Gourmet food, fashion parades and Facebook: Sydney’s spoiled fur-kids live life to the max

FROM personal stylists to beauty pageants and home delivery meals, meet the dog owners who are sparing no expense to indulge their fur-kid’s whims.

SYDNEY dogs may be some of the most pampered in the world, with owners admitting to regularly feeding their canine companions eggs, fillet steaks, chicken breasts and even fast food.

As the humanisation of our pets continues to grow, owners are stepping forward to share their stories about their pampered pooches and the reasons why they think of them as so much more than just a pet.

Mike Frizell, founder of PetCircle.com.au, said people were now treating pets the same as their own children.

This one’s for your Facebook page: PetCircle.com.au founder Mike Frizell with office dog Diesel. Picture: John Appleyard

He said pet owners were feeding them specialty food, sharing meals with them, putting clothes on their backs, entering them into beauty pageants and fashion shows and even creating social media accounts on behalf of their pets.

In Sydney, a company called Delivery Hero offers home delivery meals for pets and at last month’s New York Fashion Week, there was a runway show especially showcasing all the hot new doggy clothing styles.

Sydney Fashion Dog Nau Nau has her own babysitters.

Nau Nau also has almost 10,000 Facebook friends

Mr Frizell said his 46kg golden retriever, George Ernest Frizell regularly flew from Sydney to Perth to spend time with his extended family.

“He was really our family dog and when I moved to Sydney I found I missed him so he spends half his time with me and the other half in Perth with my parents,” he said.

There has been a boom in businesses offering gourmet food and treats especially designed for dogs.

“He is probably not quite like a baby to me, more like a close friend or a colleague. It is not uncommon when he is in Perth to find him in my parents’ bed in the morning and he gets lots of treats like a bowl of milk before bed.”

My Frizell said his access to products at work allowed him to pamper George.

“I have access to 5000 different products to keep him entertained,” he said.

“It was interesting throwing a couple of 100 tennis balls down the stairs at the same time and seeing how he responded.”

Pet owners indulge their pets and treat them like a family member. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Maltese pup Maverick takes time out for a well-deserved puppucino at a Gourmet Dog Barkery.

Pyrmont entrepreneur Sandradee Makejev, founder of woman’s fashion store St Frock, also admitted to pampering her four-legged companion, Fashion Dog Sydney aka Nau Nau, who has her own Facebook account with almost 10,000 followers.

“When I first got Nau Nau I got her some jumpers and I posted some photos online and from there she become a bit of a celebrity,” she said.

“She comes to work with me and if I am travelling overseas she has a babysitter, sometimes it might be some of the staff.

“When she can hear me coming she starts barking at the door and she cries when she can’t see me. Everyone who meets her loves her.”

Dogs even have access to their own beauty salons.