Dog-o-nomics

March 08, 2021

After much internal debate I recently made the decision to extend my family by adopting a dog named Ruth.  Having a pet is something that I greatly enjoyed in my younger days. I am very glad to be able to be a pet owner again after too many years away.

My re-entry into having a dog has opened my eyes to how much the whole ecosystem around taking care of our canine friends has developed. The American Kennel Club now itemizes 75 ways to be a responsible dog owner. One of my favorites is the need to provide your dog a sense of purpose and achievement by giving her/him a job.

In my immediate neighborhood there are now two dog park cafes.  These are typically coffee shop establishments where dogs are the main attraction and the latte is just a good excuse.  They are great fun for both the human and canine visitors and, if the current utilization is any indication, they are also a pretty good business model.  They even have the added benefit of being workable during a pandemic given their entirely outdoor nature!

Another thing that struck me is the enhanced range of boarding and daycare services.  Long gone are the days of a walker coming by for 15 minutes once or, if you are lucky, twice per day.  Now there are “all-day-play” facilities where you can drop your pup off on the way in to work and pick them up on the way back home.  In the interim, your best friend gets to make new buddies, run around the yard, and generally enjoy doggie life with their fellow companions.  Often these establishments also provide the boarding services which combine the freedom for your pup to play with friends all day with having a private space to sleep in at night, and even retreat to during the day for a nap. 

In my planning for an upcoming vacation I started looking at the different boarding options that are available.  An all-day-play facility recently opened up next to me making it an incredibly convenient option.  What struck me most though was the pricing.  At first, I thought the $40 per day charge was fairly reasonable, but that was not so obvious in context of my own lodging costs for my upcoming trip.  Given the discounts resorts around the country have in place because of the pandemic, boarding for my furry friend costs only $4 less per night than for myself!

In the end, each of these businesses are geared towards ensuring the happiness of both people and dogs alike.  The cafés give a social setting for both to enjoy their free time, daytime play facilities ensure that your companion is happy while you work, and play boarding means you do not have to worry if your friend is sad while you are on vacation.  I may have also found that my new retirement plan just might be running a dog park café! 

Carey Blakley