Bow wow! A web portal for single dogs

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Bow wow! A web portal for single dogs​

Dog owners worried about the relationship status of their single pets can now heave a sigh of relief. Thanks to DogSpot, a capital-based web portal, owners can now upload a profile of their canines and search for the ideal partner for their pets.


The brainchild of three young entrepreneurs - Rana Atheya, Shailesh Visen and Gaurav Malik - DogSpot is one of India's first dog websites. The owners, of course, are beaming with pride.

"I have been an extreme dog lover since childhood and my wife is equally interested in pets. Given this background, I evolved my passion into a business. Later, Shailesh and Gaurav came on board. This makes the core team of DogSpot," Rana Atheya told IANS.

What started as a hobby, in a span of three years, became one of the leaders in the online pet market, offering its unique services like dog dating and matrimony.


"We have a section called dog gallery, where you can showcase your pet and choose mates for your dogs. While building a dog profile, the user has an option to make the dog available for dating. Other users can browse by breed and select the dogs available," he says.

Pet owners would know how difficult it is to find a suitable female dog for mating. There are more male dogs than female ones. Hence the importance of this portal, says Atheya.

The site commands 17,000 unique hits every day and has 12,000 registered users, according to Google Analytics, the most widely used website statistics service.

The web portal also features experts who offer tips on rearing dogs.


"DogSpot works as a social networking platform, more than a portal. We frequently feature experts and conduct discussions, where users share, ask and advise as per their real life experiences with dogs. We believe this is the most scalable business model," he says.

"We interact with users regularly to understand their needs and issues. We also have regular meetings with dog enthusiasts at various events and have a feedback system in place where we let these people know once we bring a solution for them," he says.

DogSpot was also featured as a successful startup in the popular business magazine Outlook Money.

Even though the portal has grown substantially, Atheya is wary about competitors and is equally confident of his users.


"We believe that the opportunity is big enough for a handful of players. We believe in healthy competition, because that only helps us innovate and also expand the market.

"Over the past three years, we have collaborated with offline pet players like Kennel Club of India, Gurgaon Kennel Club and many others in the industry. We are digital partners to most of the big dog events. We believe that the pet industry is growing at a rapid pace. There is still a long way to go," he adds.

One can almost hear the pets bark in approval.

 

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A dog is a woman's best friend​

Dogs may be considered man's best friend, but it is actually women who are closer to their pets and some even admit telling their dogs their darkest secrets, a survey has revealed.


The survey for dog food company Winalot showed that nearly one in five women respondents told those secrets that they wouldn't dare reveal to anyone else, Daily Express reported Thursday.

Some women share a strong bond with their pet and 14 per cent of the respondents believed their dog could read their mind.

In contrast, barely 10 per cent of men were open with their dogs. Most described their pet as a "trusted companion".

Almost a third of dog owners described their as their "most loyal partner" and half of the respondents said that their pets make them feel "more optimistic".

 

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What to look out for before you buy a dog​

It might wag its tail and wolf down its food, but if the dog you've kept in your city home could talk, you might not hear a happy tale.


Not all dogs are suited for life in this metro. Extreme climate, space constraint and specific dog nature are major factors that determine which dog comes into your home.

Delhi-based veterinary surgeon Vivek Arora told IANS: "Space and time are factors which should be looked at before adopting a pet. Your family life is also very important in deciding what pet you adopt."

Former banker Sanjeev Kumar, who ended up opening a chain of pet stores called Pet Bytes, lists four factors to keep in mind while selecting a dog:

- The most important factor is climatic conditions.

- Nature of the dog. It should ideally be friendly.

- Your requirements. Do you want a lap dog, family dog or guard dog?

- Space constraints. If the other factors fit the bill, ignore these.


Street dog - heads the list of dogs best suited for life in Delhi
So now which are the five dogs best suited for life in Delhi?

Number one on the list is the commonly found street dog. As Mark Twain once said: "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."

Kumar said: "Street dogs are sturdy, don't fall ill, they are used to the climatic conditions, they make good family and guard dogs...and adopting a street dog is also a good thing." And the price? Free, free, free!


Labrador Retriever - an excellent family dog
Second on the list is the Labrador Retriever.

"Even though not the best of guard dogs, they make excellent family dogs. They are very friendly, good companions and are extremely intelligent," he said. They cost anything between Rs.5,000 and Rs.15,000.

Tenzing Wangchuk, originally a resident of Darjeeling, who has been in Delhi for the last 18 years and owns a Labrador, told IANS: "They are good family dogs and playful with children. When you come home from work and play with the Labrador, it's a great stress buster."


Beagle - can easily adapt to the Delhi climate
Next on the list comes the Beagle. It falls in the hound category and requires a lot of exercise. But the advantage is it has short coats, can adapt to the climate and is quite small (approx 14 inches) and so it does not require much space.

Beagles also make good family and guard dogs. They come for anything between Rs.15,000 and Rs.25,000.


Dalmatians - a very friendly breed
Then comes the Dalmatian. Again, a friendly dog with a short coat and very adaptable to city life. The price ranges from Rs.7,000 to 13,000.

Image credit: AP


Boxer - excellent guard dogs and good with children
Fifth on the list of dogs to keep in Delhi is the Boxer.

Contrary to name and reputation, Boxers make good family dogs, are very protective of children and also make excellent guard dogs. They come for Rs.7,000 to Rs.15,000.


German Shepherd - the breed requires a lot of space
Does size matter? Depends. There might be just enough space for you and the Saint Bernard in your two-room apartment. If it's a pair of German Shepherds, then the question doesn't arise.

As Kumar said: "It's about a place in your heart and a corner in your house."

"All dogs require a lot of exercise, a good diet, but the hunter breeds and guard dogs do require some more space," Kumar said.

If you have a dog in your city home, seeking advice on it from a vet from time to time is a must.

"You need to groom your dog and take him for walks twice a day. Make sure you bathe the dog once a fortnight and regular visits to the vet and vaccination are necessary. You also have to take care of his daily ration needs," Arora said.


Saint Bernards - suitable for cooler climes
There are, however, some dogs which are rather unsuitable for the average Delhi home. These are the Saint Bernard, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Pit Bull and Rottweiler.

Some of these dogs are basically suited for cooler climes and in some cases, well, their bite is much worse than their bark.

As actor-comedian Jimi Celeste had remarked: "I have a great dog. She's half Lab, half Pit Bull. A good combination. Sure, she might bite off my leg, but she'll bring it back to me."