Spotlight on Pooch Couture

Canada's "fashion capital" city of Montreal went to the dogs at swanky Westmount Square, last spring, when Poochey Couture threw a dog fashion show. It's just one in a recent flurry of high-society events that capture the media interest and help to feed an on-going controversy about the dog fashion industry. (Unfortunately, the debate does tend to overshadow all the charitable fund-raising that is associated with such doggie fashion shows — in this case, to aid the cause of Alzheimers research.) Should people dress up their dogs? Non-dog-owners whose opinions have been formed simply by tabloid TV shots of Paris Hilton in front of the camera, accessorized by her teacup pup, would deplore the idea of clothing animals. Owners of rough-coated hardy breeds might well agree. But those who live with and love the temperature-sensitive toy breeds, or have adopted lean and thin-coated greyhounds, for example, would argue that dog apparel serves a very real purpose. And there is no contesting the fact that the harsher climates do demand some additional protection for our dogs. The question then becomes one of personal taste, surely? If the dogs are happy and healthy, and comfortable in their clothing... Live and let live! After all, some people do dress their human children in a ridiculous manner, too!