Dogs can now wear the same type of water- and dirt-repelling clothing as their owners who wear North Face, Adidas, and Ralph Lauren. They”™ve already been able to bed down dry thanks to the same fiber technology.
It all started when Chris Onthank, a canine behaviorist and owner of the Dog Gone Smart Canine Center in Norwalk, was approached by a representative of Switzerland-based Schoeller Technologies A.G. and was asked about using its Nanosphere fabric in dog beds.
“Finally, there can be a dog bed that stays clean naturally and is healthy for your pet,” Onthank thought to himself.
“We were afforded a unique opportunity as worldwide licensee of Schoeller”™s Nanosphere and Active-Silver performance-fabric finishes to develop and market the world’s most technologically advanced pet products on the market today,” said Onthank.
The dog beds were so well received that Onthank decided to develop a line of dog apparel using the same technology.
Onthank”™s other company, Wilton-based Nano Pet Products, L.L.C. debuted its Dog Gone Smart Wear brand dog apparel last month at The Global Pet Expo in San Diego.
Now, Onthank is developing a line of pet products to further stake a claim to the $45 billion pet market industry ”“ for PETCO, the national pet superstore.
“Our dog bed sales internationally have swept us off our feet,” said Richard Vinchesi, CFO and Onthank”™s partner in Nano Pet Products, L.L.C. “We began shipping the product internationally right away.”
The dog beds are priced from $80 to $130 ”“ the national average for a dog bed is $40. Apparel is $35 to $65. But, the partners say, it will stay clean longer. According to Vanchesi, so far they have sold “tens of thousands and are on our way to sell hundreds of thousands.”
The partners plan to add leashes, collars, throws, seat covers and cargo liners, and Nano Pet Products, L.L.C. also owns licensing for the horse market and is working on saddles and horse blankets that stay dry and clean.
