A LUCRATIVE INDUSTRYCATERING TO DOGS
Certainly and with AKC being no exception many entrepreneurs are trying to take advantage of the evolving trends in the pet industry particularly with regard to the dog itself. First of all the extent of dog ownership is huge. According to the American Pet Products Association, a trade group, there are now more than 80 million dogs owned in the United States while a USA TODAY analysis of census data found more households with a dog than a child! Last year Americans spent $55.7 billion on their pets per the APPA and next year it is estimated by the same organization that number will rise to $58.5 billion!!! And today with many dog owners treating their pets as though they are children this changed mind-set from the old fashioned thinking days “when dogs were dogs” has encouraged a wave of innovation. Many products and services incorporating sophisticated technologies in every area imaginable, be it health or food ways or through any other means intended to show their love for their dogs. Young professionals are said to be the largest group involved with these changes as they are waiting longer to both marry and to have children and share their love of dogs instead. People seem to be migrating towards higher-end products which could be the reason the APPA’s Global Pet Expo had over 985 exhibitors of pet products in Orlando Florida’s Orange County Convention Center within the last two weeks. Most of us are familiar enough with that Center (due to the AENC being held there) with over 3,000 new dog products and concepts on display. AKC was there too for an overnight visit. One would think that with all the emphasis AKC seems to be about to or has already spent in the search for new revenues many of these entrepreneurs would be ripe for the taking. It will be interesting to see just how far and successful the new Marketing/Communications team will be in handling these matters.
THE AKC PET DISASTER TRAILER PROGRAM
Thanks to the hard work of Tom Sharpe’s AKC Reunite Organization and the support of Pat Laurans, co-chair of the task force of the AKC Pet Disaster Relief, there is almost half a million dollars collected for this project. Indeed two if not three trailers are operational with even more in the works. The pipeline seems to be growing and the passionate efforts of various clubs and
individuals are simply “wondrous” to quote Ms. Laurans. From Colorado to Atlanta to in between and everywhere Clubs throughout the country have responded in gallant fashion and while it is difficult to single out any one individual certainly in the Maryland area the passionate efforts of Mary Lou Olszewski deserve special mention. This is a march towards positive progress and it takes individuals such as Tom Sharpe within AKC whose devotion to these kinds of causes play a significant part in establishing a positive image with the general public for AKC. If the 10 percent increase in press impressions for the general public had stressed this Trailer Program than AKC would have done itself proud. One would hope the grassroots program being stressed by AKC would have done so--let’s hope that was the case.
AN UNEXPECTED BONUS
Ernesto Lara’s answer to this Weeks Question of the Week is an eye-opener which should be digested by the rest of us in the dog world. Expanding that Question with an answer which has far reaching affects for all of us facing the problems of not only the extreme animal rights people he queried those people within our very sport so quick to condemn the overly protective people within our dog world itself. Let’s face it some pet dogs can be overly anxious, overweight, bored, suffer from separation anxiety and a mess of other problems. How often are show dogs in that sort of state? Rarely is the opinion of these pages. Do the Germans really think that banning grooming arms indicates more or less of a care for a dog on a table? When crates are discouraged from being used in the home or the show grounds do the AR’ers really think they are helping or hurting the dogs’ chances of a comfortable surrounding? Does properly thought out line breeding help or harm the dogs’ health and ultimate breed survival? Do the grassroots owners understand much less care about these practices, which properly conceived can help the breed rather than harm it? Giving in to public reaction in many of these cases as was done and continues to be done in certain sections of the UK does not help the dog in the long run. It merely is a sign of caving into an uninformed or mislead public opinion which can and should be changed by an educated group of concerned breeders of the purebred dog worldwide.
REGISTRATIONS GOING DOWNWARD AGAIN
According to the CFO of AKC Peter Farnsworth, the units of dogs and litters registered were down so far in 2014 as compared to 2013 but all the figures were not in. Additionally these pages believe that the severe winter weather may have affected these figures particularly in the Midwest and Eastern States. And while revenues are down they are up from NEW product services. Again the registration figures are disappointing particularly in light of all these social media figures, which are so bright and encouraging. The big question of course is whether the social media successes will turn into registration increases as well or are these increases affecting a market which is truly not interested in registering dogs. If the latter is the case what can be done to make registration of AKC dogs more appealing. That’s the thousand-dollar question for which no solution has yet to be made. Certainly that is a major problem to be solved and so far these pages believe no one at AKC has been able to do it and not for a lack of trying to solve it either.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
A NEW YORK TIMES Op-Ed piece of March 26, 2014 was headed “WHY I’M JEALOUS OF MY DOG’S INSURANCE”. Written by Eric Wee, a former reporter at the Washington Post, it extols the fact that his dog’s health insurance covered 90% of the costs after what Mr. Wee called a reasonable $500 deductible. “I’m happy he has such good health coverage, he’s my dog. And I’m jealous of him,” wrote Mr. Wee. It’s good to see pet insurance get some really good publicity particularly in light of the large expenses associated with vet bills and treatments these days. Keep in mind that AKC’s Healthcare Plan, which it is in partial partnership with PetPartners, is one of the best in the land. Nonetheless these pages urge comparative pricing and plan set-ups so that you are assured of getting what you think is the best program for both your pocketbook and your dogs’ health. The AKC plan takes into account multiple pets as well at a nice discount, which is a very appealing feature for sure .
E d i t or i al
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