'Putting on the Dog' in Style in Japan

The Pet Industry in Japan has been blossoming over the past few years and continues to bloom. The number of pet dogs in Japan alone has reached an astounding 13 million or more over the past 10 years.

Of course this industry has attracted numbers of ancillary businesses, such as those specializing in dog sunglasses, doggie clothing, fancy collars and leashes, and any other product that you can imagine having to do to delight and dress up the canine species. Doggie day care centers and spas which provide the highest degree of pooch pampering are becoming popular with dog owners who wish to offer their pets the crème de la crème of canine care.

But can you believe that canine-centered restaurants are also opening their doors? Get this . . . these dog food franchise cafes are featuring the tops in canine cuisine. "Deco Dog Restaurant" is one of them. Their unique menu offers "sweet potato scones, chicken, cheese, vegetables and dog sweets" to tickle Fido's palate with these delectable treats. Trumping these offerings, some of these establishments also offer "doggie etiquette" and yoga classes as well.

For folks who live in apartments where dogs are not permitted, guess what? There are doggie rental services available so these folks can experience the pleasure of spending time with their favorite animal. Many of these agencies will even attempt to provide the renter's favorite breed as well. Rentals can range from several hours to many days. As of 2008 there were over 134 dog rental facilities open for business.

So if you live in Japan with your dog all decked out but has no place to go, why not enter him into a doggie fashion show? After all "putting on the dog" is totally acceptable. Pet Fashion Week is a two day event that has been held annually at a department store in Tokyo for the past six years; dogs are paraded on a custom-sized red carpet so they can "strut- their- fashion- stuff" in style.

Most of the exhibitors say the reason they compete is that their dogs love wearing clothes and showing off. The owners also enjoy watching their competition and learning about all the new fashionable canine wear to "spoil" their pets. Of course much of the clothing is not only attractive but is utilitarian, since little boots can protect sensitive paws while walking on concrete and protect them from inclement weather. Fancy sweaters can provide warmth, and both of these items also help keep them clean. What more could one ask for?

Enjoy this humorous and enchanting video of a doggie fashion show held in Tokyo a few years ago, uploaded to YouTube by uzoouk:

Isn't "putting on the dog" lots of fun? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!