DogHealth1.com

The dog fashion show of the century was held in Toronto Ontario, this past June kicking off the annual ” Woofstock” sort of a doggie love in fest.  It is the largest outdoor event for dogs in North America with free admission festivals, entertainment and dog lovers fashion shows.  Over 120,000 dog enthusiasts attended with over 200 companies who showed their latest foods, fashion and fun furnishings for our furry friends.  These were the “ must haves” for every canine to live in this dog eat dog world and for 2 days the St. Lawrence Market on Front Street became “ Doggie Heaven” for the participants. 

Dog divas donned their finery wearing pearls, silks, cashmere, leather and outer fashion canine couture, and could partake of: massages, spa treatments, portraits, fashion accessories, furnishings, bedding and decadent treats to satisfy any palate.  We can only hope that Carson Kresley comes next year to do the judging or is it jusshhing as he calls it.   Festivities also included a Doggie High Tea honouring Canine Cancer Survivors at the posh downtown King Edward Hotel.  When Elizabeth Taylor came to town with Richard Burton, she stayed at the King Eddie for 10 weeks, and brought along her dogs who also stayed with her in her suite.

The participants of the Doggie High Tea, dined on fresh baked cookies and lapped it down with a specially brewed tea, in the beautiful Windsor Ballroom.  Guests made donations to help raise funds for OVC Pet Trust Fund for Canine Cancer research.   Also participating was the Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund organization.  As these dogs were pampered to the nines with lavish royal treatment, the audience were asked to vote for their favourite outfits, at the Dog Fashion show.  Paris Hilton should have attended this event, but alas she missed out.

This all preceded the main event, a mutt strut culminating with the crowning of the Ms. and Mr. Canine Canada Pageant, which was the contest for the cutest and most handsome dogs, actually they were all pretty cute.  The fashions shows were to ” dog for” , with the furry fashionistas all parading, and strutting their stuff on the cat walk.   An Extreme Makeover produced and donated by Aussie Pet Mobile made over two lucky pooches per day that were transformed by the afternoon events, into Doggie Diva’s or Kool Dudes.  Next was a Best Costume contest where contestants revealed their true inner dog selves, by flaunting their favourite outfits. 

On the second day, a Rescue Me Walk-a-thon too place to support the Ontario Canine Rescue which is a not for profit organization that rescues maimed and injured animals.  After that, was a “Stupid Dog Tricks” show, where canine idols showed off their stunts and trickery.  Donations from the proceeds of Woofstock were presented to the OSPCA, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Toronto Humane Society, and the WSPA which is the World Society for the Protection of Animals.Canine couture has evolved over the years once only for smaller breeds, but has now stimulated dog fashion designers to boldly go forward with fetching outfits for larger breeds.  Although we are discussing dogs, the cat fashion industry is also included in the mix, with collars, clothes and accessories. 

The cat industry is also big business when you see commercials such as that white Persian cat, dining on tender morsels, from a crystal glass in a commercial for cat food.Larger dogs also have a need to make a personal statement of their inner selves, and the mode is in glamour, style and beauty. Companies such as K9Kloud9.com are predicting the advent of fashion spilling over to all sizes of dogs especially the bigger breeds. The term “Big Dog” applies to big jewellery and the growing trend of highlighting big dog stylish apparel that fits in with today’s fashion culture.  No longer will you see a pink tutu just on a Chihuahua.  Now all the plaids, bright colors, polka dots and frilly collars will be on the runway with the big dogs.  Pay attention to that Dalmatian down the street, for it may be wearing more polka dots this year.

As our families evolve and as children grow and moved out of the house, many empty nesters nearing retirement now more than ever before spend more time and money on pet health care and outfitting their pets. The Willis’s in Ontario have an eight pound poodle named Struppi, who wouldn’t be caught dead without her Louis Vuitton doggie bag and a matching LV collar and leash.  The cost is in the thousands of dollars, but to the Willis couple its like splurging on a child.  However, Struppi doesn’t fly Air Canada anymore, since they banned travelling pets in July of this year. There are more singles who are living alone, than married couples but both groups are allocating more money for the comforts of their family pets.  The pet industry has ballooned to a four billion dollar industry that caters to pets for anything from gourmet treats, pet spas, pet hotels, pet vacations, pet foods, and the very lucrative niche of pet designer fashions.  Industries are popping up everywhere and the ideas are out of this world, including catered Dog Birthday Parties?  Yes, when your dog’s birthday rolls around you can have it all catered and invite his/her neighbourhood pals and have a Dog Birthday Bash.

With dog bakeries spawning at such a rapid rate worldwide -it shouldn’t be too hard to find a cake, in the shape of a bone, made of carob which is a natural pure chocolate that is harmless to dogs.  Carob which is the ingredient substituted for chocolate in pet treats,  does not contain caffeine or theobromine, which is most often fatal for dogs, and is free from phenylethylamine.

In the world of canine couture what’s hot you ask?

Hoodies. 

They are cute, comfortable and very in doggie vogue and you never pull the hood over their heads, its all for looks you see.

Bling’s The Dog Thing.

Jewellery is here to stay and doggie fashions must have accessory frills, such as rhinestone studded collars, and leashes, where the bling matches the outfits. Some designers’ have added Swarovski Crystals for the sheer elegance of a well heeled dog collar.  Charm bracelets, well the equivalent for a dog is charms placed on their leash, which are also making a bold fashion statement.  Pearl necklaces are here, and banish that old leather worn out leash, that these days seem as antiquated as yoke straps on an oxen.  Dog Bags:Hand bags to keep their toys, snacks and stuff in while travelling or shopping.  Dog bags for those sleep over nights, at a friend’s house, you have to pack up Priscilla also.  Dog bags, Strollers, Harnesses, and raincoats are all the rage.   

Dog Strollers:

You will see more strollers in the coming years, as our baby boomer dogs are getting older, and again the empty nesters syndrome appears to be working on us all.  Now, many dogs have joint problems and arthritic conditions, and cannot get around as much as they did in the past.  These strollers are not Chevy’s either, but I expect I will see a Hummer Stroller soon, on the streets, as they are designed to move a VIP, a very important pet.  If you have a dog named Arnold, your half way there already.

Dog Life Jackets:

There is now a line of dog life jackets, even for big dogs that can’t swim or have arthritis, and swimming is less damaging to their joints.  Some dog’s breeds are not strong swimmers but love to cool off in these dogs’ days of summer.  Doggie Tee-Shirts: