Pampering Your Pets
Celebrities such as Paris Hilton have taken pampering their pets to a whole new level, with designer clothing and jewelry, custom-made beds, and other luxury items. However, they’re not the only ones spoiling their pets these days—and some Peoria area businesses are making it possible for local residents to pamper their pets just like the stars do.
According to the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the pet products and services industry has become a $30 billion-a-year industry. The simple reasoning behind that statistic is that people are becoming more prone to viewing a pet as a member of the family as opposed to just an animal. Some people are even going as far as to include pets in the family photos when sending out holiday cards.
In addition, studies have shown that owning a pet can improve the health of the sick, elderly, and mentally ill, and pets also tend to improve the temperament of those convicted of violent crimes. So with all of these cases in which pets are so helpful in our lives, why wouldn’t we want to treat our closest friends to the best care possible?
My Dog’s Bakery at the Metro Centre was opened in March 2004. In summer 2005, customer Rachel Colgin discovered the owners were planning to sell their business. Colgin’s love of pets and baking caused her to consider and ultimately purchase the store, which specializes in all-natural dog biscuits and special-occasion cakes and confectionaries, as well as all-natural cat treats and catnip. Most of the edible items are made on-site in the shop’s kitchen. The merchandise is completely free of artificial color and flavor, preservatives, animal fat, and by-products. “We use the very best human-grade ingredients and expect the same of items we order from other sources,” Colgin said.
Colgin has three pets: Rosy O’Grady, a 2-year-old labradoodle; Simba, an 11-year-old yellow tabby; and Tia, an 8-year-old gray tabby. “The cats prefer to stay home, but Rosy is at the store most days to greet the customers and play with the dogs,” Colgin said. “Spoiled? Ha! Every animal I’ve had has lived the pampered life. They have every comfort imaginable, including comfy beds, lots of toys, the best food and treats, play and exercise, schooling (by yours truly), grooming, house sitters, regular vet visits, and about as much love and attention as our kids have.”
The store also offers gift baskets, Wellness brand holistic dog and cat food, and the Birthday Bone Club—where owners can register their dogs to receive a birthday card, free birthday bone when they visit the shop, and a discount on that day’s purchase.
Colgin recently attended a trade show for those in the pet industry that featured approximately 1,200 exhibitors and 3,500 buyers. Some of the products she encountered included Swarovski crystal collars, a variety of clothing, feather beds, party and holiday costumes, spa products similar to human brands, and even stationery for pets. “That’s just the tip of the woof/meow iceberg,” Colgin said. “Prices were across the board, from very reasonable to the totally outrageous you’d only find in Palm Beach or Beverly Hills.”
Some of the luxury items found in Colgin’s shop include dog fitness water, rhinestone-adorned collars, various types of clothing, and realistic-looking chew toys. “Our attitude toward our pets has gone far beyond the kenneled hunting dog or the junkyard guard dog,” Colgin said. “They’ve become a part of the family: someone who sits on the couch, sleeps in a bed, and whom we look forward to greeting after a hard day’s work. There’s nothing like a wagging tail and friendly bark to soften one’s heart at the end of the day.”
And when customers are looking for star-treatment grooming, Colgin refers them to Guccipucci, a luxury spa for dogs and cats offering services such as grooming, daycare, hydrotherapy baths, and nail caps. “Humane, loving grooming is our specialty in a cage-free, fun environment,” owner Amee Suydam said. “Our boutique caters to the fashion-forward pet owner who prefers trendy collars, outfits, and jewelry for their pet.”
Suydam rescued two lab mixed dogs from the animal shelter, Jarvis and Rocco. “I’d definitely say they’re spoiled,” she said. “They have new collars for every season, special neckwear for the holidays, and a babysitter stays with them when we go away. They also eat only premium food, enjoy hydrotherapy baths, and wear designer cologne.”
Some of the trends she’s seen have included the popularity of pet daycare facilities, not only for when owners go out of town, but also while the owner is at work.
Suydam explains possible reasoning behind the new-fangled popularity of pet pampering. “Some pet owners may not have children, so pets are a similar replacement they can spoil. The average pet owner has disposable income they use to lavish their dog with extras just as they would for themselves. For instance, if a pet owner drives a luxury car, carries a designer handbag, and wears the latest fashions, they don’t want a plain nylon collar for their Bichon Frise.”
However, can pampering a pet lead to behavioral problems like those that sometimes occur in spoiled children? Jane Clark, owner, consultant, and instructor at Dog Training Plus, claims that if a pet has the proper training necessary for most dogs, pampering won’t interfere in the dog’s behavior. “When people express concern about spoiling their dogs, we discuss the behavioral implications that lead to the question,” Clark said. “We can help by making recommendations about implementing leadership, teaching manners, and providing socialization. If the balance is there, then training becomes easy and pampering doesn’t interfere.”
Clark’s facility focuses primarily on using positive training methods. “Positive dog training methods employ techniques that allow people to train dogs without causing emotional or physical pain to the dog,” she said. “The techniques enhance the dog’s trust in people and its willingness to work, thus building a positive human-canine bond.”
Positive training techniques reward dogs for expected behaviors instead of scolding them for unwanted behaviors. Therefore, using positive training could be considered as somewhat another means for pampering a pet, while at the same time the owner receives the benefits of having a well-trained dog.
Like similar dog schools, Clark’s offers many services to help people train and bond with their dogs. Basic obedience classes are offered for a variety of age ranges, along with different times to help to fit any schedule. People who wish to train their dogs can come to a number of different classes or attend open training with individual instruction. The facility also offers private in-home training, behavioral consultations for those who are concerned about their dog’s behavior, and pre-selection services to determine what type of dog is right for you. But Dog Training Plus also offers other “fun” classes such as:
• Open Gym for Puppies where puppies are exposed to other people and puppies along with environmental activities. Through these activities, puppies learn to tolerate new experiences and meetings with new people and puppies.
• Tricks 101 and Dancing with Dogs shows people how to incorporate training and having fun with their dogs. People can teach their dogs a move from the facility’s list of 101 tricks. The class also provides an introduction to the world of “canine musical freestyle,” which combines music with easy-to-learn routines.
• Flyball class teaches dogs the basic skills involved in a relay race for dog teams. This class is especially for dogs that enjoy ball and retrieve games.
• Fun Agility class introduces dogs to the basics of agility equipment such as weave poles, jumps, tunnels, pause box and pause table, dog-walk, teeter totter, and A-frame.
• Kids ‘n’ K-9s, offered through the Peoria Park District, shows children and parents how to have fun while training their dogs. The class includes basic obedience skills along with other fun activities such as the “Prevent-a-Bite” program, hands-on grooming, and art projects.
Instructors also host parties for class participants along with open houses for the public.
Along with training, owners must also watch a dog’s diet in order to maintain the balance of pampering and good behavior. Providing a dog with too many treats or an excess of “people food” can not only cause behavioral problems, but can also lead weight problems and other issues associated with an unhealthy diet.
For more information: My Dog’s Bakery is located in the Metro Centre, telephone 683-3789; Guccipucci is located at 3309 N. Prospect in Peoria Heights, 686-1237; Dog Training Plus is located at 1020 W. Detweiller, 693-7585. TPW
According to the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the pet products and services industry has become a $30 billion-a-year industry. The simple reasoning behind that statistic is that people are becoming more prone to viewing a pet as a member of the family as opposed to just an animal. Some people are even going as far as to include pets in the family photos when sending out holiday cards.
In addition, studies have shown that owning a pet can improve the health of the sick, elderly, and mentally ill, and pets also tend to improve the temperament of those convicted of violent crimes. So with all of these cases in which pets are so helpful in our lives, why wouldn’t we want to treat our closest friends to the best care possible?
My Dog’s Bakery at the Metro Centre was opened in March 2004. In summer 2005, customer Rachel Colgin discovered the owners were planning to sell their business. Colgin’s love of pets and baking caused her to consider and ultimately purchase the store, which specializes in all-natural dog biscuits and special-occasion cakes and confectionaries, as well as all-natural cat treats and catnip. Most of the edible items are made on-site in the shop’s kitchen. The merchandise is completely free of artificial color and flavor, preservatives, animal fat, and by-products. “We use the very best human-grade ingredients and expect the same of items we order from other sources,” Colgin said.
Colgin has three pets: Rosy O’Grady, a 2-year-old labradoodle; Simba, an 11-year-old yellow tabby; and Tia, an 8-year-old gray tabby. “The cats prefer to stay home, but Rosy is at the store most days to greet the customers and play with the dogs,” Colgin said. “Spoiled? Ha! Every animal I’ve had has lived the pampered life. They have every comfort imaginable, including comfy beds, lots of toys, the best food and treats, play and exercise, schooling (by yours truly), grooming, house sitters, regular vet visits, and about as much love and attention as our kids have.”
The store also offers gift baskets, Wellness brand holistic dog and cat food, and the Birthday Bone Club—where owners can register their dogs to receive a birthday card, free birthday bone when they visit the shop, and a discount on that day’s purchase.
Colgin recently attended a trade show for those in the pet industry that featured approximately 1,200 exhibitors and 3,500 buyers. Some of the products she encountered included Swarovski crystal collars, a variety of clothing, feather beds, party and holiday costumes, spa products similar to human brands, and even stationery for pets. “That’s just the tip of the woof/meow iceberg,” Colgin said. “Prices were across the board, from very reasonable to the totally outrageous you’d only find in Palm Beach or Beverly Hills.”
