By Gina Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Yohji is 5 pounds and 9 ounces of pure fabulous. He knows it. His mom knows it. Even strangers on the street know it.

Denise Lee shares treats with Yohji at Coffee Emporium on Central Parkway. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

Every Saturday he travels to Findlay Market, usually in one of his fly sweaters knitted especially for him. He has eaten at the best restaurants in Cincinnati, has enjoyed movie theaters and is well-traveled throughout the United States.

He is so fabulous, in fact, that his therapist says he needs to be taken down a notch.

"I elevated his status by carrying him around in his shoulder bag, so now he thinks he is equal with humans," says Denise Lee, Yohji's owner. "The pet behaviorist said I have to start treating him like a dog and stop carrying him. And I actually pay money for that."

Tiny dogs are all over the place these days - popping up out of fashionable handbags and as the companions of the Hollywood elite.

Yohji rides in Lee's bag as she looks at rings at Kismet in O'Bryonville. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

Reese Witherspoon never leaves home without her Chihuahua, Bruiser, in Legally Blonde and its successor, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, while celebs such as Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Tara Reid have been spotted on the red carpet carrying their little tufts of love. The pooches are almost a "dogcessory" to match their Prada shoes and Vercace dresses.

While lap dogs can't outrun Labradors and golden retrievers as the top dogs in the nation, the American Kennel Club lists Yorkies, poodles, Chihuahuas and Shih Tzu's in the top 10. And that means a lot to Yohji, who sees himself as more than just a "dogcessory" to be peeped at through his vented shoulder bag.

Yohji might be pampered

Lee, 38, who lives downtown, has pampered Yohji, an all-white Maltese, since she got him a year ago. She knits him sweaters, regularly takes him to a groomer and was just as concerned as any other parent would be when he started showing "signs of aggression."

Thankfully, Yohji's pet therapist said he wasn't really aggressive, he just doesn't know he is a dog.

Which is weird. So what if he uses a litter box, has his own friends and clothes and coordinates outfits with his mom - he still barks at bicycles. That should prove to him he's a dog, right?

"He feels he's entitled," says Lee, who can't help but laugh at how seriously she takes their relationship. "I have to remind him that he is a dog. Everyone at Findlay Market knows he's the little dog with the Japanese name. We walk through Over-the-Rhine and the drag queens tell him he's fabulous. And he does have great sweaters."

Named after Lee's favorite Japanese fashion designer, Yohji Yamamoto, Yohji keeps it real by playing with other lap dogs that visit Lee's downtown hair salon. He's made several new friends this way, including Ebony Kimbrough's 4-year-old Pomeranian, Remmi. Kimbrough giggles over Lee and Yohji's relationship, observing that they are "like a mom and kid, really."

Yohji's veterinarian, Raina Holm, says small dogs are particularly popular with urban dwellers. Owners don't need as much of a yard, making them better pets for people who live in apartments. Holm cautions that small dogs must have regular dental visits, though, as they are plagued with more dental diseases than larger dogs.

They are also more fragile. Holm sees a lot of small dogs with broken toes and legs. Instead of yelping and running away when they get stepped on, as a larger dog will, small dogs can end up in surgery. Never doubt, though, that fanatical pet owners and their suppliers are finding ways to ease the financial burden of such situations with pet health insurance.

"Medical expense for pets can be quite a burden, especially if it is unexpected," said Holm. "Pet insurance can help cover vaccinations and deworming as well as preventative health care. And if there are accidents, it would cover a portion of that as well. Dogs, especially, swallow things they are not supposed to and can get into jams where they need surgery."

Options for pets abound

Pet insurance may not be de rigueur yet, but pet parents already are making dog goggles, umbrellas, carriers and car seats necessities for their pets. Why a miniature dog might need goggles is anyone's guess, but Kathy Raleigh, owner of the Animal House in Mount Healthy, can order just about any pet accessory for her customers.

"The tiaras are adorable," Raleigh says. "And I like the bags with leg holes in them. You can carry them like luggage."

Lee, meanwhile, is selling some of her Yohji-inspired sweater knits online for lap dogs. She laughs about the amount of money she has spent on her companion - flying him in airplanes, treating his allergies and buying him specialty dog food, since technically, dogs aren't permitted to dine in fancy restaurants in Cincinnati. Neither are they supposed to shop in fine stores or frequent other "people" places - but don't tell Yohji or Lee that.

She admits the dog was a test: "Try the dog first, then decide if I want kids."

"I can't afford any children now that I have the dog," Lee says.

Well, at least he's a fabulous dog.