Berkly Square Pet Boutique

Lucy belongs to the species Canis lupis, a population of wild wolves that would eventually become the domesticated dog we know today. Nearly 100,000 years ago Lucy and her fellow wolf relatives, began to notice the rubbish our very distance hominid ancestors were leaving behind after each meal. At first spending their time on the outskirts of these makeshift campsites, Lucy's species began to realize the potential benefits their symbiotic relationship with man could have. Man too began to understand that the loss of decaying waste and increased protection from strangers were perks they couldn't deny. And from this relationship a beautiful alliance was made.

Eventually these early adoptees became tame wolves, dependent on humans and the food they supplied. But it was more than just leftover scraps that turned the wild wolf into man's best friend. Like humans, Lucy and her species were a highly social animal. Once dependent on a pack for its social bonds, Lucy now relied on her human family for the companionship she desired, and in exchange for the loyalty and devotion she demonstrated to man, Lucy was welcomed into the world of humans forever.

We have come along way from the primordial living of our ancestors, but the canine still remains one of man's best friends; however, as I glance around Berkly Square, the gourmet dog bakery and pet boutique, while surrounded by excessive amounts of pink feathers, glitter and fluff, I realize I stand corrected. No longer is dog just man's best friend. The pooch has become the best pal, pet, past time and fashion accessory for every woman owning a Channel purse and Tiffany's chain.

Bejeweled hangers, displaying fashion's latest trends, cling to the rows of clothes racks that line the walls of the boutique. Although these designer and couture clothes resemble those seen on the pages of Vogue, there diminutive size suggests no human, but rather their pets, will wear them. Patent leather coats, fur lined collars, and Dolce and Gabbana logo'd skirts come in range of sizes from small to teacup, meant for the breads of dogs tiny enough to sit comfortably inside your average saucer of tea.

More than just designer branded clothing, the fashion forward owner and her trend-setting dog can indulge their passions for glamour with the latest in doggy jewelry, nail polishes, shoes, perfumes, leashes, collars, and carriers. Each item, although appearing to be for people like you and I, are intended for the dogs, and are meticulously displayed among miles of ribbon and gauze. Placed atop a mirror and glowing beneath a beaming light, the studded tiara makes a dazzling display that no heiress or diva could refuse for her four-legged friend.

The boutique itself is not very big, but with items so small it can afford to hold a lot of doggie fashion. Customers and their dogs peruse the assorted clothes and accessories in the shop. Occasionally an outfit or collar is pulled from its place and held up against its future canine owner to determine if the item is the proper size or color for the pampered pooch.

Heidi is here with her “baby,” Amos. Amos is a Fox Terrier. Originally bred to assist in foxhunting, Terriers are known for their speed, stamina, and toughness. Amos, however, has never seen a fox in his life, and spends most of his days proudly strutting around town beside Heidi. After listening to Heidi explain Amos' daily routine, I reach down to become better acquainted myself with the Terrier. Amos, however, shakes in fear and with a tail tucked firmly between the legs he hides behind his human.

Amos, although a proud descendant of the purest, bluest Terrier blood to be found (he's got the pedigree to prove it), wouldn't stand a chance against a fox. A teacup Chihuahua on the other side of the room yelps and Amos, buries his head further into Heidi's legs. “Ohh... He's scared,” Heidi tells me. “He is such a scardy cat, everything frightens him.” Heidi reaches into her purse and pulls out a bag of homemade bacon and cheese dog biscuits brought along just for Amos. “Here, try this,” Heidi says as she hands me the treat. I take it from her and in my sweetest and most enticing voice I call to Amos while holding out the heart shaped goody in my hand. Amos bashfully comes forward after eying the treat, and with a more welcoming attitude he momentarily allows me to pet him before nabbing the snack and retreating once more.

“He's just like his mom, gifts are the way to his heart,” Heidi laughs and then continues on to do more shopping with her bashful fox hunting dog.

