Doggy Power: Korean dog cafes hit Bangkok

Dog restaurant that serves people too, new business idea targets loving dog owners & their canine companions.

We see it as a dog restaurant that allows people to come in, not a coffee shop for people that allows dogs to come in,’ says Mr Thanasut.(Photo: Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

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PETS

Dogs' best friend

New cafe serves dogs - not on the menu but rather as customers in their own right
21 Mar 2013
Nanchanok Wongsamuth  

Coffee & Puppy on Chaeng Watthana Road is very quiet during the morning on workdays but gets pretty crowded on weekends. Unlike other nearby restaurants, most customers heading here are walking their dogs - "man's best friend." 

Most tables in the cafe have a small wooden box to set the dog in, surrounded by a bigger case to prevent it from running away.

The idea of opening a restaurant for puppies came after Thanasut Vudthivichai, 49, and his business partner Nantana Sukitjai, 44, saw dog cafes in Seoul's Gangnam district, each one sporting an individual, contemporary look.

The partners' modelling agency, which they've owned since 2004, has provided them many opportunities to travel to South Korea as they attempt to open the door for Thai models

"Our friends in Korea said dog cafes have been around for a long time but only started booming four or five years ago as people began having fewer children, owning more dogs instead. [Mrs Nantana] and I had dogs, and we thought there would not be any obstacles to opening one of these cafes ourselves here. We always feel uncomfortable when while travelling we see big signs prohibiting pets from entering places," said Mr Thanasut

Two months after making the decision, the pair spent 500,000 baht to revamp 200 square metres of the first floor of their building to turn it into the Coffee & Puppy dog cafe, opening last August.

"We see it as a dog restaurant that allows people to come in, not a coffee shop for people that allows dogs to come in. Everything here is aimed at dogs and letting them just hang out here," said Mr Thanasut.

During the first month of operation, it was often mistaken for solely a pet shop or a coffee shop, as Thais still are still not very aware of dog cafes.

But after appearing on TV, people have started coming from farther afield - from the other side of Bangkok or even Ayutthaya.

"It makes me feel happy to see the smiles on the faces of dog owners' when they bring in their pets. One friend actually told me: 'I haven't seen you smile in ages. When you did modelling, you never smiled like this'," said Mr Thanasut.

Mrs Nantana came up with the menu by combining raw processed food with the Charoen Pokphand Group's Jerhigh pet treats.

Now there are 10 items on the dog menu and quite a few for the owners too.

"Sometimes people say their dogs are usually quiet, but once the dogs see their friends, they get all excited and run around together. We should not interfere with their fun, because if we do, they'll all just look at us like we're not one of them," said Mrs Nantana.

At the end of this month, Coffee & Puppy will launch a consulting service, with veterinarians on hand to advise dog owners once or twice a month.

"It won't be a clinic but rather a Q&A session. Often when you go see the vet, it means your dog is already sick, but what we're doing is preventing the dogs from falling sick. As we well know, sometimes treatment for our dogs costs more than for humans," said Mr Thanasut.

The partners plan to open two more branches of Coffee & Puppy in the near future, costing 500,000 baht apiece.

Products will be introduced under the cafe's own brand this year. 

Coffee & Puppy also offers day and night care for dogs, priced from 300-550 baht excluding food, depending on the dog's size.

Mr Thanasut said dog cafes have become more popular in countries such as the US, South Korea and Japan.

"More and more people will own pets not just to be fashionable but because they really love them. Particularly in urban areas where people will have fewer children, dog cafes will become normal," he said. 

But to be truly successful in this business, you must be sincere and ask yourself if you are ready to pick up other dogs' poo.

(Source: Bangkok Post, PETS, Dogs' best friend, New cafe serves dogs - not on the menu but rather as customers in their own right, 21 Mar 2013, Nanchanok Wongsamuth, link)   


Pet Dog Vocabulary

pet - an animal that you keep in your home as a friend and companion สัตว์เลี้ยง (See Wikipedia)
pet dogs

companion -  a friend you spend a lot of time with, such as a "travelling companion" เพื่อน
puppy - a baby dog ลูกสุนัข,  ลูกหมา

dog cafe - a special new kind of restaurant and cafe for dogs and the people who own them  ร้านกาแฟหมา (See Bau House Cafe in Seoul YouTube & Photos)

