Can Fido have too many toys?

Amidst all the dreary economic news of the moment I recently read that there remains at least one hot spot in the economy – businesses catering to the four-legged family member.

Spending on pets and pet products is expected to increase 6 percent in 2008 to $43.4 billion, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association. This is more than double the amount pet owners spent about a decade ago. Compare this to annual retail sales, which are expected to grow 3.5 percent. The fastest growing segments are services such as spas and day care, higher priced toys and pet health insurance.

According to the ASPCA, in addition to your basic acquisition and ‘set up’ costs (leash, crate, etc), the average dog will cost from $580 to $875 a year, depending on size. They include health insurance ($225) that I don’t think many people have (which might explain why it is a fast growing product category). I think they grossly underestimate how much people spend in the toys/treats category (from $40 - $75). Overall, I think their numbers are low.

According to Pet Style News, there is a shift from mostly low-priced toys to higher priced pet toys, which range from robotic to electronic to organic. This is why the pet products industry is thriving.

I realize I’m going a bit back and forth on this, and I admit to checking out the toys aisle when I go to the pet store to see if there’s anything that Phoebe might like. It’s not like she doesn’t already have a big box full of toys, including some that haven’t been given to her yet, but something new might be fun. At the same time, I recall that when I was a kid, the dog didn’t have specially purchased toys. We would throw an old tennis ball for him, or stuff a tennis ball and an old gym sock (probably one with a hole) into another sock, tie it up and toss that now and then.

What happened? First, our four-legged friends have morphed from 'animal' to family member... and now one that often lives for much longer than versions in previous generations. Second, clearly the pet products industry is very good at identifying new product opportunities: designer accessories: outfits and furnishings; day care related services and travel related products and services. The newest trend in pet oriented products are “green” pet products” and I don’t mean the color of Jake’s favorite toy… Finally, obviously, more disposable and discretionary income -- which it seems, even in a recession, spending in this category may be recession proof. Given that this is a growth industry, one can only wonder, what’s next?

Dog shows redux and the commercialization of dogs

Since the previous post positions me as a dog show fan, I think it only appropriate to remind our Chicagoland readers that this weekend the International Kennel Club of Chicago will host its annual dog show at McCormick Place.

While I haven't thought of this for a very long time, I now recall that the last time I went to a dog show was as a teenager when our church youth group was somehow volunteered for 'pooper scooper' duty at the local dog show. Can you imagine anything crazier than relying on teenagers to be responsible for picking up poop throughout a dog show venue? Anyway, I have a vague recollection that while avoiding my pooper scooper responsibilities, I wandered around the venue and was very drawn to the beagles. At the time, we had a dog, Bruce, who was allegedly a terrier beagle mix. Later I had a beagle (and he probably had a little something else mixed in as well), so I have a history with and great fondness for the breed. Just a bit of context for my delight over Uno's Westminster victory.

Anyway, the reason I enjoy watching the Westminster dog show is because I get a real kick out of observing the personalities of the dogs. Some of them, when they get in the ring, just strut their stuff in such a confident manner that you can tell who is going to attract the judge's attention. It's as if they know they're hot, they're studly, and they are saying to the judge, 'check me out.' This is why I like watching the show. I also like learning about the breeds. I think the announcers do a very good job of reminding the audience that not all dogs are the same and you have to seriously consider your lifestyle before choosing say a border collie or a Newfoundland.

The previous post also highlights an apparent inconsistency between my enjoyment of watching the WKC show and my strong advocacy of adopting a rescue dog over purchasing a purebred. I have to say that one of the things I don't like about dog shows is that they are a critical part of the commercialization of dogs. Dogs have been bred for specific traits and purposes since man began to domesticate them and breeding purebreds is just an extension of this practice. I just feel that as far as an animal companion goes, there are so many dogs that have been abandoned and are in need of homes that it isn't necessary to encourage the production of specific breeds or other trendy 'new' breeds (don't even get me started on 'labradoodles', etc.... which are, without the trendy marketing, high priced mutts after all) as status symbols. I can't imagine why anyone would choose to spend upwards of $500 (and that would be cheap) for a specific breed of dog when there are other worthy hounds out there, of all shapes, sizes and temperaments, who whould make just as good family pets, maybe even better ones.

Unfortunately, it may also be the case that the 'adopt a needy abandoned/rescue dog' movement has attracted some unscrupulous characters and organizations that present what are actually puppy mill dogs as 'rescue' dogs. This is a hideous and grossly deceptive practice. It is cruel to the dogs and often times results in kind hearted souls adopting what amounts to a 'special needs' dog. It also suggests that the animal adoption industry might benefit from some oversight, whether within the industry itself or from the government.