Launching India’s First-Ever Dog Parenting Survey: ‘Dog Parenting India’

Author: Shobhit Mohanty, Founder (thePack.in)

Dog ownership in India is not new. For generations, people in semi-urban and rural places have been raising dogs as hunters, for guarding livestock or property, and more.

However, over the past 5-10 years, India has witnessed a boom in “Pet Parenting” in urban India, where people choose to welcome home pedigree dogs and native Indian breeds. This is a relatively new phenomenon, which has had a widescale impact on our lives.

Today India has more than 30 million pet dogs, and annual expenditure by pet parents on their doggie companions has crossed over $1 billion. The remarkable growth reflects the love and care with which India’s pet parents are raising their dogs at home.

But behind these rapidly growing numbers lies a startling reality: the absence of quality data on the lifestyle of urban pet parents, a general lack of understanding of how we are raising our dogs and the key challenges we face along the way.

Important questions like these remain unanswered:

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• What is the profile of the typical pet parent in India?
• How many are first-time parents? Is it higher or lower than the global average?
• What kind of food are most dogs fed? How many are vegetarian vs non-vegetarian diets?
• Do people trust their vet and veterinary facilities? Are they getting their annual vaccinations done on time?
• What do pet parents prioritize when spending on their dogs?
• How many dogs come from illegal breeders?
• How many parents are struggling with their dog’s behaviour? What % of dogs receive behavioural training?
• How many pet parents face harassment for owning dogs in their communities?

The lack of clarity on these issues leaves us asking: How can we build effective solutions for pets and their parents when we don’t have the full picture of the life they live or the challenges they face? Is it even possible to do so?

This is why we launched ‘Dog Parenting India’ survey

To address this gap of knowledge, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of ‘Dog Parenting India’ by thePack.in and Heads Up For Tails. Together, we want to shine a light on the life of India’s dog parents and uncover truths, challenges, and the joys of raising dogs within India’s unique cultural context.

In its first edition, our goal is to speak to at least 1000 pet parents from all over India and hear their side of the story. While this edition focuses on urban pet parents, future iterations of the survey will expand to include rural pet care practices and experiences.

Why This Survey Matters

We believe that to help pet parents, first, we need to hear from pet parents directly. Through this survey, we wish to understand different aspects of our pet dog’s life including behaviour, health, nutrition, and their relationship with us and with other members of our extended community.

• Empower Pet Parents: Understanding common challenges can help existing parents feel like they are not alone. Additionally, for those who are planning to become a pet parent in the future, this survey can help get a clearer picture of what their life could look like after they get their dog and use it to make informed decisions.
• Support Enterprises and Startups: Accurate data on pet parents’ lives can help guide upcoming startups and existing enterprises to develop better products and services that genuinely address the needs of pets and their parents.
• Inform Government & Policymakers: Very few Indian pet dogs are registered with their local municipal bodies. The absence of data on pet parents can lead to myopic policy-making by local and central government bodies. The quality data captured through this survey can become a foundation for better policies and regulations that protect the interests of dogs and their parents.
• Advocate for Better Breeding Practices: Illegal breeding is perhaps the single biggest problem plaguing the Indian pet care ecosystem. By shedding light on the prevalence of such unethical and illegal practices, we can advocate for stricter regulations and responsible breeding practices.
• Social Welfare: Rising cases of animal abuse, human-dog conflicts in various cities, the prevalence of a large population of street dogs, and discriminatory policy framing by residential communities are all leading to a poor quality of life for both pet parents and their dogs. This survey will shed light on the scale of such issues and advocate for socially responsible policies that take into account everybody’s best interests.

What the Survey Covers

The ‘Dog Parenting India’ survey is designed to gather detailed insights into various aspects of dog parenting, including:

• Demographics of pet parents
• Why, Where & How do people get pet dogs in India (ethical breeders, illegal breeders, adoption, etc.)
• Healthcare practices adopted by pet parents
• Dietary habits of pet dogs
• Behavioural challenges and training of pet dogs
• Spending priorities of pet parents
• Social challenges faced by pet parents in their communities

All survey participants will:

• Receive a ₹100 discount coupon from Heads Up For Tails
• Be entered into a weekly lucky draw where they can win special goodies

Take the Survey Today

We believe that every dog parent’s story deserves to be heard. With your support, we can make this survey a powerful tool for change in India.

Whether you’re a first-time pet parent or you’ve grown up with pets, your insights are invaluable in creating a brighter future for pets and their families.

Ready to join us in this mission? Take the survey now by clicking here. It will take only 10 minutes to complete, but the impact of your participation will last a lifetime.

Together, let’s make India a better place for our beloved dogs and the families who adore them. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Let’s create a world where every pawprint matters.