By Robin McMacken, Special Advertising Sections Writer

Which description most accurately reflects your philosophy of dressing your dog?

A. A lead and collar is just fine, thank you.

B. Sensible fashions such as raincoats and boots are essential for taking the dog out in inclement weather or on rocky terrain.

C. Whatever Paris Hilton and her dog, Tinkerbell, are wearing is what I want. More is definitely better.

If you answered A, then you subscribe to the Minimalist theory of dressing pets. The look you prefer is simple and functional, and the collar and leash your dog has worn since it reached maturity is adequate.

If you answered B, then you appreciate the Practical Pup approach to fashion, and your pup is often at your side during outdoor adventures such as hiking or camping. You dress Fido in a high-tech raincoat on soggy days, and break out the dog boots for particularly chilly days.

If you answered C, then you’re an All-Out Fashionista with a no-holds-barred approach to canine couture. You howl at the moon when Fashion Week in Paris begins, and your dog is right in tow.

Let it be known that there is no right or wrong style for outfitting the pooch, and even the most sparsely — or spectacularly — dressed pet will not appear on anyone’s Worst-Dressed list (or at least not yet). After all, most people smile when they see a dog wearing a bandanna or a costume, said Colleen Paige, an animal behavior expert, trainer, author. She said that proper pet attire is a matter of personality — both the owner’s and the pet’s.

“You want something that reflects your style,” said Susan Bing, owner of the upscale pet boutique Trixie + Peanut, which has an online store (www.trixieandpeanut.com) and a retail shop in New York City.

“I think that for a long time, many people viewed their pets as children, [but] they were too embarrassed … to come out of the closet,” said Paige, who founded National Dog Day, which will kick off on Aug. 26, 2006, as a way for people to express adoration for their furry friends and “to not be embarrassed or fearful to say, ‘I love my dogs.’ ” Clearly, attitudes have changed, she said, adding that it’s common to pick up a magazine or turn on the TV and see a story dedicated to doggy couture.

People now “want to show off their dogs,” Paige said. “It’s the same thing as [a man with] a good-looking woman on his arm. He wants the world to see.”

Now that you’ve identified your taste in pet attire, let’s take a look at what’s in for all categories.

Minimalist Mutt

Many people see a leash and collar — and maybe a bandanna — as the only items deserving to be in a dog’s wardrobe, and that’s OK. Jennifer McCarthy, a Palm Beach, Fla.-based dog trainer, writer and TV personality, said dogs with long coats might not appreciate the extra layers of clothing anyway.

However, minimalists can stick to their beliefs that “dogs only wear collars” and still add a stylish note to the mix. They would still be able to hold their heads high by walking dogs dressed in Links of London leather collars embroidered with bones, Kate Spade’s cheetah-print leather collars or Juicy Couture’s metallic collars with crest charms.

Practical and stylish Up Country ribbon-on-webbing collars are offered in numerous patterns that capture the change in the seasons. Playful looks in black, red, tan and gray dominate the fall offerings: “Color is what sells,” said Alice Nichols, the company’s president.

If even those seem too fancy, minimalists can refer to the hearty basics offered by RuffWear. The no-nonsense Knot-a-Collar, for instance, efficiently slips off when snagged, but stays securely in place when attached to a leash.

However, even minimalist-minded pet owners may have to accept that their dogs have haute-couture tendencies. Bing recalled a couple coming into her New York City store to purchase a collar for their French bulldog.

The dog, however, was drawn to a sweater with a large flower adorning the backside. The clerks let him try it on. Bing said the dog unabashedly admired itself in the mirror and then promptly trotted to the register. The staff told the couple: “Your dog chose it; you cannot deny it.” They bought the sweater.

Practical Pup

Whether you and your four-legged friend are exploring busy city streets in the evening or the woods during hunting season, the dog accessories industry can accommodate you both.

RuffWear offers such Practical Pup items as the reflective Lab Coat. The high-visibility coat helps dogs stand out in low light, fog and through dense brush.

Even the most intrepid canine adventurer can use paw protection, such as offered by RuffWear’s 3D Bark ‘n Books for hot, cold or slick cold surfaces and sharp rocks — or just the general wear of a long journey.

The Brits know now to dress the practical pup for inclement weather — in style. Burberry offers wool dog coats with duffle closures, plaid wool sweaters and nylon rain parkas at its boutiques.

Balancing practical and fashionable elements, fashion designers have created cold-weather looks for dogs inspired by what humans will be wearing this winter. The latest fashions are evident in Kwigy-bo’s army green and orange quilted ski parkas, the corduroy jackets from New York Dog and the shearling items from Ekoo New York. All are sold at Trixie + Peanut.

Bing sees this evolution continuing in the pet market. “It is that fashion meeting function that wasn’t really there before, and it is really getting developed more,” she said.

All-Out Fashionista

The pet industry is keenly aware that money is no object for the All-Out Fashionista, and her dog is dressed to the nines.

“We are spending more money on our dogs; it’s trendy now,” said Justin Rudd, founder of Haute Dogs, the planner of such canine events as the popular Howl’oween and Easter parades in Long Beach.

The fashion plate agenda for dogs this season includes fake Ugg boots, suede moccasins, shiny Mary Jane shoes, sequined sweaters, velvet ruffle collars and crystal and pearl jewelry.

Lori Pacchiano, creator of the Seattle-based High Maintenance Bitch line of clothes, is thrilled dogs are getting the fashion nod they deserve. She and her brother, Ryan, create items that elevate dogs to super-model status. She has even developed Cosmuttics, a makeup line for dogs that includes Wiskara, a mascara with glitter.

“Our line really focuses on a lot of sex appeal and it allows the dog to be a sexy complement to the girl,” she said. Fun-size dogs that are carried around town by their owners can wear her pearl-accented Cashmere Winter Bikini, $350, as an elegant fashion statement, Pacchiano added.

Not surprisingly, more fashion designers are entering the increasingly popular canine couture market. Donald J Pliner’s Friends of Babydoll Pliner collection features extravagant leather apparel, such as a fuchsia quilted jacket with mink trim. The designs complement Pliner’s human attire, which features oodles of studs and embroidery.

Nowadays, it’s not hard to go the haute puppy route and savor the extra attention that comes with it. “We take our dog around in a red wagon,” said Rudd. “We go out every night to eat, and Rosie sits with us outside at dinner. She gets tons of attention. People know her more than they know us.”

Nurture your inner puppy

If you follow the celebrity pet trend with fury, but your pocketbook doesn’t match that of the glitterati, rest assured there are affordable dog fashions. The Anthropologie retail store, for instance, offers vintage-inspired cardigans and scarves for dogs detailed with fabric flowers and rhinestone buttons from around $18.

You can also look at the Isaac Mizrahi pet line at Target to see how reasonably priced fashionable threads such as trench coats and rhinestone collars for dogs can be. His polo shirts sell for just $9.99.

Some owners nurture their inner fashionista through their pets. “I don’t have a Balenciaga bag, but I carry my dog in a Balenciaga-inspired bag,” Bing said.

Pacchiano, who first created feather boas for her dog, Lola, so people would realize the Boston terrier was female, agreed. “It’s the most killer business,” she said. “It’s such a blast.”

Since she started out in her grandma’s garage four years ago, Pacchiano’s High Maintenance Bitch has expanded to 260 product lines, with a client list that includes Paris Hilton.

It’s a labor of love for her.

“Dogs are little companions to women. . . . They offer a sense of physical security to people . . . a feeling that they are not alone,” Pacchiano said. “It’s like my life has changed so much since I have had my dog. Lola is like a person to me.”

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