Putting on the Dog.docVIP

Putting on the Dog 　　IF the term had been coinedhere,the cat walk of theWest would have been adoe walk in the MiddleKingdom.The Chinese are put-ting on the dog, but the old ex-pression for dressing up in onesfanciest and conveying the im-pression of living large,is beinggiven new life in the East.Maoonce declared the pampered peta disgracefully bourgeois habit,but modern Chinas burgeoningurban middle class,the DINKS(double income no kids) andempty-nesters are taking to petownership in a big way.Whilebirds or a collection of tropicalfish are considered to be the tra-ditional,classic Chinese pets,thecanine is the new darling.Anytrend taking hold in China tendsto create a rush on the marketright at the outset,as the num-bers of consumers are so large.This one has unleashed both thefrivolous and the serious,fromthe predictable social front ofanimal rights crusaders to themuch more surprising advent ofa riveting and clever dog fashion industry with Chinese character-istics that truly set it apart. 　　Other than the pamperedpets of the court,such as thePekinese and the Shih Tzu,thereis little precedent for the dog aspet among the Chinese rank andfile,except as a work animal.The nations dog elothes design-ers have therefore been free totake the industry in any diree-tion,and the dog walk is a source ofendless delight,bringing about canineHalloween costumes,silk pajamas andbumble bee outfits for spring (completewith wire-supported gossamer wingsand velveteen antennae).Nail polish andhair dye followed.While many expertslament the anthropomorphic aspects ofdog clothing,the ascendancy of the dogspopularity in Chinese cities has actuallybrought about better care con-ditions for canines,felines,anda host of other small mammals.And Chinas attitude to,yardsthe beloved pet signals it maybe a compensation for the one-child policy,meaning dogssometimes enjoy some of thefreedoms common to caninesin Europe,with cafe ownersbringing their pets to work andlooking the other way whencu