June 15, 2026
A new kind of preschool in China offers games, nibbles, treadmills and music for puppies, clawing out a fast-growing niche in a booming industry as youthful owners spend more on pets increasingly regarded as family.
Pets arrive by 9am each day at Paw³, which bills itself as a kindergarten for dogs in the commercial hub of Shanghai, providing tightly scheduled activities for the canines, rather than strict training or age limits.
They follow a routine of interactive games and obstacle courses, interspersed with freshly made snacks and naps as a pianist plays classical music, and can stroll on a special doggie treadmill before their owners pick them up around 7pm.
"We raise our dog like a child," said Qian Yi, whose one-year-old border collie, Harry, visits every weekday.
