More than 65 percent of Australian households home to a dog, one of the highest rates in the world, there’s no denying we are a nation of pooch lovers. And also there’s also no doubt that we see them as a member of the family rather than just an animal, with a study by Pet Industry showing that only fifteen percent of dog owners would reduce spending on their four-legged friends if their earnings fell.

The study also revealed that before reducing on their pooch’s expenses, forty five percent of dog owners would look at ways to reduce their electricity usage; 49 percent would reduce their own essentials, 34 percent would use cheaper products and seventeen percent would ever consider applying for a second job.

So, regardless of how you look at it, dogs are big business, and local business are cashing in. Gone are the days of feeding your pup with dollar cans of grounded beef, or throwing your dog a dried up bone as a treat. The last few years has seen a whole new kind of small establishments stocking, pooch clothes, doggie spas, and even luxurious dog accessories. Pet shops have a range of designer dog collars for your four-legged friends including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and more!. They also have training products such as martingale collars for hounds, leads, and many more. In addition, the pet market keeps on growing too, from practical and handy items such as balls, slow feeding bowls, and waterproof kennels, to the downright excessive; a $2000 18K gold-thread dog collar; Swarovski crystal leads that can cost up to $900, Roberto Cavalla-designed dog clothes and $100 bottles of puppy perfume called Naughty Puppy.