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THIS WEEK'S TOPICS:

• ⛳ Top golf for dogs

• On-demand dog groomers at your doorstep! 🛁 🚐

• Weird, why is my dog chattering its teeth? 😕

⛳ TOP GOLF FOR DOGS

We're dreamers here at Dogonomist.

Always pondering new and exciting businesses/opportunities to improve the dog space.

And what's the point if we don't share it with you all?

A few issues back, we profiled a private dog park in LA called Dog PPL, which we estimated is bringing in at least $72k a month in memberships.

Since then we haven't been able to get our minds off this idea and have talked about it with a number of other entrepreneurs.

We think private dog parks could be a big opportunity and wanted to break down how we would approach it:

The elevator pitch

This is a similar model to Top Golf but for dogs.

Not enough parks to bring your dog to?

Worried about other aggressive dogs or passing illnesses?

Hate awkwardly standing around with other silent dog owners?

Well, come to our members only dog park.

A fun, clean environment, where dogs are vetted and staff is on hand to help. It's not only wonderful for your dog, but also a place for an owner to go socialize and have a good time (and maybe have some tasty food and drinks, 🍻 🌮 why not?).

Where to start this?

Larger cities would be the best place to launch this idea.

You have a higher density of people, less open spaces for dogs to play, and likely more people looking for social activities.

Having said that, smaller cities could work as well, as long as the social activities are enough of a draw to get people out and about.

Other considerations

The big one here is liability.

There's no way there won't be some altercations. Hopefully the rufferees and screening process cuts down on them, but you would need to protect your business with great insurance (something akin to an Airbnb or Sniffspot policy)

Next is cost 💰.

Finding the right space for the right cost is the biggest controllable difference for profitability.

If you're paying $3k per month for a nice outdoor lot, you need at least 60 members (at $50) to break even before staff, buildout, food & beverage. If you're paying $7k for an indoor warehouse, then it's 140 members.

This is why population density will be important.

Dog PPL has a whopping 800 members, but benefits from being in the LA area.

Thoughts?

We like it, but we are biased. Let us know what you think with this quick poll 👇

ON-DEMAND DOG GROOMERS AT YOUR DOORSTEP! 🛁 🚐

Pampered pets make for great customers! At least, that's the idea behind Barkbus, the California based mobile grooming company that has been rapidly growing.

The concept is simple. Barkbus operates specially equipped Sprinter vans staffed by a groomer that you can book online and will come to your door for your pups spa day.

Prices range from $120-$350 💵, take 1 to 3 hours and your dog gets 1-on-1 attention.

The standard service includes:

• Warm filtered hydro-jet water bath

• All-Natural Shampoos, Conditioners and Face Wash

• Hand Blow Dry

• Gentle Brush out

• Ear Cleaning

• Nail Trimming and Filing

• Teeth Brushing

• Anal Gland Expression (if needed)

CEO Jeff Safenowitz realized💡that traditional brick and mortar grooming came with some challenges:

• ⏰ Finding time to take your dog to the groomer isn't easy

• 😵‍💫 The idea of your dog in a busy shop with lots of other dogs isn't an owners dream

• 🏠 Staying close to home calms down your pooch

• 🔥 For groomers the environment can get a little chaotic

With the pandemic and the shift toward services brought to you (car purchasing 🚘, groceries 🥕, haircuts 💇), Barkbus has ridden the opportunity.

They grew from 2 vans to 55 and currently cover Southern California and Dallas.

Mobile grooming isn't new, but Barkbus aims to improve the experience with tech and personalized touches, like an online booking system and reminder postcards featuring images of customers’ pets.

As of 2022, spending on pets had increased 450% since 1994.

The US grooming industry alone is currently worth an estimated $5B+ and expected to exceed $10B by 2032.

WEIRD, WHY IS MY DOG CHATTERING ITS TEETH? 😕

Have you ever observed your dog exhibiting a peculiar behavior — teeth chattering?

Like a wind-up toy gone rogue, your furball's top and bottom rows of teeth click together rapidly.

It’s not a new Morse code, nor are they mimicking a human's chatter.

So, what's the story behind this behavior?

Should you be concerned?

Let's unravel this mystery!

Your dog's teeth chattering can be spurred by a range of causes, from the obvious physical to the hidden health-related reasons.

Is it a chilly day? Did they just swim in frigid water? 🧊

Just like us, dogs react to cold temperatures. In particular, your petite Chihuahua or Dachshund, without their thick fur coats, might shiver, causing their teeth to chatter.

In such instances, whisk them indoors for a warm cuddle. 💗

At other times, your dog's teeth may chatter as they engage their special olfactory system, the vomeronasal organ, which allows them to smell and taste simultaneously.

Next time you see your dog's teeth chattering during an intense sniffing session, especially with another dog remember: it's a sign they are on full sensory alert! 🚨 

Interestingly, male dogs chatter more often during these olfactory adventures than females.

Sometimes, the reason behind your dog's teeth chattering is behavioral.

Fear, stress, or anxiety could be culprits.

If your pet's teeth chatter during thunderstorms or when you’re leaving, it's possibly anxiety-induced.

On a lighter note, some dogs chatter their teeth in sheer excitement — perhaps when you come home from work or when dinner is 🍲 on the horizon.

Health concerns 🫀

Your pet’s health can also prompt teeth chattering. Things like,

• Periodontal disease

• Oral pain

• Epilepsy

• Shaker syndrome

these are some medical conditions that could be causing this behavior.

If your pet shows other symptoms such as drooling, bad breath, difficulty eating, or full-body tremors, it's time to ring up your vet for a check-up.

If you have a senior dog who has started chattering their teeth, it could be a sign of old age.

While it's not entirely clear why older dogs are more prone to teeth chattering, it's wise to keep your vet in the loop.

Conclusion

Remember, the response to your dog's teeth chattering depends on the situation.

If it's a physical or behavioral cause that you can address — like moving them indoors when they’re cold or separating them from aggressive dogs — then you probably have your answer.

But if you suspect a health issue, don't delay a vet visit.

Early intervention can prevent complications and ensure your furry friend keeps smiling, chattering or not.

KIBBLE BITS:

Every week we love to shoutout a pooch that has made another trip around the sun.

Happy 7th Birthday 🎂 to Petunia the pug, may your reign over the Pugdom continue for many more years 👑

That's all there is to bark about this week.

If you want more, be sure to follow our Twitter (@dogonomist).