Best of Philly 2005: Pets

Pet accessories: Two Dog Studio This pawsitively chic new Old City store and designer makes the cutest dog beds, in funky fabrics from dots to stripes; ribbon-trimmed collars; and leashes to match. We’d use the gorgeous Murano dog bowls for a dinner party (141 North 2nd Street, 215-925-4087; also sold at Anthropologie and Town Home).

Pet Jewels: Pearls 4 Pooches … and Pussycats, Too Linda Barsamian has been making exquisite custom pieces for pets on the Main Line for the past two years. With options that range from classic Swarovski pearls and crystals to stylish collars of glass beads and turquoise, your critter will no longer run with the pack (610-341-DOGS).

Dog-and-Owner Getaways
City: Ten Eleven Clinton B&B Wagging is encouraged at this pretty townhouse inn on a bucolic block near Washington Square. A number of the rooms have working fireplaces (every dog loves that), and there’s a kitchenette for your coffee and Ken-L Ration
(1011 Clinton Street; 215-923-8144).

Country: 1870 Wedgwood Collection of Historic Inns
Even the antiques are dog-friendly at the Aaron Burr House, the circa-1833 Umpleby House and Wedgwood House, where you and your pup’s room or suite has its own entrance, which makes for easy walks and poop runs (111 West Bridge Street, New Hope; 215-862-2570).

Dog trainer: John Ford “This trainer spends hours with us, talking about how dogs learn and how people need to train them,” says the proud owner of a Main Line black Lab. “He worked a little with Ellie the Lab, but mostly with me, my wife and my daughter. He made us take notes and learn a vocabulary of commands.” Ford “taught Ellie more in two hours than she learned in six weeks with another trainer” (610-692-9387).

Pet Sitters
City: philapets.com “I loooove my pet sitter, PhilaPets,” says a cat mom we trust. “It’s run by vet techs, with a web interface that makes it very easy to schedule services.”

Center City/Chestnut Hill/Northeast philly: Madeline, Paws and Claws Sitter More organized than you could ever be, this kind and devoted sitter signals her serious intent by scheduling a detailed initial (gratis) consultation. Into her spreadsheet go Kitty’s preferred feeding times, play routines, medications, and whether or not you also want the plants watered. When you return, you find not only a content and healthy pet, but also a daily log in which Madeline has detailed what she and Kitty were up to while you were away. “I take care of all kinds of animals, except snakes,” says Madeline. “I took care of a duck once.” (From $17 to $25 per visit, depending on the service; 215-288-7753.)

Groomers
Main Line: Cleo’s Salon on Wheels Sensitive pooches Oscar and Hunny were traumatized by their former groomer, but readily hop into Miss Cleo’s (real name: Jennifer Farnum) van for shampooing and a trim. “They love her,” report their parents (877-FOR-CLEO).

’burbs: Hickory Pet Inn Forty-pound bulldog Tinkerbell stays fabulous at Blue Bell’s Hickory Pet Inn, and boards there without complaint. “Tinkerbell gives them an up-paw, which is a thumb’s-up for a dog,” reports her mother. Hickory also happily grooms cats (2303 Hickory Road, ­Plymouth Meeting; 610-825-8895).