BUSINESS - Ultra Luxury Pet Hotels Thriving

Whether pampered pooches or downright divas – there are services catering to dog owners with an appetite for luxury.

There's fancy bedding, decadent dining, doting staff, over-the-top spa treatments and, yes, bacon-scented bubble games at some of the most posh pet lodgings, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

(Wag Hotels)

For $150 a night, dogs checking in to Wag Hotels get the royal treatment and a stay at a deluxe suite featuring a queen-size bed, a faux fireplace, a flat-screen telly and dog-friendly artwork.

Missing the owners?

Dogs can Skype with their homo sapien companions before enjoying a bedtime story such 'The Poky Little Puppy.'

Think this is too lavish to be a viable business concept?

Think again.

Wag Hotels, which first opened in 2004 now has locations in Sacramento, San Francisco and Redwood City, and recently opened its fourth location in Oakland, California.

"You are getting people who are treating their dog more like a child, not the family pet. They want to create a homelike environment," Jennifer Duryea, general manager of Wag Oakland told the Mercury News.

Just like rock stars, some of the dogs' owners demand super special treatment for their canine companions – and they aren't disappointed.

One Wag client wanted her dog to watch 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' during its stay while the owner of a Boston Terrier, who drinks bottled Fiji water, required the designer dog to have its feet wiped and cream applied to its nose before being put to bed dressed in its comfortable PJs.

But that's just some of the decadence doled out at Wag where guests can devour dog-friendly ice cream sundaes, frozen yogurt bars “full of antioxidants” or have blueberry facials in the grooming salon.

Former zookeeper, Carlie Thibault, was brought on board to help create activities for the guests which include playing with bacon bubbles for dogs and swinging plank obstacles for felines.

Yes, cats are welcome, too.

"My role is taking my experience about what we know about animals and what makes them tick in the wild and bringing that into our facility in an interesting and fun way," Thibault told the Mercury News.

Rooms range from $50 to $150 a night.

But owners don't just ditch their dogs or cats, with many opting to check up on their beloved pets via webcams after check-in.

Stacey Wells brings Tugger her Labradoodle to daycare once a week to get the dog better socialized.

"I'm like one of those really bad soccer parents," Wells told the Mercury News.

"My kid never plays, and I'm like, 'Come on, play,' screaming from home watching her."

Lucky dog, Lily, has been a regular at Wag since she was a puppy.

Now that she is moving up in age her owners are even more inclined to shell out $580 a month for her to go to doggie daycare there.

"She's now deaf, so if there were something to happen at the house, there's no way for her to hear about it," owner, Danielle Murphy told the Mercury News.

"We don't have kids and both of us are working, so it's really for our peace of mind and comfort with a 16-year-old dog to know that people are taking care of her every day."

Wag is certainly not the only company catering to those who want to lavish their dogs with loads of luxuries.

D Pet Hotels is thriving and expanding in the U.S..

North of the Border, the B.C.-based Jet Pet Resort is also very stylish with courtyards, lounges and its on-site Spaw where dogs can have baths, nail trimming or a full grooming package.

Day lounges feature plasma TVs and there are a la carte extras which include meals tailored to dogs' dietary needs.

“We can anticipate when nap times are needed, fetch is a necessity and when some pets just need that little bit of extra TLC to settle in,” Jet Pet Resort's website states.

“We are used to hand feeding, grooming, cuddles, games and simply going the extra mile to make them feel at home.”

Feline owners need not fret – there is a separate cat lounge with plenty of scratching posts, toys and a telly as well as private cat suites.

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

BEHAVIOUR - Don't Forget Your Dog is a Dog

(3milliondogs.com)

As we continue to view our dogs less like animals and more like surrogate children, the trends and marketing fads associated with some of this so-called ‘humanization of dogs’ has even the most committed dog lovers wondering how far is too far.

