Pets arrive by 9 a.m. 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 7 p.m.
Pet owner Mi Jiayi holds her dog Mary in a cooling vest as she crosses a road on a summer day in Shanghai, China, July 19, 2023. Photo by Reuters
"We raise our dog like a child," said Qian Yi, whose one-year-old border collie, Harry, visits every weekday.
As declining birth rates alter lifestyles, pets are increasingly treated as members of the family, driving growth in higher-value services such as daycare, grooming and training.