Behind us a fitting is taking place. A doll-sized Pekingese named Sasha is trying on a sundress. She travels with her mistress everywhere, scoping out the world from the confines of a Balenciaga look-alike bag. Although Pekingese are one of the oldest breeds of dog, having been around for over 2,000 years, not much has changed for this beloved bread of dog.  Sasha is what is known as a sleeve dog, an emblem of status since antiquity. Once toted by fashionable women inside the folds of their gowns, diminutive pets have been the favorites of nobles from Marie-Antoinette to Elizabeth II.

            Now that spring has arrived Sasha and her lady, Samantha, are creating a hot spring wardrobe for the always-trendy Sasha. “I am so glad winter is almost over,” Samantha tells the Berkley Square employee assisting her and the pooch. “Sasha and I were getting so tired of wearing nothing but sweatshirts. Our winter wardrobe has become too drab, and we can't wait to show off our legs, right Sasha?” Samantha lifts Sasha up high and places her nose to nose, allowing the scrawny white dog to lick all over Samantha's face. “Yes we were tired of those big bulky sweaters, weren't we Sasha?” Samantha says while still enjoying Sasha's wet kiss.

After careful deliberation and several minutes of examining the contenders, Samantha chooses a yellow ensemble with white and red flowers patterning the fabric from the rows of doggie dresses. Delicately, Samantha removes Sasha's two front paws from the sleeves of the pink knitted sweater the Pekingese is wearing.

“This will look fabulous on her,” the employee exclaims holding the outfit out for Samantha to take.

“I know, it's so perfect for Spring,” Samantha replies.

Sasha remains still, as Samantha finishes tying the bow of the sun dress which wraps around the petite dogs waist. “Ohh she looks amazing, doesn't she.” The employee nods with enthusiasm while echoing Samantha's exaltations of Sasha.

Despite the ruffled collar that ornately flares up and around Sasha's neck, she doesn't seem to be bothered. Even when a small hat is placed on top her head between each ear and held in place by a tight elastic band pulled round her chin she seems un-phased, as if this has happened a million times before.

“Add this to the bill, Samantha declares. “Sasha, you are going to look fabulous this spring.”

“Does Sasha need a raincoat,” The employee asks Samantha. “We just got a brand new line of Prada coats, and let me tell you, they are fabulous, absolutely fabulous. You'll want one yourself.”

Samantha jumps in glee and together they disappear around the corner to deliberate over the amazing selections of raincoats available.

At any time in Berkley Square five to ten dogs can be seen prancing around the shop, yet never at any time does the small even hint of the smell many of us have come to associate with our four legged friends. Instead the once sweet aroma of each woman and dog's cologne (yes these dogs wear perfume) has combined to create an overbearing bouquet of lavender, spice, lilac, and musk. The air feels heavy with all these designer fragrances looming about. With my measly 5 million smell-sensitive cells, I pity poor Davy, the basset hound who with his 220 million smell-sensitive cells has gone into a sneezing fit in the corner of the room. Davy is a short-legged long and pudgy white and brown dog. Basset Hounds are considered scent hounds because they are bred to hunt by scent. Although centuries of breading have given Davy his overwhelming sense of smell, it has never served him much purpose in the thicket of the forest, and instead it has rendered him helpless in a doggie boutique.

Kristina Roberts, the owner of this fine doggie establishment, works very hard to give her shop the right atmosphere.  “Women who shop here are into fashion.  They like accessories, and shoes, and purses, and they love the color pink,” she said. And that is exactly what Kristina has given her customers.  All around the store women seem to be fawning over the newest batch of cloths and matching accessories designed by Kristina. 

Although Kristina loves her job, and as she says, has a “passion for dressing her four-legged friends,” running Old Town’s premier dog boutiques was not her intention.  “I originally bought this shop to sell my own clothing line for women,” Kristina told me.  “But it is a tough market.”  And indeed it was. In every direction you turn, windows filled with manikins are dressed in the most posh and put together outfits each establishment can concoct.

“I just couldn’t compete,” Kristina said.  “In today’s fashion market you need more than just great clothes you need a way to get it into the public, and since Paris Hilton or Lindsey Loham weren’t rushing to my door to wear my clothes, I had to try something different.” And from the failure of her previous business venture, sprung forward an enterprising business in doggie fashion.

