Happy New Year Yall 🥳!

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THIS WEEK'S TOPICS:

• 🏨 Making $2,500/day with a luxury dog hotel

• 🐕 A new dog breed has arrived

• 🧫 Lab grown meat for your dog

🏨 MAKING $2,500/DAY WITH A LUXURY DOG HOTEL

The competitive landscape of doggy daycare and boarding is nothing to shake a stick at.

This market is expected to double to $2B by 2030.

A newcomer on the scene that goes by the name of Zoomies, emerges as a standout, redefining luxury dog care.

This isn’t a revolutionary business per se, but the couple behind this has easily set themselves apart from competition by ditching the usual cold sterile setting for one that’s feels more like home.

The mastermind behind this business is a 21yr old entrepreneurial duo, Josh and Cara located in Panama City Beach, FL.

Their venture, which garners an impressive $2,500 daily, is a beacon of of continued opportunity in the dog care space, as highlighted in Graham Stephan's YouTube video covering the story of their business.

The inception of Zoomies was more necessity than novelty.

Faced with a lack of satisfactory dog care options in their area, Josh and Cara, driven by their love for dogs, envisioned a place that was less like a kennel and more like a second home for pets.

Their approach was simple: create a space where dogs aren't just boarded but are cared for with a personal touch 🤌.

Upon entering Zoomies, one is struck by its clean, welcoming ambiance.

The design choice of a white interior and the absence of a traditional reception desk are strategic, fostering an environment that's both upscale and intimate.

This design philosophy extends to every aspect of Zoomies, prioritizing comfort and personal interaction over conventional dog boarding norms.

The accommodations at Zoomies are a testament to their commitment to luxury.

The executive suites, tailored for larger breeds, offer spacious and personalized spaces.

Each of the suites cost $2K to build and there are about 20 of them, so they sunk $40K to accommodate the big boys comfortably!

The attention to detail is evident, from the name tags on each suite to the color-coded system indicating participation in group activities.

It's a level of care that resonates with pet owners who view their dogs as family members.

What truly distinguishes Zoomies in the market is its underlying philosophy.

Josh and Cara have recognized and capitalized on the trend of pet humanization (something we’ve beat into the ground here).

In today's world, dogs are increasingly seen as integral family members, deserving of the same level of care as humans.

This shift in perception is not just a cultural change; it's a business opportunity that Zoomies has skillfully harnessed.

We expect to see an explosion of businesses like this over the next 5 years, especially in markets that are underserved with daycare and boarding options.

🐕 A NEW DOG BREED HAS ARRIVED

A new pint-sized powerhouse has gained official recognition from the mothership (aka the AKC), making it the 201st recognized breed by the organization.

Introducing the Lancashire Heeler, now officially part of the herding group.

The journey to AKC recognition is no walk in the park.

It's a rigorous process, requiring a breed to demonstrate a sustainable population and active participation in various dog sports.

The Lancashire Heeler, with its approximately 400-strong population in the U.S., has ticked all these boxes and more.

Since its induction into the AKC Foundation Stock Service in 2001, the breed has been on a mission to prove itself.

But what exactly is a Lancashire Heeler?

Originating from a crossbreed of Welsh Corgis and Manchester Terriers in 17th-century Northern Wales, this breed was initially a butcher's sidekick in West Lancashire.

Today, it's recognized for its versatility, intelligence, and, let's face it, an undeniable cuteness factor.

Weighing in at a mere 9 to 17 pounds, these dogs pack a lot of personality into a small package.

Don't be fooled by their size, though.

The Lancashire Heeler is as active as they come, excelling in a variety of dog sports from herding to agility.

They're the canine equivalent of a multi-tool, adaptable and ready for any challenge.

This breed is not just a lapdog; it's a lapdog with an agenda, often choosing a favorite human while still loving the whole family.

The breed's recognition is not just a win for the Lancashire Heeler community but also a nod to the importance of breed education and responsible breeding.

The United States Lancashire Heeler Club (USLHC) has been instrumental in this journey, focusing on health and temperament.

