The front display window (above and below) of Chien de Luxe. The huge windows fold back for nice weather. / MyLittleBird photo.
LESS THAN a year old, the pet store Chien de Luxe in the Palisades neighborhood of Northwest Washington is making an impression. The Skeleton Dogs in the window are just one reason. Manager Karen Sparks bought them from the Grandin Road catalogue–plus some voice-activated Zombie Dogs whose eyes flash red while they deliver a chilling howl. The shop is for “crazy [dog] people like me,” Karen says. “Then we appease the cat people and the horse people with things for them.”
It took four years for Karen and the store owner, who owns Palisades Veterinary Clinic next door, to get Chien de Luxe up and running, so Karen had plenty of time to hit up antiques malls far and wide for animal-themed vintage treasures. The store also retails first-edition dog-themed books, paintings, plus your basic pet tchotchkes.
The scary dogs will soon be gone (go visit while you can), but the first-edition dog books, 
dog and horse paintings and, of course, leashes and collars and fleece coats for winter will be there for you whenever you stop by.
–Nancy McKeon
Chien de Luxe, 5140 MacArthur Boulevard NW, Washingtom, DC 20016; 202-363-3600.
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