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Help with a university presentation from dog owners please?

83 replies

EveMerc75 · 20/09/2021 19:27

I'm in my second year of a marketing degree and am really struggling to think of a pet product that would be useful that doesn't already exist, any suggestions of what dog owners would like to be available would be greatly appreciated Wink

OP posts:
FastFood · 20/09/2021 20:02

Hi OP,
I'm a market and user researcher and after many years in the industry, I can assure you that people have no idea what they want so you might not learn much by asking upfront.
Henry Ford has famously said "If I asked people what they wanted, they would have said "faster horses".
Instead, what you need to uncover is what people want to achieve. In the Henry Ford case, what people wanted to achieve was to reduce time to cover a distance.

In your case, you want to know what kind of lifestyle pet owners aspire to, how is their relationship with their pets, how they'd like it to be etc...

As a former dog owner, I can say that the relationship I was aspiring to with my dog was to have a side kick, always together, stronger together, the product I could have found useful would have been something to enable that relationship, such as a transport bag, a fancy dog passport holder, a bike trailer, an app which helps me to train my dog etc...

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/09/2021 20:06

I want an indestructible, soft dog bed please.

EveMerc75 · 20/09/2021 20:17

Thank you so much for your advice, I really struggled last year and I feel so out of my depth already, and we have only been back a week, thanks again.

OP posts:
DrunkenUnicorn · 20/09/2021 20:20

Indestructible, soft bed… that’s waterproof please (so that if -when- they eat something disgusting and throw up in their beds, it doesn’t soak through to the underneath)

FastFood · 20/09/2021 20:20

OP, look online for Jobs-to-be-done, this is the research methodology I'm refering to, there are loads of resources and books about that.

and I'm sorry if I sounded patronising, not my aim at all, guess I'm just over-invested in research!

Good luck for your degree

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/09/2021 20:23

@DrunkenUnicorn

Indestructible, soft bed… that’s waterproof please (so that if -when- they eat something disgusting and throw up in their beds, it doesn’t soak through to the underneath)
And yes, and washable and dryable.
TimeIhadaNameChange · 20/09/2021 20:26

Does it have to be new, or could you improve something already there? Dyson has done rather well reinventing the vacuum cleaner, for eg.

GrouchyKiwi · 20/09/2021 20:30

I need something to encourage my non-chewer dog to chew things so she cleans her teeth. What kind of dog doesn't like to chew on fresh, juicy bones? I have to flambé them so she'll even give them a lick. Hmm

eyeslikebutterflies · 20/09/2021 20:32

I'd really like a little travel bed or blanket I can roll up and stick in my bag, then whip out for my dog to lie on when we're in cafes, pubs, outdoor places - she comes everywhere with me and a little bed would help her settle (but I can't take her actual bed, and the sports towel I currently use is a bit rubbish). Something that's waterproof on the underside, rolls up with a fastener, and is light and washable. Can you see I've been thinking about this for a while?!!! Tbf I haven't actually searched properly for one... maybe it exists....

@FastFood's point is right (I work in product branding). I always start with consumer insight or trend reports (you can get loads free online, try Harvard Review or YouGov research) to see what consumers are doing or feeling, and then try and identify a brand that would fit their needs.

As an example: we know that lockdown let to the lockdown puppy, and that zillions of people in the UK got dogs to pass the time. And those same people are now going back to the office and their little doggies are not well trained, don't like being alone, and are becoming pests. There's a consumer need: what product would help these dog owners?

Good luck, try not to feel overwhelmed, you can do it xx

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/09/2021 20:32

@GrouchyKiwi

I need something to encourage my non-chewer dog to chew things so she cleans her teeth. What kind of dog doesn't like to chew on fresh, juicy bones? I have to flambé them so she'll even give them a lick. Hmm
Try training a dog that's meh about treats.

What dog doesn't want treats FFS?

GrouchyKiwi · 20/09/2021 20:35

MrsTerryPratchett
Nightmare! Grin

It's a good thing they're adorable.

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/09/2021 20:36

IKR? Grin

Sexnotgender · 20/09/2021 20:37

I want something to freeze/solidify my idiot dogs runny poop so I can try and scoop it off the pavement in one go!

Stickytreacle · 20/09/2021 20:38

I have large breed dogs who love to lie on hard floors instead of their very expensive beds, but they develop
elbow callouses. Something to prevent, or treat them would be great!

DramaAlpaca · 20/09/2021 20:40

I'd like a cuddly, squeaky toy that my springer can't destroy within, literally, 5 minutes. He goes for the squeak first, bites through that then pulls the toy apart leaving a trail of stuffing everywhere

EcoCustard · 20/09/2021 20:43

I would like someone to invent some sort of ear muff or earplug for my spaniel’s to prevent grass seeds from going in the ear canal. They cost a bloody fortune and distress to have removed as one needs sedation each time. Colton wool doesn’t work and he finds them everywhere in summer.

Timmymagical · 20/09/2021 20:45

Hi, a tennis ball tracker, we have lost a few in the long grass!!

Boiledcabbages · 20/09/2021 20:46

What about something for muddy dog
Paws in the winter?

Wegobshite · 20/09/2021 20:47

As an owner of an expensive -popular dog of - people will often pay upwards of 3k for a french bulldog - no idea why as they are like tiny needy toddlers on speed & redbull most of the time 😂
And it’s also one that is also easy and popular to steal I would love it if the micro chips they put in dogs so they know who owns it could track them 😂😂 when they get lost or get stolen .
Dog Knapping is a huge huge business remember LADY GAGAs french bulldogs were dog knapped last summer and her dog Walker shot .
I’m sure the technology is there somewhere although I don’t know where 😂and most dog owners i expect would pay to have something like this available.
However OP if you develop this and go on dragons den I will be watching and want my 50 percent 😂😂

chipsandpeas · 20/09/2021 20:49

@Sexnotgender

I want something to freeze/solidify my idiot dogs runny poop so I can try and scoop it off the pavement in one go!
www.bmstores.co.uk/products/one-chem-poop-freeze-334526
Sexnotgender · 20/09/2021 20:53

@chipsandpeas omg… why did I not know this was a thing?!

Sexnotgender · 20/09/2021 20:55

Just looked up that spray and the reviews are not good. Ah well.

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/09/2021 20:56

@Boiledcabbages

What about something for muddy dog Paws in the winter?
They have one of those. Although I suspect it's bought for other purposes more Blush
Help with a university presentation from dog owners please?
TwooThirty · 20/09/2021 21:00

@Sexnotgender

I want something to freeze/solidify my idiot dogs runny poop so I can try and scoop it off the pavement in one go!
Raw feeding.
stayathomegardener · 20/09/2021 21:00

If you are in the UK we don't seem to have dog back packs here yet. Dd imported one from America, gets asked all the time where it's from. Will find a picture of her dog in it.

I'm in need of a car harness/transport system that doesn't cost £300+ and has fab safety report.

I run a dog park so pretty invested.