Dog Accessories

RovingJohn

Hi Guys,
I'm starting an online dog accessories shop selling dog products such as leads, collars, treats, toys etc.

My question is would you buy things for your dog online?

If you wouldn't, what would make you buy online?

Katiehound

I just might buy online if what was offered was better (selection, priced etc) than what I could buy locally.
Sometimes what puts me off is the additional cost of p & p!

Another consideration might be donating a small proportion of profits to an animal or assistance charity. That could sway the vote!

lostinrates

I DO already buy online.

I don't want to buy what I can buy locally, but rather the sort of stuff you can only get at the bigger dog shows. So quality leather collars and leads, really, relly good reflectives (was really disappointed with the range in Pets at Home this morning) and harder to find stuff.....good quality shampoos, stuff that's not pink, baby blue or tacky....just nice quality stuff.

Welshwoofs

I do buy collars online, but not from a shop. I have to get collars custom made to fit my dog and thus far have had one made by a saddler in France and another made by a chap on Etsy who does made-to-order collars for Mastiffs. I also make my own from parachute cord.

I tend not to buy dog toys online as they generally turn out to be smaller and less well made than they looked in the photos.

Dog beds - I've bought from Orvis before as they do giant sized beds, but his latest one was again, someone online who did made-to-order futon mattress dog beds.

In general, I tend to find that the online pet shops don't have items for giant breeds and what they do have for smaller breeds are often a bit cheap and tacky looking (in my opinion).

lostinrates

Ww, yes, pet beds are always a nightmare. We are just starting to look for a giant bed for a an older girl. She keeps trying to steal the bed with soft raised 'sides', but she just doesn't fit in it...have you found any one who makes big beds with 'sides' to banish draughts, and preferably.......not lurid colours? I have nice green tweed looking ones for the little 'un and the over sized greyhound, but she is in the very biggest size I can find, and somewhat squooshed. The really big one has no hope.

RovingJohn

lostinrates wrote: »

I DO already buy online.

I don't want to buy what I can buy locally, but rather the sort of stuff you can only get at the bigger dog shows. So quality leather collars and leads, really, relly good reflectives (was really disappointed with the range in Pets at Home this morning) and harder to find stuff.....good quality shampoos, stuff that's not pink, baby blue or tacky....just nice quality stuff.

Thanks, how would you know if it is good quality? A 12 month manufacturers warranty maybe?

lostinrates

RovingJohn wrote: »

Thanks, how would you know if it is good quality? A 12 month manufacturers warranty maybe?

A warranty is a good.

Depends what things we are talking about otherwise. Collars, I want good quality english leather, with decent stitching (regular and with a decent stitch per inch) and good solid fastenings, (preferably for me in brass not stainless).

Otherthings I have noted now I have a different breed of dog, is how hard it is to get 'suggestions' and I recognise they can only be suggestions, of what neck size breeds might be expected to have.

For things like bedding I want things that don't come in lurid colours or with flourescent bones or 'twee' paw prints. And I want it to be machine washable. The ideal big dog bed for me, with sides, would have scaled up sides, not just the height but the thickness, the little ones last well, but on big beds the sides tend to flop very quickly.


Customer service really sets people apart. I return to the companies who have made an effort.....equafleece were one such, they were so helpful. Sadly, the dog who loved their suits now cannot wear them because of her dodgy back legs. I bought a beautiful house collar for my grey hound a couple of years ago. I would love something similar made for my giant......it just needs longer fabric, all the same sized fittings, but the makers didn't want to. I would also love one for my new little dog, scaled down in size, but importantly width.


Tbh, I don't need hundred of accessories for my dogs. They each have a winter coat, the grey has a few other coats (softy ) and they would all have a decent leather collar and lead, a nylons lead (and am about to replace some worn out saftey gear for them, mine are often out very early in the morning in the dark, and every night.

Beds and hi viz gear is my current need to sort out again list. I was amazed at how hard it was to buy a tiny reflective collar today for a small breed pup. So important for those of us with winter puppies...less well trained but needing comfort breaks more often, and smaller and harder to see, especially if they are a drk colour! I have ended up with a collar I don't much like but that will do the job, and a flashing light tag, which I do not expect to last long as it hits the floor:o

Welshwoofs

lostinrates wrote: »

Ww, yes, pet beds are always a nightmare. We are just starting to look for a giant bed for a an older girl. She keeps trying to steal the bed with soft raised 'sides', but she just doesn't fit in it...have you found any one who makes big beds with 'sides' to banish draughts, and preferably.......not lurid colours? I have nice green tweed looking ones for the little 'un and the over sized greyhound, but she is in the very biggest size I can find, and somewhat squooshed. The really big one has no hope.

Lost - the only place I've found that does huge beds in muted colours with sides is Orvis. They do a huge range of giant sized beds....but I'd suggest sitting down and having a large brandy before looking at the prices. They are very good beds however - I had the 'Fleece lined deep dish with memory foam' for years.

http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/shop.aspx?dir_id=6259&group_id=6260&shop_id=8909


When I came to replace it I got the largest of the rectangle Tuffies http://www.tuffies.co.uk/dog-beds.asp and simply, sited it against a wall and bought a normal pillow bolster to run along the back.

pawsies

Have a read of this OP:

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-services/216664-starting-online-pet-shop-help.html

Not trying to put you off, just some thoughts and considerations

lostinrates

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Lost - the only place I've found that does huge beds in muted colours with sides is Orvis. They do a huge range of giant sized beds....but I'd suggest sitting down and having a large brandy before looking at the prices. They are very good beds however - I had the 'Fleece lined deep dish with memory foam' for years.

http://www.orvis.co.uk/store/shop.aspx?dir_id=6259&group_id=6260&shop_id=8909


When I came to replace it I got the largest of the rectangle Tuffies http://www.tuffies.co.uk/dog-beds.asp and simply, sited it against a wall and bought a normal pillow bolster to run along the back.

I used to hang around an orvis place at a discount retail outlet hoping a giant bed would come in.....but they never did:D

The problem is big dog wants sides.

She steals dog dogs bed with sides, which is now a pancake bed

RovingJohn

Thanks for everyone's replies. I know the pet market is over saturated online, but then again, which market isn't? (Anything you want you'll be able to get it online!)

I'll have a clear returns policy, and multiple methods of contact with a quick response (Under 1 day at least- may be quicker if I can get emails set up on my phone).

With people talking about large beds, have you looked at plastic beds? I have seen ones up to 34" which is fairly big (considering when your dog is curled up he is a bit smaller). They've got rigid sides and there is sides all the way around (although the front one is lowered a little). You can stick a mat/flat bed in them and it's good.

The biggest bed i've listed on my website (which isn't up and running so i'm not trying to sell it to you here!) is around 34- 36" with sides. It'll set you about around £50 and there are a few different designs.

My dog grew out of his bed so we got him a new one. We over estimated it a bit so he actually only fills up half of it when curled up!