PetSummary

Happy Valentines Day!

If you are a long time user, thanks for the love. If you are a visitor to the blog, thanks for stopping by. (And here's a little love for you!)

National Canine Weight Check Month

I've written about this topic in the past (here and here) and fully support the efforts of the American Kennel Club Humane Fund and veterinarians across the country for bringing canine obesity to everyone's attention. (Big props to Pfizer who, I'm sure, has a few wonderful weight loss drugs created for dogs.)

Here's the deal folks: if your pet is fat, it's your fault. A fat pet will live a less healthy, shorter life than a lean pet. You love the little bumpkis but feeding him or her high fat, high calorie meals and treats gets them fat. Unless, of course, the four legged wonder is working out like an animal.

Like the rest of us animals, dogs need a balanced diet and lots of exercise to remain healthy. Odds are, you could use a little bit of that as well. Make a family initiative - everyone gets healthy this year!

Baby Proofing of the Four Legged Kind

If there is a need, there is a business to help. If not, a new business springs up. I'm convinced that is what has happened with this new Atlanta company, TinyProof. If you've got a furry child who just can't keep their paws and teeth to themselves (and you live in the ATL area) you can use their pet proofing services.

No, they don't make it hard for the pets to get into the house. They make the house and pet live more nicely with one another. No more chewed cords, help yourself snack times in the cabinets, or scratches at the door.

If you are in the area and at wits end, give them a shout. If you aren't in ATL, I bet there is a professional in your area that would love to help. It just make be the difference you are looking for!

Fighting the Man!! (And losing....)

Well, I've had my first experience dealing with a major corporation and come away only slightly battered. It seems The Radio Systems Corporation has a trademark on the term "Guardian" when talking about pet products. They felt our little Guardian Pet Tag unjustly infringed upon their rights and sent along a cease and desist letter.

Where is the love, Radio Systems? I'm just a little fella trying to make a go in the world, to provide a unique product, to help my clients solve problems. And here you are trying squash innovation and snappy naming, all in the name of trademarks. Are you afraid that your usb tag is going to killed by something better looking, half the price, more powerful and easier to use? You should be scared! Shame on you....

Actually, in all seriousness, I understand their legal concern. If you've got a properly executed and defendable trademark, you need to defend it, especially if the offending party operates in the same space. Both I and my legal counsel looked around and felt we'd be okay with Guardian Pet Tag trademark. We weren't. So, I did what all budding entrepreneurs (i.e., poor) do in the face of an expensive and drawn out discovery process and battle - folded like a wet paper bag.

So, I've got a challenge and would like your help. I've got to come up with a new name for the Guardian Pet Tag but quick. Shoot me a note at cole at petsummary dot com or reply to the comments below with your ideas.

Take care out there! Big Corp might be knocking on your door soon!!!

Be the Pack Leader

Wow - its been more than a month since my last post! I've been working on another project lately and it's kept my attention pretty much full time. I'll be getting back on the bandwagon after the first of the year. However, I just heard a great radio interview that I thought I'd share.

I know the man is controversial to many but I've enjoyed listening to Caesar Millan being interviewed by Dennis Prager. (My wife is obsessed with the Prager and, I must say, I like the way he thinks. He goes for clarity rather than agreement.)

At any rate, the interview moves from specific techniques for the furry family members and you to how your relationship with your dog can be a model for your family. I specifically like what he says about discipline ("Its not a punishment. It's a set of rule, boundaries, and limitations that help the pack function effectively.") I also like Caesar's motto: EDA (exercise, discipline, and affection.) My boys certainly need that as well.

Here's the link to the radio show. Its worth the thirty minutes. Enjoy!

Bringing a Pet Home - the When, What and Why Questions

Believe it or not, the post started at 4 am this morning. My oldest son (3.5 years old) walked in our room asking the question "When can we get a dog?" I'm pretty proud of my response - no yelling, groaning, or sleeping through it: "When you are old enough. Now, let's get back to bed."

Now, I've had several dogs in the past as well as cats, rabbits, mice, fish, a snake, and bees. (The colony probably did not consider themselves pets but I still include them in the honorific hall of pet fame.) But now, "the question" has arrived, courtesy of a sleepy-head 3 year old.

I've done a good bit of thinking on this. I got "my" first dog when I was in 3rd grade though our family had a dog when I was 5. We had enjoyed a wide array of fish and hamsters by then but I always wanted my own pooch.

