Do you see an impossible situation or an opportunity?
Where I grew up in Minnesota, the dogs frequently ran free through the woods of our neighborhood. It wasn't surprising to see Buddy or Cassie on my walk to the bus stop each morning, and I could always count on Ralph to find any balls that went missing in the woods.
And then there was the black lab who always enjoyed coming up to our door in hopes of terrifying my cat. He was funny, always running back and forth in our yard to get attention, but I'm afraid Patches never appreciated him.
So, now that I live in a city, I always feel a little bad when I see big, energetic dogs walking quietly next to their owners. I wonder if they ever get the chance to run, or if their lives consist only of 3+ walks/day at regularly-scheduled intervals.
But I've never thought about how to make the situation better, I've only thought that bigger dogs just aren't meant for big cities.
Luckily, not everyone thinks like me! Where I simply saw a mismatch, others saw an opportunity.
Today the New York Times ran an article called "They Take the Bounce out of Bowser" about the "dog running" services that are popping up in big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City.
For not much more than the price of a regular dog-walker, long-distance runners will take a dog out for a fast-paced jaunt around the park.
(Photo from www.nycdogrunners.com)
I think this is a really good idea on many levels.
Reason 1: It's great for the dogs.
Big dogs have a lot of energy and don't do well when they don't exercise enough. Some gain a lot of weight, others get behavioral problems and others are never tired enough to sleep through the night and drive their owners crazy.
One of the dog-owners in the NY Times article reported that their dog had so much energy that would break out of his cage at 4am and bring live mice to their bed. (Yuck!)
Reason 2: It's great for busy dog-owners.
Many people don't have the time or the ability to take their dogs for runs, but they still own dogs that have a lot of energy. For them, it must be a tremendous relief for their dogs to finally get the exercise they need on a regular basis.
Plus, for working owners, having a dog runner is much better than sending their dog to be cooped up in a "doggy daycare" or having Fido go on a walk that leaves him bouncing with energy by the time they come home.
Reason 3: It's great for the runners.
Many dog running services employ people who would be running anyways. Some are marathoners, others long-distance runners, others were in the military and all of them are thrilled to earn money doing something that was already on their schedule.
Of course, there are disadvantages--having to carry plastic baggies for example--but most dog runners enjoy the companionship, the extra money, and the knowledge that they're helping dogs.
Reason 4: It's a great example of how finding a solution to an everyday problem can lead to a great business opportunity.
The New York Times reports that dog running services are gaining in popularity everyday. One service, Running Paws, has over 150 canine clients and employs 24 runners. Their business grows 20% each year.
In San Francisco, dog running is becoming so popular that dog walkers are losing business! Why? It's great for the dog, it's less stress for the owner, and it's a lot more fun to say "Fido has a dog runner".
Owning a big dog in a big city is a problem for many people, but they aren't always willing to get an easier pet. That's why dog running is a fresh idea.
It would be really easy to say "People who live in a big city shouldn't have big dogs." It's more creative, however, to say "What do dogs need to be happy and healthy in a big city and how can this be turned into a business opportunity?"
Kudos to the dog runners who saw this potential!
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