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The Gifts We Give Our Dogs
The Gifts We Give Our Dogs
Times have changed since dogs slept outside, ate table
scraps, and worked for a living. Read about dogs today are
pampered in luxury.
by Carolyn Schweitzer
November 2, 2004
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar
with 21st century dogs. Time was when the average canine slept
outside, ate whatever scraps of food were tossed his way,
and if he was lucky, was thrown the occasional bone. He was
even expected to earn his keep!
Times have changed. As the world has grown more affluent,
so have our pets. We're obsessed with keeping our canine companions
happy, healthy, and properly accessorized, so much so that
many of us worry about our own welfare less than that of our
dog. This didn't happen overnight-- the trend started decades
ago.
Take, for example, my grandmother Rose. During the 60's and
70's, Rose and Henry discovered cruise vacations. On every
cruise, whenever they pulled into port to "shop", Rosie made
it her mission to find stray dogs and feed them. She'd head
straight for the butcher, buy a few pounds of fresh meat,
and comb the islands for the hungry and homeless. She would
exclaim, "It's a crime the way these animals live!"-- in spite
of the fact that the people of those islands were desperately
poor!
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not passing judgment on Grandma,
or anyone else. I spoil my pets as much as the next guy or
gal, and take immense pleasure in it. Truth be told, I'd rather
hang out with my dog than with a whole lot of people I know.
We share a special bond, my best friend and I. Hey, admit
it... lots of you feel the same way!
The fact is, man has always had a close relationship with
animals, and has enjoyed having pets around for companionship.
Having a pet can bring great pleasure into our lives, and
is believed to have a therapeutic effect on the owner. For
empty nesters and those who've delayed or opted out of having
kids, pets almost take the place of children. We bond with
our pets especially because they don't judge us. Dogs in particular
offer the kind of unconditional love we all crave. They're
always thrilled to have us around!
So, how do we spoil our pets?
Probably in much the same way that we spoil our children!
Aside from all of the care attention lavished on America's
pets, a tremendous amount of money is spent providing goods
and services that were once deemed a luxury-- but are now
considered essential.
Today's dog sees the vet for regular checkups. She eats premium
dog food and munches on gourmet doggie treats, is enrolled
in obedience classes, and runs agility courses. She has her
own collections of toys, clothing, and possibly even dog jewelry
and canine cologne. She sleeps indoors on a luxury
orthopedic bed and takes shelter outdoors in her cedar
dog house. She wears a safety harness when riding in the
family car, a reflective vest on hunting trips, and rain gear
in foul weather. She can even dodge UV rays with a pair of
doggie sunglasses. Her responsibilities are few.
I could go on (don't worry, at some point I will!). But one
of the most notable signs that we regard our dogs as members
of our family is the fact that we buy them gifts. A dog gift
for the holidays, a dog gift for a special occasion, or a
dog gift to show our appreciation for how much our dogs appreciate
us. Any reason will do. Heck, we even wrap our dog gifts!
Here are some very interesting statistics regarding gifts
for pets:
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More than half of U.S. households have pets, and many
of them are including their "best friends" in holiday
plans. * According to a survey conducted by the Pet Supplies
"Plus" chain, 97% of its customers will buy gifts for
their animals this Yuletide season. * 28% of owners will
spend more on their pets than on their spouses when buying
gifts.
-
47% will spend more on their pets than on relatives other
than their spouse.
-
54% will spend more on their pets than on their in-laws.
-
83% will wrap their pets' gifts.
-
68% claim that their pets will unwrap presents themselves
with their paws.
-
71% will buy something practical for them.
Buying gifts for our pets is only the half it. If someone
we know is a pet lover, we often show our support by giving
the person a pet-related gift. And, since the saying goes,
"love me, love my dog", there's often pressure to throw in
a little dog gift for Spike too. For a casual dog-loving aquaintance,
our dog lover gift might be a simple coffee mug with a picture
of their favorite dog breed. A set of plush doggie-themed
golf club covers could make an amusing gift for a colleague.
Maybe Aunt Janine has a collection of dog figurines we can
add to. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, one could splurge
on a diamond-studded doggie themed bracelet for the wife (although
I wouldn't recommend this as an anniversary gift, unless you're
very sure.) and a new house for Spike.
The good news is, there's no shortage of goods and services
to inspire even the most rabid of dog lovers and dog gift
shoppers. Whether the names on your gift list are human or
canine, you'll never run out of things to buy and places to
shop. If you're one of those gifted gift givers who is never
at a loss for what to get and where to find it I envy you.
If you're more like the rest of us, and you need a little
help, you'll find plenty of ideas online (Ahem!). You can
also look for future articles in this series, in which I'll
hone in on various ways you can pamper and reward the dogs
and dog lovers in your life.
So go ahead, spoil your furry friends. Celebrate your love
for your dog, and your sister in law's love for her dog. Shower
them with goodies and gifts. It's a dog's life. And if I get
to come back for another round, I want it to be as one of
those lucky dogs!!
- Carolyn Schweitzer
Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and former family
dentist, Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of http://www.great-dog-gift.com.
The site offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers,
plus shopping and gift-giving tips. (Also advise on dog
care and feeding.) She's always looking for new dog gift
ideas and dog stories to share with her readers. You can
reach her by email at netbrainer@verizon.net
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