Somewhere, there’s a family dog going to sleep in a miniature pet palace that cost more than the average annual rent in most US cities. And she may or may not be able to tell the difference between that and a pillow on the floor.
While it’s not surprising that many dog owners love to pamper their pups, it may come as a shock to learn just how far the wealthy can go ensure their furry friends’ lives are anything but ruff — uh, rough.
Brands that cater to the mega-rich (and the not-so-rich who just have very poor money management skills) make houses, beds, leashes, and even jewelry for the most financially-secure canines, which can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars.
For the haute hound! Rawicz specializes in these ‘pet palaces’ which only fit small dogs and are made of some very high-end materials (like lapis lazuli, pictured)
Bow-wow WOW! The custom palaces are also decorated with Swarovski crystals and cost $18,500 each
Man’s best friend meets man’s blank check! The insides are outfitted with a sheep skin pillow and an aroma-producing insert, as well as a special-order jeweled Zardozi carpet
More bling for your bark! For $17,000, there is a version covered in Swarovski crystals
Put up a palace for your pooch
Owning a pet certainly isn’t cheap. According to the ASPCA, the first year of owning a dog costs people an average of $1,270. But that’s spare change compared to what some people splash out on dog houses alone.
Rawicz Pet Palaces specializes in truly decadent doggy homes, just big enough to fit pets weighing under 18 pounds.
Unlike many other dog houses, these are clearly meant to stay inside, as they’re made with semiprecious stone, Swarovski crystals, and exotic woods by a European artist and jeweler.
Rawicz’ priciest offering, the Semiprecious Stone Pet Palace, costs a whopping $18,500 and is customizable by the purchaser, making each one one-of-a-kind. They take a month to make.
They can be handmade with materials like lapis lazuli and green jasper and are set with Swarovski crystals. Inside, they’re outfitted with a sheep skin pillow and an aroma-producing insert, as well as a special-order jeweled Zardozi carpet.
It’s in a good school district! This cottage by Little Cottage Company costs $5,259.99
Property tax not included: Another one by the brand is modeled off a Victorian cottage and costs $4,999.99
Hot dog! This doggy ‘Solar Condominium’ costs $3,700 and is specially designed to be warm in winter and cold in summer
The company also offers a crystal version for $17,000, which features the same interior but is covered on the outside with about 40,000 Swarovski crystals and a roof made of mother of pearl tiles.
If those prices are a bit too steep, there are more ‘bargain’ finds by the Little Cottage Company, like a $5,259.99 Cape Cod Cozy Cottage Kennel Dog House that looks just like a homey little cottage on Cape Cod.
The company also makes a $4,999.99 version that looks like a Victorian cottage and is half dog house, half kennel.
And Hammacher Schlemmer sells a $3,700 Solar Condominium, which is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright designs and specially made to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Pups love that plush: This Haute House dog bed costs $1,299 and has a jeweled trim and crystal feet
Woof poof: Another version by the brand is $1,499 and even has throw pillows
When Lassie will only drink Evian from a Versace bowl
Anyone willing to spend that kind of dough on a house isn’t going to skimp on a doggy bed — and heaven forbid Buddy or Bella curl up on some $20 cushion.
Two of the priciest options on offer are from Haute House: One, a round cream-colored bed costing $1,499, is hand-crafted with a jeweled trim. The other, for $1,299, comes in blush and looks like a loveseat, complete with a decorative upholstery.
Both seem meant to blend in with other furnishings — and in fact, without a dog sitting on it, a person might think these were just really low chairs.
Of course, anyone who imagines these pups would drink their water from anything less than a designer bowl is also barking up the wrong tree.
Kibble couture: Jonathan Adler ‘s acrylic and brass dog bowl set costs $600
Rover doesn’t use a regular bowl, he’s not an animal! The $995 price tag on this Versace bowl in now way indicates that it will prevent pets from making a mess
Fido so fancy! Rawicz, the designer behind the pet palaces, sells this $3,500 feeding station with Tiffany & Co. crystal bowls
Making a splash! This bathtub costs $6,995 and is covered with about 46,928 Swarovski crystals. It can be ordered in colors other than pink
Plenty of brands sell dog bowls for over $100, but the most jaw-dropping ones come from just a handful of designers.
Jonathan Adler’s acrylic and brass option costs $600 and comes with bowls for food and water. Versace’s, meanwhile, costs $995 and is made of porcelain, with a gold-painted design.
But Rawicz — the designer behind those $18,500 pet palaces — takes the cake with a two-bowl $3,500 feeding station made of exotic wood and semiprecious stones and set with two crystal bowls from Tiffany & Co.
As for washing up, Posh Puppy Boutique has a $6,995 dog bathtub that is completely covered in 46,928 Swarovski crystals.
What every dog needs: The La Jeune Tulipe dog collar is made with a 1.52-carat marquise-cut stone in the center and looks like a necklace. It costs $150,000
Fetch this! This Olivia Riegel collar is made with crystals and costs $265
A walk down Fifth Avenue… Tiffany & Co. has pricey collars (left, $250) and leashes (right, 300)
For a pooch who needs to be the chicest pup at the dog park
Any pooch that has it so good at home surely won’t leave the house looking like some common mutt.
Though poodles and Pomeranians definitely have absolutely no idea what a diamond is, La Collection de Bijoux started making diamond dog collars several years ago.
There are several designs available, including a $150,000 version called La Jeune Tulipe, made with a 1.52-carat marquise-cut stone at the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds.
For a bit less, Olivia Riegel designs crystal collars for $235 to $265, and Tiffany & Co.’s classic collar in its signature color goes for $250. There is a matching leash, too, for $300.
Only the best! For $300, a lucky pup can have this crystal and silver locket with his or her name
What’s that smell? Les Pooches’ Michael VIP Parfum is ‘a diffusive unisex fragrance’ for dogs that will set owners back $4,000
On the ‘low end’ of splurge-priced doggy jewelry is a $300 locket, which is made of sterling silver.
Finally, there is what may be the most mind-boggling purchase: a puppy perfume that costs up to $4,000 for 4 oz..
Les Pooches, a brand that specializes in dog fragrances and has several varieties, says the Michael VIP Parfum is ‘a diffusive unisex fragrance with top notes of Mandarin Blossom and Pink Grapefruit.’
The brand offers no guarantee, however, that a fragrance-sprayed dog won’t still go outside and play in mud, though the perfume may make for an interesting experience for other dogs who go in for a sniff.