There was a time when dog grooming consisted of a simple wash, brush, maybe a fringe trim and a nail clip with elaborate poodle topiary sitting at the most extreme end of the spectrum.
But in 2025 some of the world’s most pampered pets are set to experience levels of luxury well beyond the experience of most humans.
On Wednesday the 62-storey Bentley Residences Miami on Sunny Isles Beach revealed that it was adding an extravagant “pet spa” to its new 216-apartment ultra-luxury high-rise, where three-bedroom apartments start at $5.8 million, or £4.7 million.
The 114-square-foot spa is specifically created to pamper residents’ dogs and offers on-site grooming services, including wash and blow-dry services with wall-mounted hair dryers.
The Bentley Residencies project is set to be finished in 2028
William Stern
Ben Saltmer, Bentley’s product and lifestyle design manager described the pet spa as “an area where dogs can have their paws rinsed after they come in from the beach and dried off — a useable and practical space, which still has a ‘Bentley-ness’ about it”.
He added: “The pet is guided up the steps — if needed — washed in the bath, guided up to the grey marble surface for drying, then guided down the steps once dry. This is a practical space but also a luxurious sanctuary for pet and owner.”
When the Bentley Residences are finished in 2028, residents will be able to drive their cars into one of the building’s four car lifts, to their private glass-enclosed ‘garage in the sky’ in their apartments, where they can enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The pet spa room
William Stern
Pet care around the world
Providing the best services for your furry friends has become increasingly popular around the world, as owners view their companions as members of the family rather than just pets.
Last year, New York’s Democratic councilman Shaun Abreu proposed a bill to allow employees to take paid sick leave to care for their pets, while South Korea widened its pet dermatology industry to treat pet skin problems and their allergies.
When in Rome, pets staying at Waldorf Astoria have their own service menu and their stay includes personalised cashmere jumpers embellished with their name in beautiful rhinestones, with a service charge of €10 (£8).
Three-bedroom apartments at Bentley Residences Miami start at £4.7m at the high-rise
William Stern
High end developers in the UK are also raising the bar for opulent pet-focused amenities in response to the demands of their pet-loving residents.
Battersea Power Station’s Bloom Nine Elms also has its very own dog spa for its pet-friendly apartments.
With a studio costing £2,740 and a three-bed apartment costing £5,245, your pet is definitely getting your money’s worth. The pet spa is equipped with two functional showers, pull-out steps and two grooming stations.
Meanwhile, east London’s rental complex Coppermaker Square welcomes dogs, and among the features that draw in wealthy renters are puppy yoga and a pet wash located in the building’s basement, with rent starting at £2,716 a month.
The 114-square-foot spa is specifically created to pamper residents’ dogs
William Stern
Tillermans Court in Greenford also includes a grooming/washroom for dogs where they are able to freshen up after a muddy walk.
Studies show dogs can lower tension, anxiety, and sadness as they promote physical activity, lessen loneliness, and enhance general health.
And for those for whom money is no object, a favoured furry friend can be afforded similar voting rights to a human companion, even being given the deciding vote in home moves.
Executive partner at Sotheby’s International Realty Becky Fatemi previously told The Standard about one client: “The dog would come in, the dog would look around. If the dog liked it, he’d buy the house. They bought a house in St John’s Wood. The dog loved it.”
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to seek a property suitable for their pets but renting with pets is set to become easier for tenants of all budgets across England, thanks to Labour’s Renters Rights Bill, which passed its third reading in the House of Commons in January.
The new bill gives tenants the right to ask to keep a pet in their rental property, and blocks landlords from “unreasonably refusing”.
Meanwhile rental developers including Vertus, Greystar, Quintain Living, M&G, LaSalle, and Hermes are creating entire pet-friendly buildings in London.