It's all about pampering your pooches

With pet parents on the rise, a lot of interesting and out-of-the-box events have been created to pamper our furry friends. From sugar-free popsicles and preservatives-free dog training treats, to camping and aroma therapy, pets are treated like nothing short of royalty.

With over 1,000+ dogs that visited the Dog Park ever since it opened its doors in January last year, HollyBoo Pet Ventures/ Dog Park at The Elephant Pond has been teeming with interesting activities for pooches like ‘Sunday Brunch with Dogs’, ‘Breakfast With Dogs’, ‘Pop Pup Cafes’ and food trucks. An event where pet parents go camping with their dogs is what’s on the cards next. “This is going to be on September 16 and 17 for a small group of 10 families and their dogs. The dogs and the owners will spend a night under the skies in tents, over a BBQ and bonfire,” informs Srikanth Shankar, founder, HollyBoo Pet Ventures/Dog Park.

Build Bond & Beyond

Talking about how great pet keeping comes with knowledge and awareness, Srikanth shares,”We’ve done some workshops where pet parents take away knowledge about a particular aspect of pet keeping from other experts in the industry such as ‘Bark, Train & Learn’ (a basic obedience workshop), ‘Canine Agility Sunday’ (introduction session on agility as an activity for dogs) and ‘Build Bond & Beyond’ (a session for people to build their own agility kits).”

From sugar-free biscuits and training treats, pet parents in the city are willing to spend a few extra bucks to ensure their cuddly paws have the best on their plates too! Yamika Damani, a young Bengaluru-based pet-preneur and founder of Clever Canine India, who makes natural and preservatives-free popsicles, training treats and a host of curated meals for dog parties, adds, “Popsicles are bought for a couple reasons - they’re a great treat in the summer to cool off your pet. And also for birthdays. But we have many repeat customers who stock up their freezers with ice creams to treat their dog any time. And we encourage this because the treat is 100 per cent natural and probiotic. So it’s totally safe to feed your dog on a daily basis.”

The spa trend is catching up among pet owners too.

Yamika Damani with her pet.

“A lot of clients today come in with their furry babies to pamper them to some organic shampooing, aromatherapy, tick and flea shampooing, medicated shampooing and bath for many skin diseases. There have been requests for hair trimming and hair cut as per different breed standards, including colouring and healing massages. Despite the harrowing incidents of abandonment of pets, on the brighter side, a few owners are willing to take absolute care and responsibility of the pets they have brought home,” states Dr. Pawan Kumar, veterinary specialist, Cessna Lifeline Veterinary Hospital.

Noting how healthy it is to see people treat their pets like extended family, city based pet groomer Lopa Saikia, adds,”In Bengaluru, dog grooming has certainly seen a rise! There are lot of pet parents who want their pooch to look the best. There are those who come regularly to maintain a healthy coat. There are others who want a healthy coat and great styling. Pet fashion shows are a great way to showcase good-looking pets. I took my doggies to the last Dogathon and they had a blast! Dogs are very social beings. So such activities enhance their mental health.”