Croissant for dogs? Pet market advances in luxury, with exclusive coffees and gourmet sweets priced at up to R$30

Between gourmet sweets and pet-friendly cafes, dogs become increasingly "human" in their routine
Photo by Xavier GALIANA / AFP)
On a comfortable sofa, an elegant Parisian savors every last crumb of a soft cookie in a trendy café in the French capital. The scene is unusual for one detail: the customer has four legs and barks.
Loulou, a dwarf German Spitz with flowing white fur, lets out an enthusiastic "woof" after devouring the five-euro "Merveilleux" (R$29.55), a biscuit made with thin layers of banana puree, cream cheese, apple and beef.
The one-year-old dog is a regular customer at this bakery. canine, where the delicacies displayed on a glass counter - such as "Le Mignon", heart-shaped and prepared with sweet potato, cream cheese and blueberries - could make even humans' mouths water.
The owner of the confectionery, Frenchwoman Clara Zambuto, explains that adopting Hulk, her three-year-old dwarf German Spitz, inspired her to open the space, where dogs and owners can have a meal together.
"I often went for a walk with him (...) We would go into a café, like a good Parisian, but he would soon get bored", recalls the 26-year-old owner of Casa del Doggo. "I thought it was a shame that there aren't places in Paris where, while you're having a coffee, you can offer your pet a treat," he says.
"Nowadays, a dog is almost like a child, and we want to take him everywhere," he adds.
The patisserie is one of several establishments aimed at dogs that have been appearing in the French capital, where it is estimated that around 100,000 animals live.
The patisserie is one of several establishments dedicated to dogs. for dogs that are emerging in the French capital
(Photo by Xavier GALIANA / AFP)
No chocolate
Zambuto started preparing the snacks at home before enlisting the help of a professional pastry chef. But without "no chocolate, no avocado, no grapes and no onion", he emphasizes, because these foods are toxic for dogs.
As with humans, moderation is essential to avoid excessive weight gain, explains Lolita Sommaire, a veterinarian specializing in dog and cat nutrition. there is a problem", he says.
In another cafe for dogs, the animals roam around a terrace with benches, while some nibble on snacks in the form of "croissant" and "baguette", which cost four euros (R$ 23.24).
Marley, an American shepherd in a red beret, licks a creamy dessert served in a silver cup.
For American Rebecca Anhalt, the decision to open the Bone Appart cafe - where "dogs are the reis" - came about after receiving a large fine for leaving Napoleon, her five-year-old whippet, loose in a park.
"I wanted to create a place where people could come without fear (...) of being reprimanded for being with their dog", adds the owner. The name of the establishment is a pun on the surname of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Around 100,000 animals live in Paris
Photo by Xavier GALIANA / AFP) Related content
Connection
Although Paris has around fifty parks designed for dogs, where they can roam without a leash, the collective of associations Paris Condition Canine considers these spaces "insufficient, unevenly distributed and, at times, not very suitable".
The Dogs even became a campaign theme in March's municipal elections: the new mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, dedicated an Instagram account to them, while his opponent, Rachida Dati, offered "canine snacks". "It improves our connection, because we are in an environment that is neither work nor home", says the 32-year-old pharmacist.
Although dogs are the priority at the cafe, Anhalt highlights that many regulars also go there to socialize with other owners: "The dogs are a great meeting point".
She says that a regular customer and his 17-year-old dachshund, recently arrived in Paris, go to the cafe every day to "meet people". After all, "you end up talking to anyone because of your dog."

Source: G1