How to achieve the next level extra that it takes to be a Tokyo dog mom.

Just after Minion stole a kiss from the dancers at our neighborhood summer festival.

When we first moved to Japan and I ran into the other dog moms at the park I felt like that transfer student who doesn't have the cool sneakers. These ladies were put together! Their hair was sleek and shiny, their style: effortless and they all carried the cutest little totes that matched the collars and leashes on their tiny bits of floof. I was the towering Valkyrie with the overly friendly dog who was fumbling around her sweat pant pockets for poo bags. I came home and immediately told my husband that we were sorely unprepared on the local furbaby scene.

The first item of business was to acquire a “sampo kaban” which literally translates as walk purse but I like to think of it as a diaper bag for all things pup.

Minion checking out his new darth Sanpo Kaban.

Stuffed in this magical article are all the tools to make you look like the most put together prep school mom of the upper east side. Minion’s contains the following:

Poo bags (if they match your puppy harness you get extra points)
A container for used poo bags (to combat odor, and because like all trash in Tokyo, you literally take that shit home)
A water bottle for cleaning up messes. This is MANDATORY to not appear like a rude idiot barbarian. Every tinkle gets a sprinkle. I have MacGyvered mine with a spray nozzle because I am a genius. pew pew!
Wet wipes, for those dirty paws and bums.
Treats (because come on, who doesn’t like snacks?!)
Minion’s ID badge and registration so we can go to the dog park (they really do check you at the gate)
A collapsible drinking bowl.
A light up collar for night (because the space pugs down the street made it look so damn cute)
If you’re going to a dog friendly restaurant, a blanket or towel to put on the seat is a great idea.

And for those pups who are too elderly or bougey to walk, there is the doggy buggy. This pimped out set of pup wheels often costs more than my first car and and comes with all the bells and whistles.

This senior pup taking in the festival in style and comfort.

If you want to travel with your pet in japan, this option makes a lot of sense as dogs have to be completely contained in a bag or stroller to ride the trains. I may have to get Minion a cushier option as the travel bag I sewed for him is not super spacious for long trips.

Not happy about the mandatory zipper policy on the shinkansen.

But where do I acquire all this magic, you ask? Pet Paradise, which is basically Cheers for dogs. As we walk in the staff exclaims, “Minion!” and my little guy is greeted with fresh water, treats, and ear scratches. There’s a comfy couch amidst the adorable raincoats, bedazzled harnesses, and travel bags so dog moms can relax while their pups play. Minion gets to pick out treats and sniff a great many toys and I usually crack under the pressure and buy him a shirt that’s so cute I can only make squeaking noises to describe it.

Our next stop is Anea Café that boasts an amazing black sesame latte and a risotto with enough cheese to choke a small alpine village. They also offer a delicious puppy menu, so you can lunch with fur baby in style.

You can lunch there with your favorite fur baby while they snack on house made treats like sweet potato and chicken breast or buy them a birthday cake that looks like their face.

Minion’s special order birthday portrait pupcake.

We took Minion, who will do anything for snackage, and his bestie, Brady the Corgi who won’t eat anything, to put their treats to the test.

Minion ate everything including the vegetable pottage which Brady declared super ookie. Both dogs liked the chicken bits and mashed sweet potato, but the clear winner was the hamburger which was declared 5 stars would eat again!

Minion thunderstruck when mommy ordered everything on the doggy menu.

Oh and they brought mommy this.

This surprise puppy portrait late made my day.

And OMG the clothes...we all know that japan is the epicenter of the universe of cute, but then take that cute, and wrap it around a puppy and prepare yourself for death by kawai! Some, I even tell myself, are a function necessity like Minion’s peach snood that keeps his ears out of his food.

Minion gets super excited when his hand-knit snood comes out because it means TREATS!

Or his Joe Cool cooling bandanna for those humid summer days.

And then there is the Yukata for summer festivals.

Minion modeling his yukata in traditional Japanese indigo and white.

Or the traditional Hakama formal wear for when minion wants to represent the paw clan at black tie events. * fun fact: the word for paw in Japanese, nikukyu, literally translates as meat circle.**

And what could be more Japanese that taking your fur baby to the shrine to be blessed? You can buy special dog omamori, a wearable charms for protection, that attach to your pup’s collar.

Of course this plushy tank top is essential to celebrate the year of the boar…

Ok, so I may need an intervention... but no one can say that my puppers is not the cutest, most kitted out, most extra of all Tokyo puppies. Now it’s time to snuggle him in his duckie pajamas and smugly feed him hand-made kangaroo treats.

Want more Minion in your life? Follow his adventures on Instagram at minion_of_mine.