So, is that the right answer? When he's 9, he'll get a dog? What about his younger brothers (currently ages 2 and 10 weeks?) When will they be ready? What would be best for the dog? Do we get a new puppy or an old hand?

I did some research and, as you would expect, there are lots of helpful ideas and warnings out there for what to bring home and when to do it. I like the HSUS's comments best - depends on the family, the child, and the pet. Just make sure you get all the questions right before you do it!

As for us, we'll wait until the youngest can help with the pooch and disciplined enough not to be too aggressive. If I were a betting man and the over-under was 9, I'd take the over. But not by much.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Happy Birthday to PetSummary.com! While we've been working on this idea and business for a lot longer than a year, today marks the opening of our website to the world. It's been a great year with lots of learning. First, some milestones:

- We have 506 Pet Parents from 46 different states and 4 different countries who entrust their four legged family member's medical records with us.

- We currently protect 1395 dogs, cats, horses, hedgehogs, and lizards with PetSummary. 57 of these wonderful beings are protected with the Guardian Pet Tag as well.

Considering our marketing budget (which is mighty small), I could not be happier with the spread of PetSummary.com and the number of pet families we've helped. I have created a few goals for our next 12 months of work:

1. Increase our pet families to 5000 members.
2. Sell 200 Guardian Pet Tags.
3. Raise $1000 for different pet charities using the Guardian Pet Tag. (Did you know we donate 50% of our GPT sales to non-profit partners?)

Please help us reach these goals by spreading the word of our little service to all your pet family friends. Remember, PetSummary.com is a free service that helps pet lovers save time while helping their pets. The only thing it costs is your time and they are certainly worth it!

Thanks, again, for everyone who has helped make this a successful first year. I look forward to many more!

Best,

Cole

Want to copy that cat?

I've just finished reading an article on the cloning of farm animals in the most recent Wired. (Its a great magazine for those interested in science, technology, and culture.) There are tons of ethical questions and concerns when you get into the cloning field. Personally, it is not a quagmire that I'd like to explore. However, it did get me thinking about cloning pets.

Cloning may work for farm animals in terms of a business sense - technically, the meat and milk cloned animals produce is the same their sexually created parents produce. However, when you move the thoughts over to pets, what does it get you, the pet owner?

As I see it, you've created a bond with your cat, dog, snake or guinea pig. Losing that animal may seem more like losing a family member than losing "just a dog." If you could produce a child or offspring from that animal which would illicit fond memories of the former pet, would you do it? I had friends say that they'd want to have children right away if they knew something would happen to their spouse before they had kids. The child would serve not only as their beloved offspring but as a reminder of the spouse as well. Do you feel the same way about Fido?

Currently, there are a number of companies who can help you harvest and store your pet's DNA. The only pure player in the companion animal cloning game has closed its doors due to lack of a viable business plan. The HSUS's stance (very much against) on cloning companion animals certainly did not help the cause. Neither did the price tag ($50k!!)

Personally, I can understand the interest in cloning your pet. I would not do it (and it is not the $35,000 price tag that stops me... well, that would stop me but that's not the biggest reason!) Is cloning a slippery slope into replacing your two legged lost loved one? Will it lead to the futuristic farming of perfectly proportioned animals? Will it open the doors for problems that have been well contained in Pandora's box so far?

Who knows the answers to these questions? I have a sneaky feeling that those who live in these very interesting times will find out and soon. The technology is out there and governments will not be able to stop everything they see as denigrating to the society they are charged to protect. I simply hope we, as a people sharing one globe, have the wisdom to proceed with both optimism and caution.

Another something fun

Yes, the web is full of useless and fun things. I found one site today that will make all dog lovers smile: http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html.

Take a look. It is worth 2 minutes of your time. Congrats to Merial for coming up with a fun, spreadable idea. (I just can't use 'viral' when talking about something a drug company came up with - it's just too punny.)

Sweet Treat for the Pooch

Over the past year, I've been thinking and dreaming about PetSummary. To that end, I've scoured the web to find the serious, the helpful, and the safety oriented news. Thankfully, I've run across "the fun stuff" as well. And this one, well... it's just too good not to pass along.

YogHund.com is an idea I've never heard or thought about: organic frozen yogurt for dogs. Ok, sure - you've got to place this in the category of "over the top dog lover who's happy to spend a bunch of money on their four legged family" but this sure is a fun idea. Sure beats the ice cubes we used to give as treats.

So, if you are looking for a fun alternative treat, give this one a try.