The Gifts We Give Our Dogs
by: Carolyn Schweitzer
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:
• 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 acquaintance,
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.
And dog lover 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's
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!!
About The Author
© 2004, 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. (Plus advise on 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
netbrainer@verizon.net
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