CATERING BUSINESS GOES TO THE DOGS.

Byline: Mark Price Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

Little Max had atrocious table manners, even for a 6-year-old.

First he crammed a whole piece of cake in his mouth, then he got down on all fours and began licking crumbs off the floor.

"His table manners do need a little work," said proud "mom" Debi Goulding. "But normally, he lays down to eat. He's not used to sitting at the table."

Few dogs are, but this was a special occasion. A catered birthday for canines, complete with gourmet food, presents and guests in silly hats.

Party animals at an animal party.

It's a concept whose time has come, says Barbara Burg, the Charlotte woman who combined passions for dogs and cooking into Barbara's Canine Catering.

Her vision is a world where everything from dog weddings to obedience school graduations is celebrated with invitation-only affairs.

"Why not? There are a lot of people who consider their dog a part of the family, and this is the kind of stuff you do for children," says Burg, who runs the business with her husband, civil engineer Andrew Burg.

"I've had customers call who are almost embarrassed to ask for it. It's like they're afraid I'm going to think they're crazy. I tell them: 'Yes, I do cater to dogs, and I don't think it's crazy.' "

It's profitable, if anything.

In less than a year, Burg has gone from baking a few biscuits for her dog to orchestrating the lifestyle of Charlotte's rich and furry.

The most visible sign of success is her line of veterinarian-approved munchies, found in about 15 local shops and grocery stories. Entrees, snacks and even desserts are included, all baked without sodium, sugar, preservatives or ingredients harmful to canines.

Gourmet dog treats, she calls them, and justifiably so.

Most humans wouldn't mind her special slab of ribs basted with homemade barbecue sauce, or a pizza sprinkled with all-natural Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.

Then there are the dog desserts, ranging from carob-coated peanut butter cookies to banana cake.

And lest someone worry that Charlotte's dogs will get fat, she's about to come out with a low-calorie vegetable biscuit.

"So far, nobody has asked for anything that I haven't thought of already. Things just come to me. I sit up in bed at 4:30 in the morning and say: 'Petits fours. I can do dog petits fours,' " says Burg, who admits pampering her 3-year-old dog, T.J.

"I get so excited sometimes I can't go back to sleep. I want to get up in the middle of the night and cook for the dog."

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Photo (1) Party animals Blance, left, Floyd, T.J. and Max are ready for fun during a birthday party that includes dog biscuits, presents and a cake. (2) Max, the guest of honor, wears a hat to celebrate his sixth birthday. Knight-Ridder Tribune Photo Service