The FINANCIAL — To see a Siberian Husky in Tbilisi was quite unusual just four or five years ago; today they are everywhere.
The FINANCIAL — To see a Siberian Husky in Tbilisi was quite unusual just four or five years ago; today they are everywhere. Many Georgians are buying Husky breeds because of their light blue eyes and local fashion trends which now dictate having them as a member of the family.
But only a few Georgians know that Huskies can actually overheat in warm climates and that without proper handling Huskies can become difficult to control and aggressive.
“In the most recent period we have had quite high number of orders for the importing of Siberian Huskies. The price of Husky puppies varies from USD 700-900. As most of our clients say, they buy Huskies due to their pleasing appearance. It has become a kind of fashion statement in Georgia. Often however people have problems with raising the animal later, as this breed of dog needs special care,” said Mamuka Bakhtadze, petshop owner.
“The Siberian Husky is a powerful working dog and it needs frequent exercise, otherwise it will suffer physically as well as mentally. A very important aspect of proper Siberian Husky dog care is therefore to exercise your dog on a daily basis. The Siberian Husky is a fuel-efficient dog; otherwise it would not have survived the harsh conditions in the Artic. You must therefore take care not to overfeed it,”Bakhtadze said.
“It’s often hard for Huskies to cope with hot weather in summer, so Georgian summers might also harm them. Despite all these aspects people still continue to buy it. Other very well-sold dog breeds in Georgia are German and Caucasian shepherds,” he added.
“The price you pay for a German shepherd depends on many factors including the quality of the breeder, the bloodlines, parent’s titles and certifications, guarantees etc. Prices start from USD 150-200 and can increase from there. Caucasian Shepherd prices might also start from USD 200-300 and up,” said Bakhtadze.
Husky, Chow Chow and Dalmatian are some of the most demanded dog breeds in recent times in Tbilisi, according to Soso Matkava, representative of Vet Clinic, which also sells dog breeds. He adds that people mostly buy puppies and cats in their clinic but decorative fishes are more in demand today.
“Fish are quite cheap. People can buy one fish for as little as just GEL 5. Mostly big organizations buy the highest number of fish. They often use fish as part of their office decoration,” Bakhtadze said.
“The popularity of certain breeds of dogs in Tbilisi are due to so-called ‘street fashion’. If someone popular buys an exotic and exceptional puppy or dog and walks it in Tbilisi’s central streets then this breed becomes most popular within a short period. As we know the Siberian Husky is not a decorative dog, it’s quite an active and powerful dog that is used to cold weather. Apart from this Tbilisi residents still continue to buy this dog as its appearance is always remarkable and easily noticeable,” Matkava said.
Having a pet at home is not just about buying it. Owning a pet demands some extra care and extra expenses including food and accessories for them. ZooPlaza is one of the leading veterinary companies, which offers a wide range of services and products for pets.
The Royal 80 bed for dogs costs GEL 153.50, nylon lead for dogs – GEL 11.50, dog lead with extending cord and patented control system – GEL 35, dental toy made of natural rubber – GEL 35, pet transporting facility Atlas Deluxe 20 costs GEL 92.50, while the kennel for dogs Domus Maxi costs GEL 1,033.
The company offers a wide variety of food choice for pets including Advance Maxi Adult 15kg food for dogs for GEL 105, Advance Medium Puppy 7.5kg – GEL 65, Brekkies Excel Junior Energy 20kg – GEL 105, and Advance Mini Puppy 3kg – GEL 30. Fish food prices start from GEL 2 and go up to GEL 125. Meanwhile the cost of a Tetra Discus 10 L is GEL 125.
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