Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Doggie DNA database

I recently heard of a DNA database being set up for dogs in a German town called Volkach.

Apparently, the town has had enough of dogs fouling the street and is setting about DNA testing all of the town’s dogs so that if they find any doggie muck on the streets, they can test it and then proceed to take action against those dog owners allowing their dogs to mess on the street and not clean it up.

Reportedly, there are over 400 registered dogs in the town and all will have to supply either a fur or saliva test to be added to the DNA database.

The thing I want to know is how much are they going to pay the poor sod who has to actually test the poo?  What a job, I wonder what their job title will be!

Dog’s guilt

I am wondering if there should be some new ailment registered called ‘dog’s guilt’ because I believe I suffer from it.  Whenever I leave my dog in the morning, it isn’t too bad because we’ve both got used to the routine, however, tonight I am going out dancing for the first time in ages and tomorrow I am going to see a friend for a meal and I can already feel the effects of ‘dog’s guilt’ coming on.

Just thinking about going out, I can already picture the look on my dog’s face (yes, you dog owners, there is a special look she gets), the eyes will widen in disbelief and that is where it starts.

Upon return to the household, there will be sulking, treats will be required and I may not be forgiven for some time.  This, my non-dog owning friend, is ‘dog’s guilt’.  Buy a dog and be prepared, because it is contagious and dogs carry it with them.

The costs of a dog

When people decide to purchase a dog, there are a certain number of items that you expect to pay for and many people are sensible enough to work out first if they can actually afford to keep a dog, for example, there is the food, the vet bills, the grooming if applicable, the toys and, lest we forget, the treats.

However, my friend in London has recently purchased a german shepherd and did not quite take into account a few extras that perhaps come with having purchased a larger breed.  For example, the dog chewed through the wire leading to the fridge.  Now that was quite an obvious bit of damage but there was also other damage that was not spotted quite so easily.  Imagine her dismay when she moved one of her rather expensive dining rooms tables to spot that the underneath of the chair seat had been knawed away without her noticing.  That was certainly a large cost that she couldn’t afford straight away, but then there was the carpet… Let’s just say that carpet cleaning in London is even more expensive than it is up here in the good ol’ North.

Now I am not blaming the dog, after all, a little bit of carpet cleaning is to be expected when you are first house training a puppy, however, there are things you can do to protect your furniture and carpets.  For instance, you can buy training pads to cover the carpet and quickly train the dog on where to ‘go’.  No, it is definitely my friend’s fault as she hasn’t found the time to take the dog to training, she hasn’t spent enough time with him and she also hasn’t read and followed the guidelines for house training a dog.

If you aren’t going to invest the time as well as the money, then I guess you deserve what you get.

More Promotional Merchandise

Promotional merchandise or items are an important part of any company’s brand building, professional image and just getting their name around to potential customers or clients.  The company I work for has used labelled bottled water, mug coasters, keyrings (although they were a little naff and broke within five minutes) and even t-shirts, although they didn’t go down too well with the staff.

In the dog world, promotional merchandise is just as effective and possibly even more so, although it seems to me that few companies use them.

For instance, if you visit the James Wellbeloved websites, as I’ve mentioned before, you can get free samples of their dog food and they also have them out on the shop floor at Pets at Home stores and other pet shops too.  They also have free pet treats on the counter, although I’m not sure if they can really be classed as promotional merchandise when the store doesn’t advertise the brand.  I guess it’s still a promotional item for the store itself though – I know my dog loves it when we get to the till and she gets a free dog biscuit.  I have bought products that have been promoted using this method and I think the best promotional merchandise items are the ones that you’ll actually keep and use, so let’s have some more please!

Keeping dogs off the office furniture

A friend of mine works in HR and was telling me about the Take Your Dog to Work Day that runs every year.  Our place of work decided to not bother with this, although several members of staff wanted to bring their dogs to work.  The worry was that what one owner considers a well behaved dog, others don’t.  Plus I guess some people are allergic to dogs and there’s always the worry that they might fight or not get on, or may just wreck the office, after all, I doubt the MD would be too pleased at seeing dogs chewing his office furniture or cocking their leg up at the office desks.

However, this friend of mine works at a place that decided to try it.  Apparently, the day was a roaring success (there was no chewed office furniture or anything apparently) and she has now been asked to investigate the practicalities of allowing dogs in the office.

Their office is much smaller than ours with fewer staff, so nobody is allergic and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed.  I do doubt that the concept would work in our larger office but still, it would be a nice idea.  I’ve read reports in the past that dogs in the workplace make people feel more relaxed and comfortable, but still, I doubt our MD would see it that way..