They've partnered with organizations like the Orthopedic Foundation of America and the Canine Health Information Center to ensure the breed's future is as bright as its past.

But with recognition comes the challenge of maintaining the breed's unique qualities.

The AKC standard for the Lancashire Heeler is somewhat open to interpretation, which means breeders and judges have a significant role in shaping the breed's future.

It's a delicate balance between preserving breed characteristics and adapting to the evolving world of dog breeding.

As the Lancashire Heeler steps into the limelight, one can't help but wonder how will this newfound fame affect the breed?

Will they remain the robust, versatile dogs they are known to be, or will popularity lead to unforeseen challenges? (looking at you Frenchies)

 🧫 LAB GROWN MEAT FOR YOUR DOG

Would you feed your dog meat that was grown in a lab?

Well, soon dogs in Britain will be chowing down on the world's first "grown" meat dog food.

Online retailer Pets At Home is partnering with start-up Meatly to introduce the first pet food made from lab grown meat, which should hit shelves in 2024.

This was made possible when the regulators in the UK fast tracked the approval of "cultivated meat" in an attempt to provide more food security and environmentally friendly meat options.

Globally meat prices have been rising along with concerns on agricultures impact on the environment.

What the heck is cultivated meat?

We picture a bunch of scientists in a lab pouring stuff back and forth between beakers (which may or may not explode revealing a giant meat monster.....or maybe we've been watching too much sci-fi again... 😬).

In reality, cells are taken from a fertilized egg, in this case a chicken egg.

Then instead of an animal eating food to feed its cells, the cells are fed vitamins and proteins in a container, similar to what is done when making yogurt or beer.

The cells then grow to become more meat cells which is the basis of the food.

Proponents of lab grown meat point to a number of reasons why they think it's better than traditional meat (keep in mind this is from Meatly's website, who obviously has a vested interest in this):

There are of course some experts who disagree and say that lab grown meat doesn't have the same nutritional value as traditional meat.

Add to that the fact that costs for lab grown meat are still high, and it's an open question of what would happen to quality if we tried to scale up production to replace a significant portion of the meat demand.

We at Dogonomist are all about cautious optimism when it comes to new technology or scientific advancements.

Meaning, we are supportive of the idea of lab grown meat as a more sustainable way to get the nutritional benefits of meat, however we want to see some early use cases and the impact before we give it to our own dogs.

However, what we are more interested in is your thoughts dear reader!

If it were safe, would you consider feeding your dog lab grown meat?

DOGGYDEX™

Winner 🏆: DOGGYDEX

Proudly introducing the DoggyDex™, an index comprised of 10 publicly traded companies whose primary focus is the dog/pet industry.

List of tickers used can be found at the very bottom of the newsletter.

The yellow line-plot in the chart represents these companies above (DoggyDex™) and their combined performance against both the S&P 500 and Bitcoin on a weekly basis.

Pawformance is measured by % gains & losses.

• 🥹 Shelter gets ALL dogs adopted: A Pennsylvania shelter is empty for the first time nearly 50 years getting all dogs adopted just before Christmas.

• 🏖️ Croatia lifeguards have 4 legs: In Croatia there’s a beach that employs dogs as lifeguards.

• ⚔️ Japanese company makes Samurai outfits for your pup: A company by the name of Samurai Age makes adorable armor for your dogs.

DOGGY B-DAY

• $CHWY - Chewy: E-commerce platform for pet supplies

• $IDXX - Idexx Labs: Vet point of care instruments and vet software

• $FRPT - Fresh Pet: Pet food company

• $PETQ - PetIQ: Pet health products and medicines

• $PETS - PetMeds: Online pet pharmacy

• $ZTS - Zoetis: World's largest producer of meds and vaccines for pets and livestock

• $TRUP - Trupanion: Pet insurance company

• $WOOF - Petco Health & Wellness co.: Pet health & wellness company

• $BARK - BarkBox: Subscription service providing dog products, services, and experiences

• $PET - Wag! Group Co.: Tech platform that allows pet owners to connect with industry professionals for services such as, walking, training, etc.