McDog World
I have to admit, the GPS tracking collar for dogs sounds pretty cool, if you don’t count the incredibly low battery life. And, without the invention of the squeaky toy, my two Shih Tzus would be helplessly deprived. But are all the latest innovations in canine products really going to better the world? Let’s take a look…
In Austin, Texas, a new luxury condo is being built with dog owners in mind — lazy dog owners, that is. The Austonian apartment complex features an outdoor “dog park” on the 10th floor, complete with a self-cleaning toilet: a stainless steel plate that dogs are attracted to do their business on. Once they’ve finished, a scraper will clear the area for the next dog. Read more about it here.
I have trouble imagining that all of the dogs will actually want to go in that particular spot, rather than just about anywhere else in the “garden” — but this whole thing, as cool as the technology may be, really just sounds like an excuse for dog owners not to bother with real walks. A patch of sunlight on the 10th floor of a luxury condo won’t do it — dogs need exercise, and that means leaving the building.
Another bad idea? A Dutch company has recently introduced a new line of dog food called Energique, which boasts that it can dramatically reduce your need for pooper scoopers or plastic bags. According to the founders, dogs who eat this diet will only need to defecate approximately once a week — and that’s in the form of dry pellets that you can pick up by hand.
No one enjoys cleaning up after their dog — especially one that’s not fully housetrained — but would you rather make your dog pay with constant constipation? Vets and dog lovers all over the world are speaking out against the use of Energique; in a recent article, a Kennel Club spokesperson recently claimed that “dogs normally have to go at least once a day to ensure they have healthy organs, such as the stomach, intestine and bowel.”
Just as many humans have forsaken home-cooked dinners in favor of McDonald’s and other fast-food chains, we seem to be doing the same for the needs of our dogs — choosing convenience over what’s best for their health. Getting a dog is a full-time commitment; there are no short cuts. There’s nothing wrong with trying out the newest products and technological advances when they’re in our dogs’ best interests. But anything that takes away from a dog’s basic needs — a healthy diet, exercise, and attention — doesn’t deserve your support.
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