NEWS & OPINIONS
Unleashed! The rise of 'Canine Economy' in India
Rapid growth in pet adoption in India has led to a parallel growth in career opportunities for professionals looking to build a future working with dogs. Here is everything you need to know about the Canine Economy
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Ever wondered what it would be like to work with dogs? PC - thePack.in expert Alisha Krishnayya
Dogs have been the human's best friends for centuries now. But what if they became our bosses too? Imagine, a world where our jobs are connected with the canine world. How does that sound? Wonderful? Creepy? Curious?
Our relationship with the canine world has evolved by leaps and bounds over the past decade. From delighting us on Social Media, to helping us with simple tasks, or providing emotional support and a sense of family - dogs have found a way to integrate themselves deeper and deeper into our lives and society at large. This deeper connection between dogs and humans has resulted in the emergence of a completely parallel world around us - the Canine Economy.
And just like the Passion Economy or the Creator Economy, the Canine Economy has opened up a world of career opportunities for people to explore and take up full time professions in the world of dogs.
Our relationship with the canine world has evolved by leaps and bounds over the past decade. From delighting us on Social Media, to helping us with simple tasks, or providing emotional support and a sense of family - dogs have found a way to integrate themselves deeper and deeper into our lives and society at large. This deeper connection between dogs and humans has resulted in the emergence of a completely parallel world around us - the Canine Economy.
And just like the Passion Economy or the Creator Economy, the Canine Economy has opened up a world of career opportunities for people to explore and take up full time professions in the world of dogs.
Millennials & Gen-Z are giving up well paying jobs to work with dogs. PC: Shivani K -Certified Dog Behaviourist and proud Gen Z
Why are we seeing an uptick in Canine Career adoption?
The obvious answer is that for a pet lover, a job that offers an opportunity to earn good money while being around and working with dogs is a no-brainer. In fact, given we are in the age of limited work-life balance, most people are willing to take a significant pay cut for the privilege of taking up a job that provides as much emotional gratification as working with dogs.
For a long time, this was the primary reason why people became a pet professional. They were making a conscious decision of prioritizing personal gratification over pay. However in the last few years, a boom in the Pet care space as a whole has lead to the emergence of a few key trends that has made the Canine Economy even more appealing to the masses -
For a long time, this was the primary reason why people became a pet professional. They were making a conscious decision of prioritizing personal gratification over pay. However in the last few years, a boom in the Pet care space as a whole has lead to the emergence of a few key trends that has made the Canine Economy even more appealing to the masses -
- Existing Supply Side Scarcity - While pet adoption has boomed in the recent past, supply side has generally lagged the demand in India. E.g. our country only has estimated 1 Vet for every 20,000 Pets. This means that there is an existing gap that needs to be filled eminently.
Ratio of Vets per Sq Km in India is lower than even our less developed neighbours. It's getting worse - as of 2016, govt. data suggests India had only 70,000 vets
- Increasing earning potential - More pets being adopted means more obvious opportunities in traditional roles such as Pet Store Professionals, Boarders, Walkers etc. As the demand for pet professionals has increased, so has their paying potential.
- Emergence of New Roles - As we integrate pets more deeply into our lifestyle, newer roles are emerging that never existed before. Like teaching our dogs to adjust into our urban lives, as done by a Trainer/Behaviourist. They are critical in teaching parents and their pets to deal with real life situations - like neighbors coming over, travelling outstation, going to pet cafes and so much more. Similarly roles like Nutritionists, Physiotherapists, Pet Sitters etc. have all started becoming important.
- Stability of Jobs - A booming pet industry has seen the emergence of major players like HUFT, Just Dogs, Supertails and more that provide the kind of employment stability that never existed in the canine world before. And the importance of a steady income can never be over-exaggerated for prospective professionals.
So apart from emotional gratification, the opportunity to earn more money, stability of jobs and broadening of employment opportunities, together have created the perfect storm for the Canine Economy to emerge.
India's top school for Training & Behaviour - Shirin's 'Canines Can Care' conducts 5 or more batches of courses every year. PC: Shirin, founder of Canines Can Care
So apart from emotional gratification, the opportunity to earn more money, stability of jobs and broadening of employment opportunities, together have created the perfect storm for the Canine Economy to emerge.
Why the rise of Canine Economy matters?
With the wind firmly on it's back, India's Canine Economy is having it's proverbial moment in the sun. While it may be a moment to rejoice for pet lovers and enthusiasts everywhere, I firmly believe that this has important implications for everyone else as well. Why do I say so?
Simply because Pets, and especially dogs, have become a truism in our lives. There is no escaping the fact that our world is headed towards becoming more and more Pet friendly in the future. Their benefits to humankind are unmatched, especially in an age where work-life imbalance, depression and loneliness are rampant. In these times, our pets have the sort of magical healing touch that can lick and tail wag our lives to betterment.
Simply because Pets, and especially dogs, have become a truism in our lives. There is no escaping the fact that our world is headed towards becoming more and more Pet friendly in the future. Their benefits to humankind are unmatched, especially in an age where work-life imbalance, depression and loneliness are rampant. In these times, our pets have the sort of magical healing touch that can lick and tail wag our lives to betterment.
Dogs have the magical healing touch
Pet care professionals are going to play a critical role in making sure that this utopian future actually comes to life. Without them, not only would the lives of pet parents become a lot harder, but also the lives of non-pet parents - given that they are directly affected by ill-trained, unhealthy or inadequately parented pets in their communities. With the help of qualified and supportive pet professionals, parents would get the right help in making their relationships with their dogs better, and achieving the promise that pets have to offer.
The 'Canine Economy' is coming and at a good time. And boy! are we excited. The only question that remains, when are you joining us?
The 'Canine Economy' is coming and at a good time. And boy! are we excited. The only question that remains, when are you joining us?
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