Options for dog food – once wet or dry – have exploded into non-GMO, Gluten Free, organic and made with high quality cuts of meat; toy options of ball or stick have evolved into automated treat dispensers, ball throwers and virtual pet friends; knitted sweaters for the vulnerable minis have expanded into full-fledged fashion lines for pets.

For many urban dwellers this humanization is simply an expression of love, but when it comes to the training process it is key to remember that humans are humans and dogs are dogs.

According to Barbara Walmer, Department Head of Behaviour at the Calgary Humane Society, the tendency of pet owners to attach human emotions to dogs can be counter-productive in the training process.

“Sometimes people will attach high-level emotion to their dog’s behaviour. For example, they will say the dog is jealous or embarrassed - emotions that we do not know for sure an animal feels. Instead we need to look at the behaviours displayed and simplify our explanation for the motivations behind them.”

According to Walmer, poorly trained dogs may be the result of defying the KISS principle.

“Sometimes we make it much more complex than it needs to be. If there is a concern with an animal’s behaviour, we need to work with that animal to change their environment and enhance their ability to display different behaviours.”

Rather than become frustrated with regressive animal behaviour in the training process, like anything patience remains a key virtue; there is also a benefit to looking at training as a lifelong, gradual process rather than expecting perfection immediately following a puppy boot camp.

“Animals are constantly experimenting with their behaviour. If we are not actively helping them with their behaviour on a daily basis, their behaviour will change. It is never too late to work with your animal on their behaviour and help them acquire new or refresh old skills.

"The relationship with your dog is a journey not a destination. You can train your dog for its entire life and both of you will be enriched and have a stronger relationship for it.”

 

When it comes to the never-ending pet products on the market, Walmer said the essentials are a necessity and that enrichment toys or tools are beneficial.

“First, we would ensure they have the appropriate walking equipment including a leash and harness; the adequate training classes that are most suitable to the dogs’ needs; food, water and shelter requirements and then we would discuss enrichment toys. Depending on budget, the dog’s preference, and safety, there are enrichment options that you can purchase and also make at home. Enrichment is critical to a dog’s mental well-being and depending on their owners’ lifestyle, they may need more or less stimulation.”

While our humanization of four-legged friends has led to more options in the marketplace, a needs assessment appears to be the best way to distinguish a dog’s needs from the human want and unnecessary, gimmicky purchases.

And the most important items for the training toolbox continue to be love and patience, and an understanding that an expectation for a dog to behave like a human will result in frustration and counter-productive training.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

BUSINESS - Increase of Over 350% in Pet Food Spending in 30 Years

A recent blog by Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, Editor-in-Chief of Petfood Industry, analyzes an increase in pet food spending of US$18.91 billion in the 30 years from 1984 to 2014.

The historical data is from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) and compiled and analyzed by John Gibbons of PetBusinessProfessor.com.

Though not at all an apples-to-apples comparison, Phillips-Donaldson wrote, it’s worth noting that from 1992 to mid-June 2015, overall US grocery store sales grew 85%; in that same period, pet food spending rose 180%.

The humanization of pets and premiumization of products for them, has definitely been a factor in the spending increase.

In 1984, pet care spending represented 0.48% of all US consumer expenditures. By 2014, that had nearly doubled to 0.95%.

Read the full story.

RESEARCH - Natural, Non-GMO Pet Food Gaining Popularity

Doting dog and cat owners are buying into nothing but the best for their pets.

And in some cases, pets fare better than owners, with a little more than half (55%) of respondents in a recent survey claiming they would “give up chocolate to ensure they could buy a high-quality pet food” for their four-legged friend.

Another 34% of American owners and 24% of French owners says they are happy to buy vitamin-enriched waters for pets.

Nielsen, for its Humanization of Pet Food Survey, recruited 3,562 American and French pet owners (consumers between ages 18 and 65 who own at least one dog or cat) and found some will put their pet on a pedestal.

But many are not far behind in seeking high-end, quality fare.

Seventy-four percent seek non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO), while – in descending order – the other top pet grub criteria included claims of natural food and food containing enzymes.

