Dogs, cats, rodents, birds and fish: there are many pets in Luxembourg and it is clear that a real market is developing around them. The days when pet-related expenses were limited to veterinary care and food are over. Today, dozens of companies are working with pet owners, while their offers offers are as varied as the animals themselves.
With nearly 42,000 dogs registered in Luxembourg's municipalities, according to the Administration des services vétérinaires, a vast market is opening up to owners. For example, they can request the services of companies for dog walking. Since 2011, has been offering dog walking, socialisation courses, grooming, boarding and even a dog daycare. For a walk, you can expect to pay between €19.50 and €30, depending on the package you choose.
Beauty, wellness, but also socialisation
There is no shortage of grooming salons. Some offer à la carte services, including hand removal of dead hair, ear cleaning and even anal gland cleansing, as at The Dog Company in Strassen.
Others are playing the “do it yourself” card, such as the Ornicenter pet shop in Echternach, which has been offering Luxembourg's first “dog wash” since the end of January. In this specially equipped container, owners can groom their dogs for as little as 3 euros. “This makes life easier for people living in flats, without a bathtub or with back problems, because in the 'dog wash', the dog is placed at the height of the owner,” explains its manager, Tiago Bastos.
In Schuttrange, Martha & Friends Dog Wellness has been offering, since the end of 2020, day care for €45 including walks, socialisation activities, exercises, a grooming service and even physiotherapy with laser and water treatments. “The dog walks or runs in the warm water, which creates resistance and helps them after an injury or an operation,” says founder and director Carina Hellemaa.
The first lockdown taught the owners that being alone with their dog is not good, as the dog needs to socialise with other dogs.
She traded a job in the financial world to start her own business to make life easier for dog owners. One of the key points? Socialising dogs: “The first lockdown taught owners that being alone with their dog is not good, because the dog needs to socialise with other dogs, but also to learn to find a balance and to be independent of its family.” The structure also offers a dog boarding service and a shop with accessories and food for dogs.
In this respect, the Cofficook dog bakery in Dudelange sells homemade treats for dogs. From a bone-shaped biscuit with Emmental cheese sold for €0.60 to a birthday cake for €16.90, the catalogue emphasises carefully selected ingredients. Some foods is even guaranteed to be 100% natural and organic.
Why not insure your companion?
Even the insurance sector is now positioning itself on the market, such as Axa for example, which offers to insure its cat from €138 per year and €160 for a dog. The contract covers veterinary expenses, but also, for the comfort package, the cost of boarding the animal.
Owners are well aware that this expense can quickly add to a holiday budget and it is better to find a dog (or cat) boarding facility in advance, especially during the school holidays. Here too, the facilities are expanding their catalogue of services with, in addition to boarding, paramedical care or shampoos. For example, at the Déierepensioun Lassie in Itzig, the rates for a dog vary from €27 to €35 per day during the school holidays. In Koerich, the Zare-Schlass even offers a package for two dogs that varies from €38 to €42 per day during the school holidays.
Finally, the market is also occupied by a good number of specialist brands. Josy Welter, a long-standing player in Luxembourg, is currently concentrating on its outlet in La Belle Étoile with a wide range of pet food and accessories. The store also sells fish, turtles and rodents. “We have had more contacts for hamsters with covid. This is probably because these animals can easily be entrusted to a friend when you go on holiday,” says Benoît, a salesman.
German company Fressnapf is expanding its network with nine sales outlets, and a tenth is expected to open soon in Capellen. The covid-19 pandemic and the increase in the amount of time spent at home have boosted owners' interest in their pets. In 2020, the company saw its sales reach €2.6bn in Europe. In Luxembourg alone, sales jumped by 14.5% to €27m.
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.