Bling Fling at Dana Kathryn Jewelry

Heidi and I are frequent visitors to Studio City's Coldwater Curve Shops, just east of Coldwater Canyon on the south side of Ventura Boulevard.

Despite the fact that you take your life in your hands turning left into the parking area (they should call them the Blind Curve Shops), it's worth it to have a buttery French treat at the which features a dog-friendly side deck and tables out front.

And after our sweets, we can never resist a visit to , a treasure trove of reasonably-priced bling, most designed by Kathryn herself—better yet, she's right there to tell you all about her creations. I find it hard not to walk out with a little something sparkly. But for me, the biggest draw has always been watching Kathryn's face light up when Heidi comes into the shop.  

Heidi is indeed a very good shopper, calm and patient with visitors—and no matter how busy the establishment, she will make herself comfortable, sprawling in the middle of the floor and allowing patrons the opportunity to step over her. That was always OK with Kathryn, who cooed over Heidi's soft, plushy coat and oversized ears and told us she dreamed of having her own shepherd to help her tend the shop someday.

Then, earlier this year, I was about to drive away after visit to the Belwood—just butter, no bling, today—when Kathryn came dashing out to tell me she had just adopted Charlie, a German Shepherd puppy. She hadn't had a dog in 20 years. We could tell she was head-over-paws in love.

Earlier this week, we dropped by to get an update on Charlie, who is now 8 months old. He was the last of the litter still up for adoption from a dog owned by a friend of Kathryn's brother when Kathryn scooped him up. Her boy, she said proudly, the first of the litter to have his floppy puppy ears start to stand up straight. He is making friends with his Studio City neighbors, including actor .

Heidi was hoping Charlie would be at the jewelry store, but Kathryn told us Charlie is still too much of a goofy puppy to handle the situation.  Already 70 pounds at 8 months, this baby is going to need some training and socializing before he takes a day job. He's gentle, but outsized paws suggest he's going to be big—and we German Shepherd parents know that people are sometimes scared of our children just because of their breed.

So we'll meet Charlie later—but instead, Kathryn offered Heidi a major treat: Trying on stuff! Heidi has always loved to dress up. She is a very vain dog, and has a whole wardrobe of bandannas in all colors to prove it.

Shortly after we adopted Heidi, she had to have a small growth removed from her hip, so was obliged to wear one of those embarrassing plastic cones around her neck to keep her from chewing on the staples that held the incision together. A friend who owns three German Shepherds advised us to tell her when we put on the Conehead that she was a "pretty, pretty girl" in her new outfit.  It worked -- she wore the device proudly.

Plus, we have to think it was fun for Kathryn, whose dog is male, to have a "daughter" to dress up like Princess Catherine for a day. Kathryn's niece, Paige Alesso, added to the girl-party by bringing out jeweled watches to wrap around Heidi's wrists.

We had a great time—but mostly I was  touched by knowing that our shopaholic dog inspired Kathryn to make a move that has brought her so much happiness, and will do so for others when grown-up Charlie is on duty at Dana Kathryn Jewelry.  Heidi is not a certified service animal, but in this case, I think she served a most important purpose. "I know she brought me Charlie—I just know it," Kathryn says.

Shepherds are special, Kathryn adds: "That long nose, those beautiful ears...there's just something about the way they stand next to you; you know they'll stay with you, no matter what." 

We couldn't agree more. And we'll take two of those watches...

PS: So, this is weird: Speaking of German Shepherds, I happened looked back at a previous Heidi column-- headline "Not Ready to Get Her Paws Wet" -- and discovered that someone had added to the photos a shot of a beautiful German Shepherd sitting in the back seat of a car.  Credit on the photo is Jayne Feiner.  Jayne—is this your dog? Anybody? Please tell us more.