A little more than half look to buy scientifically-formulated items (55%) for their pets, according to the survey.

Relying on Optimizer technology - “powered by an evolutionary algorithm,” Nielsen said it “evaluated more than 5 million product concept alternatives for dog and cat foods including different combinations of benefits, claims, consumer insights and flavors.”

Consumers were then asked to choose which concepts their preferred and eventually data was fine-tuned to reach a “set of top owner preferences.”

Of course, the findings are interesting as stand-alone information, but the aim is to offer them as a tool for pet food and product makers to harness when looking at how to best promote their wares.

Starting at the top priority - or what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Both French (at 50%) and U.S pet owners (at 33%) ranked non-GMO products among the top three most important health-related pet food qualities they seek with nearly half willing to pay more for such products.

Many back buying that option because they “themselves don't want to eat GMOs, so their pets shouldn't have to,” as well as the belief non-GMOs are natural.

Next on the list are back-to-nature seekers.

Those are pet owners who want to know Fido's food contains ingredients like “natural digestive enzymes.”

And while “scientifically formulated,” once carried a lot of weight, the Nielsen survey noted a shift in favour to natural, chosen by 65% of owners compared to 55% attracted to scientifically formulated.

Several respondents included comments on why they shy away from the latter, including; “When I see the word ‘scientific,’ it makes me think the food has added preservatives and hormones” and “What does ‘scientifically formulated’ mean? It sounds unnatural.”

Respondents pamper their pets, for sure, but the majority claim they feel responsible to buy “healthy” options rather than over-the-top indulgent ones, with 85% believing that is a way to extend the lives of their beloved animals.

Looks mean a lot, too, with 90% of those surveyed saying it is crucial that their pet look healthy and sit at an ideal weight.

While pet owners profess to be pretty particular in what they buy, they are also eager to try new options – if the product claims to make health a top priority.

To that end, nearly half the respondents say they were interested in fruit or vegetable chews for pets and are intrigued and would be potential purchasers of everything from nutrient drop or powder supplements, soups and stews, energy-boosting snacks and protein bars.

A Harris Poll survey found 95% of American pet owners consider their pets part of the family – with the Nielsen study showing many certainly treat them like one of the clan.

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

BUSINESS - Leader in GMO-free, Organic Rice-based Products Enters Pet Market

St. Louis-based RIBUS, Inc., the global leader in GMO-free and organic rice-based alternatives to synthetic ingredients in human food uses, has expanded into the pet business, supplying manufacturers of cat and dog treats, livestock supplements, and specialty items.

RIBUS is supplying some of the largest companies in the world, and is able to bring 25 years of experience in human food applications to produce efficiencies, texture improvements, and cleaner labels for pet products globally.

With a heightened awareness of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in human food, and the trend towards humanization of pet food, this move should not come as a surprise.

“Consumers want both clean hands and clean labels for anything they give their best friends, and manufacturers want ingredients that enable them to bake, extrude, or form treats, food, and nutritional products easily while providing the target taste and texture,” says Steve Peirce, RIBUS President. “The RIBUS ingredients make it a win-win situation for both.”

The rice-based ingredients also serve as alternatives to magnesium stearate, monoglycerides, and silicon dioxide – all prohibited in the manufacture of organic products.

RIBUS products are made from rice hulls and bran from California.

Canadian Pet Market Trends

The Canadian Pet Market Outlook, 2nd Edition reports that the Canadian pet food market in 2014 had the highest growth in the past five years. Key elements driving this growth were pet food sales, humanization trends, increased interest in non-medical pet services. Veterinary professionals continued to see fewer visits from pet owners. The Outlook estimates that sales in the Canadian pet market will rise to $9.2 billion by 2019.

Canadian Pet Market Outlook provides and recommendations regarding the future of the pet market in Canada, contrasts drivers and sales in the Canadian and U.S. pet markets, and pinpoints ways current and prospective players can capitalize on current trends and spearhead new ones.