih Tzu, and after talking to her for awhile I realized she really didn't know anything about dogs. She had no idea if the puppy needed any more vaccines, had no idea about puppy behaviour or socialization, had no idea how to get the puppy to stop nipping, and said she bought the puppy because it was "cute and small" and knew virtually nothing about the breed, the breeder (she got it at a pet store), or the health of the dog.
I was a little startled - I mean it was wayyyyy cute in that jeweled collar and the pink and black feather-trimmed dogshirt, but I kept wondering if this woman really had any idea what she was in for. I wondered how long she would put up with the puddles on the floor because she didn't have the patience to house train (she said surely the puppy would "just learn"), and the chewed shoes ("why doesn't she know they are my shoes?"). I guess I have to wonder how long some of these puppies have before their owners decide they've tired of this new accessory to dress and bejewel and send them off to the shelter as the behaviour issues become more than they can handle...
I know not every person who dresses their dog in jewels is like this, but does the whole "dog as accessory" craze bother anyone else or am I just old and cranky? (er, yeah, I know I am old and cranky in general, I just meant more so on this topic, LOL!)
Now, none of this would bother me, except I met a young woman with a lovely little Shih Tzu, and after talking to her for awhile I realized she really didn't know anything about dogs. She had no idea if the puppy needed any more vaccines, had no idea about puppy behaviour or socialization, had no idea how to get the puppy to stop nipping, and said she bought the puppy because it was "cute and small" and knew virtually nothing about the breed, the breeder (she got it at a pet store), or the health of the dog.
I was a little startled - I mean it was wayyyyy cute in that jeweled collar and the pink and black feather-trimmed dogshirt, but I kept wondering if this woman really had any idea what she was in for. I wondered how long she would put up with the puddles on the floor because she didn't have the patience to house train (she said surely the puppy would "just learn"), and the chewed shoes ("why doesn't she know they are my shoes?"). I guess I have to wonder how long some of these puppies have before their owners decide they've tired of this new accessory to dress and bejewel and send them off to the shelter as the behaviour issues become more than they can handle...
I know not every person who dresses their dog in jewels is like this, but does the whole "dog as accessory" craze bother anyone else or am I just old and cranky? (er, yeah, I know I am old and cranky in general, I just meant more so on this topic, LOL!)