Lilly Lemberg, 36, splashes £500 on Christmas presents for her DOG

A successful artist admits that people believe she is barking mad for lavishing £500 on Christmas gifts for her pampered dog, five times more than what she spends on family members.

But it is not only during festivities that Max, who has his own Santa Paws outfit, is spoilt, as his owner, Lilly Limburg, who accumulates gifts under his very own twinkling tree, splashes out £5,400 per year on her prize pooch’s gourmet dinners, clothes, and treats.

Laila, 36, from Frankfurt, Germany, who will be roasting a goose this Yuletide to share with Max and her boyfriend, said: "Max melts my heart." For me, it is more a person than a dog.

"There were times when I ate a hamburger from McDonald's, but have cooked for him.

"I absolutely adore spoiling him, especially at Christmas time, I’ve spent around £500 on his presents and will spend most of the Christmas morning preparing his festive meal, which my partner and I will also have."

With a wardrobe of 40 outfits, gourmet home-made dinners and treats for Max setting Lilly around £450 a month, she admits she treats him more like a son than a dog.

"Christmas is a very special moment in our house ... I love spoiling Max all year round, but when December comes, I really go all out.

"I spend around £100 on my friends and family, and almost five times that amount on Max ... I do not see anything wrong with that, Max is the most adorable dog and he deserves the best."

Dressing him every day in one of his 40 outfits, which are kept in a special wardrobe in his own bedroom, Max has no shortage of party clothes for the festivities.

Some of his treasures include a pair of booties, a new bed, a ‘doggy cam,’ so Lily can keep an eye on Max when he is out of the house and a personalized dinner bowl, and a Santa's outfit.

"I want Max to feel the magic of Christmas, just like us," says Lilly, who says she became addicted to spoiling him a few weeks after bringing him home in 2016.

"The first time I went to a pet store, I did not believe the amazing dog clothes I could get for him," says Lilly, who lives with her partner, who does not want to be named.

"My boyfriend says I'm crazy, but I cannot stop, if I see something for Max, I just want to buy it.
"If I go shopping I cannot resist picking something for him. I am addicted to buying him clothes”

Her lavish expenses on Max cover keeping him regularly supplied with a delicious homemade dinner, toys and sweets, dapper outfits - using only the best ingredients to cook for him.

For breakfast, he dines on cottage cheese, with bananas and fresh eggs and his dinners consisting of beef with sweet potatoes or chicken with potatoes.

"I cook every day, and he probably eats better than me," Lily laughed.

"I love him very much, and cannot help doting on him with gifts." He means everything to me.

"If something happens to him, I will be completely devastated."