For posh pets only

Natasha Sarkisian

“People’s personalities are reflected in their pets,” says Deborah Leow, manager ofpet store George. The same goes for style: the collar a pet wears and the food he eats are a direct reflection of his master’s tastes. And when Marmaduke needs a new bone or Tinkerbelle needs a fresh coat of Paw Lish (“color for nails for those with tails”), the Bay Area’s pet boutiques have you covered. We’ve found five that you’ll flip for, whether you prefer a sporty, minimalist, or over-the-top froufrou look for Fido.

1
SOCIAL CREATURES
“Going to Bella and Daisy’s is like visiting the ice-cream man,” says manager Frank O’Daniel. The staff often remembers the names of visiting dogs and sometimes their owners’, too. Worn vintage tables are piled with handknit angora sweaters and $350 carriers. Best Finds: Friday “yappy hour” is packed with owners mingling over wine while their dogs work the room and munch on canine cannoli and latte doggy cookies from the bakery. 1750 Union St., S.F., 415-440-7007.

2
GLAMOUR-PUSSES
Babies comes complete with a fire hydrant and stocks costumes from tuxes to fur-trimmed ski coats to the more practical rain slicker. Soothe your pet during wardrobe changes with a fun toy, like the hot pink Bark Jacobs plush shoe or the plastic squeaky Hyde Street/Howl Street cable car. Best Finds: Babies has over 2,000 collars with matching leashes in stock, so any dog can accessorize to match its personalstyle. 235 Gough St., S.F., 415-701-7387.

3
BEASTS WITH BURDENS
Curl up on the love seat in front of the fireplace with your furry sidekick at For Other Living Things and chat with knowledgeable mother-daughter team Anita and Kelly Ledtje about your pet’s special needs. This holistically minded store offers positive-reinforcement training classes, and its freezers carry the increasingly popular raw food, said to cure a variety of ailments. Best Finds: Honeysuckle cat toys, which some say appeal to more cats than catnip. 1261 S. Mary Ave., Sunnyvale, 408-739-6785.

4
CLASSIC BEAUTIES
The Ralph Lauren of pet stores, George has been a Bay Area flagship for 15 years. George makes its own products, in refreshingly simple colors. Its wood-finished Berkeley shop is outdoorsy, whereas its Pac Heights shop is urbane, carrying Swar­ovksi crystal–encrusted collars handcrafted in England. Best Finds: You’ll love the shearling igloo hideaways, perfect for dogs looking for security. 2411 California St., S.F., 415-441-0564; 1844 Fourth St., Berkeley, 510-644-1033.

5
OWNERS ONLY
You won’t find pet food at Bow Wowzer/Purrsnickety, a kitschy store for owners obsessed with their pets. There are statuettes, jewelry, ornaments, bumper stickers, purses, hats, and more, celebrating your favorite breeds. Give your shih tzu a makeover with help from the immense collection of hair bows. There’s even a selection of pet tombstones. Best Finds: The store carries strollers for aging, ailing, or just plain lazy dogs. 100 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, 408-395-2285.