If you think that people pamper their dogs now, you haven’t heard about the custom made shoes for dogs back in 1912. In a time when most children didn’t have shoes, the wealthy were getting their dogs custom fitted for shoes.
Shoes Made to Order for Dogs in this Shop
Pups of the Wealthy are Fitted Out Just Like Children — and a Heap Better Than Many Human Kiddies Who Have No Shoes at All
New York, May 17. — If all the poor kiddies of America were only dogs, and owned by rich masters, not one would go barefoot!
Pups of the plutes [slang for rich industrialist] have shoes of finest silk and leather, made especially for their measure — shoes for driving and shoes for walking, and slippers, too, and patent leather pumps for special society functions!
A sign over the entrance of the quaint cobbler shop of V. Mingot, just around the corner from the “Great White Way,” reads:
“I can refer you, by permission, to many of the best dogs in this city, to whom my work has given perfect satisfaction.”
In 12 years of bookmaking for dogs, never a complaint has been made by any of Mingot’s four legged patrons.
“And zee owners of zee dogs — ah, how pleezed,” said Mingot.
In Mingot’s shop there are special tables and chairs for his canine patrons and everything for their convenience and comfort, even to a bone or two, used sometimes as a quieting influence for fretful doggies on their first visit.
When doggie enters with a request for a pair of boots he is invited to jump onto a small table where the impression of his feet is taken, and general peculiarities of his paws noted, so that all possibility of chafing by the boots may be eliminated.
Three or four days later doggie comes in again. His boots are ready. They are something like small tobacco bags, with the sole of fairly stiff leather and the upper of soft, pliable leather, the whole held by laces.
“The first pair of boots for dogs were made by papa for our own dog,” explained Miss Yvonne Mingot, daughter of the bookmaker. “In France we lived where there was nothing but soft earth for the dog to walk on. When we came here his feet got in terrible shape from pavement and sidewalk.
“One of our neighbors wanted some boots for her dog. Papa made them and has been in that business ever since. And it has been quite prosperous, too.
“Papa gets $4 for four boots and has many rich patrons.”
Mingot also makes leather blankets and caps for dogs and a dog basket of such skillful design as to deceive hotel clerks, street car conductors and apartment superintendents.
Source: The Day Book (Chicago, Illinois newspaper). May 17, 1912
