Just like kids... only with poo patrol

BY NICKY PARK

From a $NZ280 spa treatment to a personal shaman for your dog, we look at the some of the boutique services available for today's pampered pooches.

Andrea rubs Sore Paw Soak, an organic balm made of plant butters, fruit and flower oils, on to Chelsea's paws.

She then gives the four-year old pugalier a therapeutic massage with vanilla bean butter rub before submerging her in a Petals Puddles bubble bath – a concoction of biodynamic and organic ingredients.

Chelsea is being given a luxury spa treatment at PawPaws Urban Retreat – one of the latest services for spoilt pets.

The puppy parlour, incongruously nestled in the gritty inner-Sydney suburb of Redfern, opened it's doors to indulgent pet owners in December last year.

In addition to the full range of premium spa treatments, including a Doggy Detox ($A150) and the two-hour Bow Wow Wow! ($A225), PawPaws offers rooftop puppy parties and overnight or longer term nanny services.

The salon's founder, Mandy Richards, says business has "increased steadily" since opening, with the main clients being child-free Sydneysiders.

A former RSPCA employee, Richards said there has been a "social change" in pet ownership in the last ten years.

"It's no different to having a human child in the way our customers look at their dog. . . you love someone you want the best for them.

"The focus is providing a service that's genuinely great for the dog and great for the owners."

Lisa Treen edits Urban Animal, a quarterly street magazine carrying advertisements for animal photography, organic dog food and pet cremation specialists.

Treen says pets are often a substitute for kids.

"There are a lot of couples. . . or single people. . . who don't have children, and there's lots of empty nesters. . . who want to lavish, or give love to another creature," Treen says.

"What better creature to give it to than a dog. . . that loves you back unconditionally," she said from her office in Newtown, in Sydney's inner-west.

"No one wants to be lonely (and) I can't think of a better home-coming than a waggy tail and someone who looks happy to see you."

She also pins the popularity of luxury pet services to the "guilt factor" of working long hours.

Treen, who developed Urban Animal about five years ago, says many young couples use puppies as training-wheels for parenthood.

In recognition of this trend Virgin Mobile recently launched a pet-ernity leave programme, entitling employees to one week unpaid leave when a puppy or kitten under 12 weeks joins their family.

Also jumping on the pampered pooch bandwagon is US celebrity chef Rachel Ray, who has released a range of gourmet dog food, Nutrish, made with "simple natural ingredients".

And last year Sydney's first personal "Poo Patrol" service became available, promising to "search, scoop, destroy and haul away all of those nasty piles that ruin your yard".

An initial visit costs $A35 for the first half hour and subsequent regular visits range from $A10 for one visit a week to $A8 for two, depending on the number of dogs.

The company's founder, Michelle Lang, says she cleans up some 80 homes a week across Sydney. Her clients include a vision impaired man, "workaholics" and one woman who gags at the site of dog poo.

"Picking up dog poo isn't on anyone's list of favourite things to do," Lang says.

Those who want to spend a day walking in their pup's paws can strap a Pets Eye View digital collar to their dog – it takes a snap of what your pet is seeing every few minutes.

For behavioural and medical conditions, pet owners can also choose from a range of alternative and holistic treatments.

Animal behaviour specialist Kersti Seksel said it's not surprising that as more humans switch to alternative therapies, they want the same for their dog.

"Used correctly by people who know what they are talking about, (alternative therapies) can certainly be useful," Dr Seksel said.

After working in a mainstream vet practise in Western Australia for 20 years, vet Michael Bascombe made a transition to alternative therapies.

"Western medicine doesn't work," Dr Bascombe, now based in Victoria's Central Highlands, said.

"I could see that the (western) remedies were toxic very often. . . the drugs were toxic.

"I'm a very sensitive person and I could feel how the animals feel when they take the drugs.

"There are too many conditions that western medicine can't solve and I wasn't happy telling owners that I can't solve their problems so I started looking for other ways."

Dr Bascombe, who also describes himself as a shaman, claims to be able to channel into his clients to "find out what the animal wants".

He then offers a list of treatment options including homeopathy, flower essences and reiki.

Dr Bascombe says he has an 80 per cent success rate using alternative therapy compared with the 45 per cent achieved with western medicine.

Meanwhile, back at the spa, Chelsea is looking lush in her shiny coat and is eager to show off her new $A100-plus look.

After farewelling Andrea, she trots out of PawPaws into the backstreets of Redfern and rolls in the dirt.

- AAP