Some of the luxury items found in Colgin’s shop include dog fitness water, rhinestone-adorned collars, various types of clothing, and realistic-looking chew toys. “Our attitude toward our pets has gone far beyond the kenneled hunting dog or the junkyard guard dog,” Colgin said. “They’ve become a part of the family: someone who sits on the couch, sleeps in a bed, and whom we look forward to greeting after a hard day’s work. There’s nothing like a wagging tail and friendly bark to soften one’s heart at the end of the day.”
And when customers are looking for star-treatment grooming, Colgin refers them to Guccipucci, a luxury spa for dogs and cats offering services such as grooming, daycare, hydrotherapy baths, and nail caps. “Humane, loving grooming is our specialty in a cage-free, fun environment,” owner Amee Suydam said. “Our boutique caters to the fashion-forward pet owner who prefers trendy collars, outfits, and jewelry for their pet.”
Suydam rescued two lab mixed dogs from the animal shelter, Jarvis and Rocco. “I’d definitely say they’re spoiled,” she said. “They have new collars for every season, special neckwear for the holidays, and a babysitter stays with them when we go away. They also eat only premium food, enjoy hydrotherapy baths, and wear designer cologne.”
Some of the trends she’s seen have included the popularity of pet daycare facilities, not only for when owners go out of town, but also while the owner is at work.
Suydam explains possible reasoning behind the new-fangled popularity of pet pampering. “Some pet owners may not have children, so pets are a similar replacement they can spoil. The average pet owner has disposable income they use to lavish their dog with extras just as they would for themselves. For instance, if a pet owner drives a luxury car, carries a designer handbag, and wears the latest fashions, they don’t want a plain nylon collar for their Bichon Frise.”
However, can pampering a pet lead to behavioral problems like those that sometimes occur in spoiled children? Jane Clark, owner, consultant, and instructor at Dog Training Plus, claims that if a pet has the proper training necessary for most dogs, pampering won’t interfere in the dog’s behavior. “When people express concern about spoiling their dogs, we discuss the behavioral implications that lead to the question,” Clark said. “We can help by making recommendations about implementing leadership, teaching manners, and providing socialization. If the balance is there, then training becomes easy and pampering doesn’t interfere.”
Clark’s facility focuses primarily on using positive training methods. “Positive dog training methods employ techniques that allow people to train dogs without causing emotional or physical pain to the dog,” she said. “The techniques enhance the dog’s trust in people and its willingness to work, thus building a positive human-canine bond.”
Positive training techniques reward dogs for expected behaviors instead of scolding them for unwanted behaviors. Therefore, using positive training could be considered as somewhat another means for pampering a pet, while at the same time the owner receives the benefits of having a well-trained dog.
Like similar dog schools, Clark’s offers many services to help people train and bond with their dogs. Basic obedience classes are offered for a variety of age ranges, along with different times to help to fit any schedule. People who wish to train their dogs can come to a number of different classes or attend open training with individual instruction. The facility also offers private in-home training, behavioral consultations for those who are concerned about their dog’s behavior, and pre-selection services to determine what type of dog is right for you. But Dog Training Plus also offers other “fun” classes such as:
• Open Gym for Puppies where puppies are exposed to other people and puppies along with environmental activities. Through these activities, puppies learn to tolerate new experiences and meetings with new people and puppies.
• Tricks 101 and Dancing with Dogs shows people how to incorporate training and having fun with their dogs. People can teach their dogs a move from the facility’s list of 101 tricks. The class also provides an introduction to the world of “canine musical freestyle,” which combines music with easy-to-learn routines.
• Flyball class teaches dogs the basic skills involved in a relay race for dog teams. This class is especially for dogs that enjoy ball and retrieve games.
• Fun Agility class introduces dogs to the basics of agility equipment such as weave poles, jumps, tunnels, pause box and pause table, dog-walk, teeter totter, and A-frame.
• Kids ‘n’ K-9s, offered through the Peoria Park District, shows children and parents how to have fun while training their dogs. The class includes basic obedience skills along with other fun activities such as the “Prevent-a-Bite” program, hands-on grooming, and art projects.
Instructors also host parties for class participants along with open houses for the public.
Along with training, owners must also watch a dog’s diet in order to maintain the balance of pampering and good behavior. Providing a dog with too many treats or an excess of “people food” can not only cause behavioral problems, but can also lead weight problems and other issues associated with an unhealthy diet.
For more information: My Dog’s Bakery is located in the Metro Centre, telephone 683-3789; Guccipucci is located at 3309 N. Prospect in Peoria Heights, 686-1237; Dog Training Plus is located at 1020 W. Detweiller, 693-7585. TPW