Columnist Muriel Stevens: Shopping for pampered pooches

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 9:22 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

It's the doggonedest thing what pet owners will do for their dogs, or the dogs of their friends. Once when I was in Europe I spent time looking for doggie gifts for a friend's new pooch. I couldn't find what I wanted here, so I looked for pet shops in every place I visited. Europeans are even crazier than Americans about their pets, but I still couldn't find the right gift.

Europeans take their doggies to beauty salons and to fine restaurants. I once had one nibble on my toes under the table while I was having dinner at a chic eatery. Having one's toes nibbled by a pooch is not chic.

We're catching up to the Euros. Animal fervor is at an all-time high. One national gossipy fashion magazine devoted nine pages of its current issue to the latest in dog fashions. It even set up a fashion show shot with pooch models and an audience. How did they get them to sit still long enough to set up the shots? It's a wonder.

Shopping for dogs in New York City, where most of the shops listed in the magazine are, is a cinch. Pampered pooches these days can rest in a handsome four-poster bed, wear coats or sweaters of cashmere or spend the afternoon at a doggy spa -- swapping shaggy dog stories with the rest of their set while they tone their bods, no doubt. It's all in good fun, albeit costly. But who says haute couture even for the furry set comes cheap? There were a few inexpensive gifts listed. Baxter & Charming (888-922-9837) sells Broken Bones Puppy Biscuits that are sized for small mouths ($7); Chow Mein Doggie Noodles in a Chinese take-out container are also $7 at Fetch, NYC, (212-352-8591).

The four-poster bed is a mere $450; a basket filled with grooming necessities is $200. And how about a dress-for-success Burberry canine trench coat lined in the signature plaid, of course ($235, 800-248-8480), or a blanket coat made by Coach -- $108 at Coach stores or order one by calling (800) 262-2411.

Chic bow-wows are wearing collars and leashes from Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and ID tags from Tiffany & Co. Prices for these items are reasonable, if you consider your pet a member of the family.

Kate Spade, whose handbags and accessories are carried by the "in" crowd, offers a first-class doggy bag carrier for $275. At Hermes, a sleek leather and suede doggy carrier is $1,450. No, that's not a typo.

To get the full story, complete with the hottest names for dogs -- Madison, Scout and Dakota are just a few -- and the coolest breeds -- I was so happy to see "mixed" among the chosen -- pick up a copy of the November InStyle magazine. Included are places in New York and L.A. for such services as "peticures," "bark mitzvahs," "muttrimonies" and more kinds of canine crazy.

Three Dog Bakery in Kansas City, Mo., will mail order such home baked goodies as Pup Tarts and Beagle Bagels. All of the treats are vet-approved and healthy, say the bakers. To order call (816) 753-3647. I wrote about Three Dog Bakery some years ago and a friend who ordered goodies for her pet raved about the flavor. You bet she tasted them. She didn't want her pal to be disappointed.

Petography is another biggie, as is immortalizing pets on film. This I like. Portraits and film keep the memories alive. Man's (and woman's) best friend deserves the best and in some circles it appears they're getting it.