Now the once empty storefront has customers in every direction politely trying to squeeze past one another as they peruse through the bounty of trends to be found at Berkley Square. This conglomeration of feet standing nearly all empty spaces have made it nearly impossible for Winston the large Great Dane to reach his desired destination at the back of the room, the Berkley Square Bakery. 

Winston is an impressive creature, weighing in at nearly 130 pounds.  He regally sits near the entrance of the boutique, looking stoic and dignified.  From this upright position his nose, which proudly tilts upward, is even with my naval.  Winston seems to care very little for the seemingly more miniature dogs yelping around him, and he pretentiously glares down at them for a moment before returning again to his proud statuesque pose.  Winston, who has been instructed by his owner to stay, takes this command very seriously.  Not a muscle on Winston’s body has moved, except for his eyes.  Closely Winston follows his person as he walks back to where the smell of herbs, meat and cheese waft in the air.

Against the wall a small delicatessen showcases its assortment of gourmet dog snacks. Although baking is not Kristina’s specialty, since she says that in the world of humans fashion and food don’t always mix, but in order to better serve her canine customers she incorporated the wildly popular gourmet bakery to Berkley Square. “It seems only right, you know, that we provide something the dogs truly love,” she said, since although many of her customer’s swear there canine companions are as fashion crazed as they are, Kristina admits not all dogs are as in love with being wrapped in feathers and fabric as their owners are.

Back at the entrance of the boutique, Winston intensly watches as his human bends over the class encased treats to catch a better glimpse of the assortment of snacks provided. Fresh from the bakery today are chicken and cheddar pretzels, cream cheese filled cannelloni’s, cheese pizza season with oregano sold by the slice, parmesan cheese twists, frosting covered pinwheels, raisin biscotti, peanut butter cups, and cookies overflowing with sprinkles. 

Winston’s owner, a proud and dignified man himself, thanks the lady behind the register and returns to Winston with a pink box wrapped in a bow.  Inside of the fancy box contains Winston’s weekly treat ratio, and as the package comes closer, for the first time I see Winston break character.  Overcome with excitement at the realization that a melt in your mouth peanut butter cup is coming his way, Winston whimpers in anticipation while his feet shuffle beneath him. 

“Heel,” his owner says while grabbing the dogs leash, but with the thought of sprinkles and cheese sticks going through his mind Winston, in a unusual display of defiance spins around his owners feet pleading with him to bring forth the contents of the box.  However, it is not until after several failed attempts at a heel that Winston finally acquiesces to his owner’s commands and is finally reward with a freshly homemade treat.

Somehow dogs like Winston, whose ancestors were once wild, boar killing, raw meat eating mammals, have evolved into obedient, subservient and gentle beasts who now gingerly nibble at bite sized frosted treats from the palms of their owners hands.  As I watch Winston beg his master for own more frilly treat, I wonder what Lucy and her fellow scavenger clan would think of this pitiful display. 

Fudge, a 4-year-old Chihuahua who belongs to Wendy, an IT consultant in D.C., is wearing an orange simulated snakeskin coat that matches perfectly with the brightly colored orange blouse and pair of pumps Wendy is wearing. “The only difference is Fudge carries a biscuit in his pocket, while I carry lipstick,” Wendy informs me. “Its just that, Fudge and I are perfect companions for one another, so I think that since our personalities coordinate so perfectly, why not let our outfits do the same.”

Fudge travels in a leopard-spotted bag. "There are places I have to sneak him into- the post office, the grocery store, the neighborhood bakery.” Wendy is no fan of ordinances barring pets from restaurants and other indoor public spaces. She demanded: "Why should that be? We are after all a doggie culture."

And indeed she is right, after all these four-legged companions have been man's best friend for over 100,000 years. There loyalty deserves a little respect. But what a way we have come from the hunter scavenger dogs of the past, to the skirt wearing, musk smelling, handheld fashionista dogs of today. Flaunted as fashion statements, pint-sized canines are, to some minds, the fur-bearing equivalent of a pair of Louboutin pumps or other accessory. And here at Berkley Square Pet Boutique, whether you are canine or human you can find the ways to express your inner diva, heiress and fashionista to the world.