Pampered pooches

The fresh-baked goods at Doodledings in Burlingame are selling fast too, said owner Maritsa Chew. The store is redefining the term doggie treats by serving up goodies like peanut butter wontons and doggie fortune cookies - and yes, the latter come complete with cutesy notes. Chew's favorite doggie fortune reads, "Some days you feel like the dog, some days you feel like the hydrant."

It's probably not often that Doodleding pets feel like the hydrant.

The store sells a variety of gift baskets starting at $26.50; the Doodle spa basket includes bath fizzies, shampoo, conditioner and the obligatory flea bag. Another gift set - the Gizmo Good Fortune basket - even comes with a bath fizzy for the human companion. If pet owners want to include a lavender-based perfume in the basket, the price jumps by $42.50.

"The lavender smell is calming for dogs - just like for humans," Chew said.

Meanwhile, those searching for organic dog food can now have vacuum-packed meals home delivered by the Canine Cafe. Chef Stephanie Kriebel started the catering business with the mantra that people shouldn't feed anything to their dogs they wouldn't ingest themselves.

On Kriebel's menu is an offering of organic chicken breast, lamb, beef or fish. Flax seed oil is mixed into meals to ensure dogs are getting their Omega-3 acids, Kriebel said. She and her two dogs all dine on the pre-packed meals regularly.

No more dog days

With the current economic winds keeping people more at home these days, people are pouring more love than ever before into their pooches, said Lori Schmalz, owner of Plaza de Paws. For many couples, she said pets often take the place of or are a precursor to having children.

As a result, Schmalz said more people are doting on their dogs.

"There isn't anything we won't do for our dogs," said Burlingame resident Nicole Pritlyk, who frequents Plaza de Paws about every two weeks. Yesterday, Pritlyk purchased the unlikely combination of soy dog bones and bull penis jerky.

Pritlyk also recently bought a $60 hand-knit sweater for her schnauzer - she said it was to stop the little dog's shivering during the colder months. That's not the most extravagant thing she ever bought for her dogs, however. To tote them around in comfort, Pritlyk bought an SUV; in the back of a car is a giant $100 dog bed where her dogs can nap in style.

Pampering pets to such degrees isn't such an outrageous idea anymore, said Scott Delucchi, spokesman for the Peninsula Humane Society.

"The days of a dog being confined to someone's backyard are gone," Delucchi said. "People are looking at all sorts of ways to improve their dogs' quality of life through exercise, travel and social opportunities. Nutrition is just one more way people are improving their dogs' lives."

Life in the pound

While dogs dine on raw food and organic diets in private homes all over the county, life isn't so bad over at the Peninsula Humane Society either. Delucchi said cats and dogs at PHS are fed Nutra, which he said is one of the better brands of commercial pet food. With all the research pet food companies invest in, Delucchi said most commercial brands provide animals with the essentials of a healthy diet.

While it's good that people are lavishing more love and attention on their pets, Delucchi said there is such a thing as going overboard. Just like for humans, he said living the good life can sometimes lead to health concerns for dogs too.

Delucchi said many of the dogs he sees these days are overweight; close to a quarter of the animals he encounters at PHS could afford to shed a few pounds, he said. The over-feeding of pets usually comes from good intentions, but Delucchi said people need to be watchful about letting their dogs get too heavy. The extra weight could be too much stress for their little joints, he said.

Yunmi Choi can be reached by e-mail at yunmi@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.