Fido chic - Best of the West

Sunset, Nov, 2003

FOR THE DOGS

Several years ago, after furnishing her San Francisco loft with hip, modern furniture, Diana Flynn bought some "not-so-attractive" dog toys. "The old dog toys looked lackluster next to my stylish new furniture," she explains. So she founded Otis and Claude and started a new trend: companies offering great-looking, functional dog products--from toys and dog beds to bowls and feeding mats. Alpha Dog, a store in Mill Valley, California, has dozens of fabrics to choose from for its dog beds. It will eve bed custom-made to match your favorite chair. Alpha Dog also sells Bodhi Toys--which include such exotic chew forms as lotus buds and sections of bamboo. Not only are the toys durable, "but you don't mind seeing them on the floor--as compared to the average latex pig," explains Alpha Dog owner Kelly Scott. With dog products that look this good, you may just have to spruce up your furniture.--F.P.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Go fetch

FROM HOME:

Bodhi Toys: www.bodhitoys.com or (800) 296-9793.

George: www.georgesf.com or (877) 322-3232.

Otis and Claude: www.otisandclaude.com or (866) 777-9506.

Wagwear: www.wagwear.com or (888) 924-9327.

IN TOWN:

Alpha Dog: Mill Valley, CA; (415) 389-6500.

Fetch: Seattle; (206) 720-1961.

George: San Francisco; (415) 441-0564; or Berkeley; (510) 644-1033.

Mountain Dog Biscuits & Gifts: Vail, CO; (970) 479-8488.