Dallas ? The fashion dog is a breed unto itself. Typically petite (no bigger than, say, your average Birkin handbag), exquisitely groomed and found almost exclusively in large cities, it lives a life of privilege and pampering that would make other dogs with jobs such as hunting or herding or riding around in pick-up trucks howl with ridicule if not turn tail and run.

So what is the fashion dog sporting this spring, apart from an air of entitlement?

Clothes including designer raincoats, tiny pleather boots and crystal-embroidered T-shirts that spell out “cutie,” “killa” or “drooler” are strictly optional. But a bit of bling at the neck is mandatory, whether a collar customized with rhinestone initials or a bone-shaped pendant encrusted with diamonds. At least one company, Florida-based Fancy Bones, makes gold and silver ID tags for dogs, as well as equally high-end necklaces, bracelets and pins for their people.

As for hobbies, let other men’s best friends romp in dog parks or jog alongside their masters. The fashion dog is more likely to be found drinking from a silver-plated bowl or even sitting for a portrait.

Riding in a fashion-conscious carrier something in toile or faux croc, perhaps, is always fun, especially when the destination is along the lines of doggy health spa. And if your mistress is very, very fortunate, you may even be invited to a fellow canine’s birthday party where the activities include fountain swimming and doggie massages.

And if all this seems just a little over the top, take heart. You can always chase the cat.