A glance into Dogcouver's future

Dog bakeries, ‘pawsh’ boutiques, pet hotels, dog-friendly restaurants, massage therapists, organic pet food, and – Vancouver seems to have it all in the pet trend business. Yet, in countries such as Japan, Brazil, and the United States, pet pampering is much more than a trend: It is a national craze.

“People spend more money in the States,” said Lillian Wei, an employee at Vancouver’s Modern Dog Magazine. “Florida, California, and New York are the big pet places.”

Cities such as Chicago and Tokyo are the pinnacle of pet luxury. The first dog bakery opened up in 1979 in Chicago, and Tokyo is home to more than a dozen cat cafes and .

Vancouver has already adopted Japanese, New York, and Brazilian pet fashion. Is it only a matter of time before Vancouver absorbs the most outrageous international pet fads?

Here are some possible candidates:

Doga

The trend of originated in New York. Through a series of poses and meditation, dogs and their owners are able to reach spiritual bonding. This phenomenon has caught on in numerous cities, and it seems like only a matter of time before Doga finds its way to Vancouver.

“People are obsessed with their dogs here,” said Monique Harris, a yoga instructor as Moksha Yoga Vancouver. “I could see that happening here. For dogs with injuries, it is a healthy alternative to drugs.”

Dog Sushi Bar

This is offered in Austin, Texas. You cannot go two blocks in Vancouver without coming across a sushi joint. If Texas can do it, so can Vancouver.

Oxygen chambers for pets

Available at salons in Tokyo; the hollowed out tube offers . Since Vancouver pet salons already offer massage, reiki, and pet communication, oxygen therapy does not seem like a far stretch.

Dog love hotel

Founded in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this offers a romantic getaway for dogs – equipped with heart-shaped mirrors, romantic music and suggestive films. This concept might be a bit too extreme – even for Vancouver.

Puppy Twitter

Although this pet trend is not tied down to a specific geographic location, I decided it was worthy of mention.

In fall 2010, Puppy Tweets will update your pet’s daily events – in 140 characters or less. It detects and tweets a dog barking, sleeping, or eating, through motion and sound censoring.

What’s next? Doggie cellphones?

Wait… Those do exist.