Dog-Gone Marketing
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Man’s best friend has become a marketer’s dream. It’s no longer simply designer carriers and rhinestone-studded leashes. Today’s pups are surrounded by as many luxury labels and fashion trends as the rest of us. With clever brand names to boot.
Boarding your dog at the veterinarian or kennel? Think again and offer your pal exercise and camaraderie at a “doggy day care” such as Central Bark, Camp Ilene, or Happy Tails.
Dog still sleeping at the foot of your bed? Make him the envy of the neighborhood pooches with the Furcedes Dog Bed. Toss in a Pawda Squeaky Puppy Toy and he’ll have instant social status in no time.
Want your pet to live green like you do? Use Spike Brand Biodegradable Business Bags for cleaning up his, err, business.
Does your pup share your lactose or gluten intolerance? How about Wagatha’s Breakfast Wheat & Lactose Free Biscuits.
Looking to change the world? Try Bark for Peace Sweet Potato Jerkey Chew Treats.
Because a traditional tub bath is so last season, indulge your pup with Juicy Couture’s Cleansing Pawlettes.
Have a truly disposable income? Check out the Hedy Manon Cashmere turtleneck, complete with 18k gold chain, logo and buttons (available in three trendy color combinations).
Not a dog or pet owner? Never fear! You can still indulge and take advantage of all the pet market has to offer with Pawparazzi
With pet accessories becoming more mainstream, pet specific boutiques have been cropping up, especially in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. Wags of Baxter is a popular shop in my neighborhood geared towards unique dog accessories. The Dog Bar in NoDa is an interesting concept that allows dogs to accompany their owners as they sip on cold brews and cocktails. Even stores that have traditionally sold clothing and apparel are getting in on the action; J. Crew followed its Crew Cuts launch for kids with its Crew Mutts line for dogs.
What’s the most obscure accessory you’ve seen for a pet?
My dog has a cell phone…given, it is a plush toy cell phone, but instead of a squeaker, it makes a ringing sound just like a real phone whenever she squeezes it.
Every once in a while you can also catch me checking up on her via the live webcams at Carolina Doggie Playland. As a culture, we are definitely becoming more obsessed with making sure our pets look and feel good, and I think this has a lot to do with people choosing to have children later in life and becoming “dog parents” in the meantime.
I have seen it all now!!! I love pets, however I think this is a little too much.
I was a dog parent before I had my daughter, but my dogs stayed outside when I wasn’t home, they drank regular water from the hose (no bottled water for them). Treats for them were either riding in the car with their heads hanging out or a left over steak bone from dinner.
They had two choices to sleep on, the concrete in the garage or on the floor inside the house if we were home. When they got dirty, we would hose them off with a hose (even in the middle of the winter).