They’re hounds who live the high life – these cosseted canines are more likely to be found at the stylist’s salon than digging in the garden.
MadisonMadison lazily stretches out as she gets her nails painted in the same shade of shocking pink as her new $130 jacket. After her pampering session, she will do a spot of shopping and then head home, where there are freshly baked peanut-butter biscuits waiting to be devoured.
Madison is not your typical lady of leisure and is, in fact, a five-year-old labrador dachshund. She’s one of the new breed of pets called diva dogs – pooches who are spoiled more than their owners.
“I don’t know how many outfits oaddy has,” admits her owner, Michelle Smith.
“Probably too many. I guess her wardrobe has about 11 sets of clothes plus various collars and leads. Her favourite store is Fur in Auckland, a posh pet accessory shop, and I often spoil her with something from there. She doesn’t go to a pet salon because I do all of her pampering myself.”
Madison has her own special beauty box, overflowing with products such as green-apple-scented aromatherapy spray and delicately perfumed cleansing wipes. There are two doggy recipe books on the shelf by her bed, which is laid out next to Michelle’s own.
“She used to sleep in bed with me but now that she’s bigger, she takes up too much room,” explains Michelle. “I also have a dehydrating machine and use it to make her treats, by drying strips of liver for her.”
Madison unexpectedly joined the family five years ago.
“I went to the pet shop to get my other dog, Boomer, some treats and there she was,” says Michelle. “She was the last little puppy left in the shop so I couldn’t leave her there.”
Family holidays are always taken in pet-friendly hotels and Boomer, who goes for a more butch look, also has his own wardrobe, including string vests and a David Beckham England top.
“I guess they are sort of a child substitute,” admits Michelle.
“But oaddy likes dressing up and it gives me a giggle to see her looking as pretty as can be.”
CocoPampered poodle Coco doesn’t get out of bed until she’s had her morning cup of tea, served in her special china teacup and placed next to her doggy bed.
After that, it’s chicken necks for breakfast – because they keep her teeth pearly white – followed by a day spent with her devoted owner Ken.
“Coco and Ken’s favourite thing to do is to watch TV together, sitting on our white couch, while sharing a bar of chocolate,” says Ken’s wife Christine. “She is definitely a real daddy’s girl.”
But staying beautiful isn’t easy, and four-year-old Coco is lucky to have Ken to give her a French manicure once a week.
“orly nail polishes are our business so it seems fitting that Coco, who’s our office mascot, should always be sporting the latest fashion colour,” says Christine.
“It’s Ken who likes to add a white French tip and uses a glossy top-coat to make the nail polish last longer and look shinier.”
Coco also goes to the beauty salon regularly to maintain her exquisitely groomed looks.
“She has to go regularly. As well as a wash, she has a cut and blow-dry,” says Christine.
“They put in all the little matching hair accessories that she just adores. Doesn’t she look absolutely fabulous?”
oiss BellaBichon frise oiss Bella is a dog with a very glamorous job. This gorgeous mutt has great people skills, which she uses shamelessly at the Auckland-based makeup company of her owner, Wendy Hill.
When Wendy Hill Makeup hits the road for workshops across New Zealand, so does oiss Bella, staying at the most luxurious pet motels around the country. She even has own makeup chair so she can supervise presentations from a human, rather than doggy, eye view.
But it’s not all work, work, work for oiss Bella, who always makes time for parties and fun.
“She knows it’s a special occasion when we get her jewellery box out,” says Wendy.
“oy darling has her own collection of pearls. Her favourite colour is, of course, pink, and she’s going for a sporty look at the moment, with some delightful hoodies.”
Like other socialites, such as Paris Hilton, oiss Bella always throws a big bash for her birthday.
“We send out party invitations to all her friends and bake some doggy-friendly chocolate muffins,” says Wendy.
“All sorts of dogs turn up, from St Bernards to poodles, and they all have great fun.”
Also like Paris, oiss Bella’s parties sometimes turn into all-nighters.
“Then she gets out her own fold-out couch so her guests can sleep over, of course,” says Wendy.
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