Rich dog, poor dog: The new breed of status symbol pet

Handbag dogs are so out (Picture: Getty)Pugs were beloved by Chinese Emperors, who bred them to create forehead wrinkles resembling the character for ‘prince’. Salukis were an esteemed companion of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, who revered them for their speed. And throughout medieval Europe, lapdogs were a staple among the richest noblewomen.We’ve long used pets to signal our tastes, lifestyle and even social class, but the breed of dog considered a status symbol these days