We see it as a dog restaurant that allows people to come in, not a coffee shop for people that allows dogs to come in

man's best friend - meaning: dogs
dogs' best friend - meaning: humans

serve - prepare food for someone at a restaurant ให้บริการอาหาร

Breakfast will not be served after ten o'clock.
That hotel serves very good food.
They serve wonderful Chinese food at that restaurant.
They serve delicious food at that restaurant.
That restaurant serves excellent food.
They serve terrible food at that restaurant.
They serve a very good dinner at that restaurant.
This restaurant serves Thai food
This restaurant serves both lunch and dinner
This restaurant will only serve customers who have a reservation (no walk-ins)

this cafe serves dogs - two possible meanings: 1. offers dog meat to eat on the menu; 2. dogs can eat in the restaurant 
a new cafe serves dogs - not on the menu but rather as customers in their own right

workdays - days when you work: Monday to Friday (maybe Saturday too)
weekdays - Same as "workdays" ทุกๆ วันธรรมดา, ทุกวันของสัปดาห์ (ยกเว้นวันเสาร์และวันอาทิตย์หรือยกเว้นวันอาทิตย์)
weekends - Saturday and Sunday (days when you do not work) ระหว่างวันหยุดสุดสัปดาห์

crowded - having many people in a small area or space แออัด, คนแน่นมาก
pretty crowded - very crowded (but not too much)
it gets pretty crowded on weekends

heading - going in some direction ทิศทางการเดินเรือหรือการบิน
heading here - going in this direction, coming here
most customers heading here are walking their dogs

Coffee & Puppy on Chaeng Watthana Road is very quiet during the morning on workdays but gets pretty crowded on weekends. Unlike other nearby restaurants, most customers heading here are walking their dogs - "man's best friend." 

surround - when things are positioned around something; encircle ล้อมรอบ, ห้อมล้อม, แวดล้อม, ห้อม
Most tables in the cafe have a small wooden box to set the dog in, surrounded by a bigger case to prevent it from running away.

district - an area of a town or city เขต
Seoul's Gangnam district - the richest and most exclusive district in Seoul, the capital of Korea (See Wikipedia)

contemporary - happening now or existing now  ทันสมัย,  ที่อยู่ในปัจจุบัน
a look - a style or appearance or fashion   ความนิยม, สมัยนิยม, แฟชั่น,
a contemporary look

sporting - wearing or appearing with a new fashion or style
sporting a look

individual - relating to or involving a single, separate person or thing แต่ละบุคคล
sporting an individual, contemporary look

The idea of opening a restaurant for puppies came after Thanasut Vudthivichai, 49, and his business partner Nantana Sukitjai, 44, saw dog cafes in Seoul's Gangnam district, each one sporting an individual, contemporary look.

model - a person who shows clothes in fashion shows or for photos to be put in ads and catalogues  นางแบบ, นายแบบ

agency - a company that gets works for some kind of skilled worker (representing them and negotiating deals) บริษัทตัวแทน
modelling agency - the company that gets works for models (represents them and negotiates deals)

the partners' modelling agency

opportunities - situations in which it is possible to do what you want or need to do
opportunities to travel to South Korea

open the door for ... - provide an introduction to, help someone start in some job or other activity
open the door for Thai models

The partners' modelling agency, which they've owned since 2004, has provided them many opportunities to travel to South Korea as they attempt to open the door for Thai models.

have been around for a long time
in Korea dog cafes have been around for a long time

obstacles - things that makes it difficult to go somewhere or do something อุปสรรค
we thought there would not be any obstacles to opening a dog cafe ourselves here.

prohibit - say that you cannot do something, forbid, ban, not give permission ห้าม,  ไม่อนุญาต
prohibiting pets
prohibiting pets from entering places

uncomfortable -  ไม่สบาย อึดอัด
feel uncomfortable
We always feel uncomfortable when while travelling we see big signs prohibiting pets from entering places

"Our friends in Korea said dog cafes have been around for a long time but only started booming four or five years ago as people began having fewer children, owning more dogs instead. [Mrs Nantana] and I had dogs, and we thought there would not be any obstacles to opening one ourselves here. We always feel uncomfortable when while travelling we see big signs prohibiting pets from entering places," said Mr Thanasut

revamp - to make a major change or revision to something ปรับปรุงใหม่
Two months after making the decision, the pair spent 500,000 baht to revamp 200 square metres of the first floor of their building to turn it into the Coffee & Puppy dog cafe, opening last August.

hang out - just stay in a place casually and relax (example: I will just hang out at a friend's house this weekend and go swimming)
"We see it as a dog restaurant that allows people to come in, not a coffee shop for people that allows dogs to come in. Everything here is aimed at dogs and letting them just hang out here," said Mr Thanasut.

mistaken for - people think it is this (but it is not this)
solely - only being one thing

often mistaken for solely a pet shop or a coffee shop
During the first month of operation, it was often mistaken for solely a pet shop or a coffee shop

aware - knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing ทราบ
not very aware of
Thais still are still not very aware of dog cafes.

coming from farther afield - coming from a place even farther away  
But after appearing on TV, people have started coming from farther afield - from the other side of Bangkok or even Ayutthaya.

in ages - for a long time
I haven't seen you smile in ages

"It makes me feel happy to see the smiles on the faces dog owners' when they bring in their pets. One friend actually told me: 'I haven't seen you smile in ages. When you did modelling, you never smiled like this'," said Mr Thanasut.

came up with - created, dreamed up (something creative)
came up with the menu

raw - not cooked
processed - treated in some way, e.g., treated with chemicals, cut, etc.
combining raw processed food

treat - something special that makes someone happy สิ่งที่ให้ความสุข
pet treats - a special food or snack that makes your pet happy

Mrs Nantana came up with the menu by combining raw processed food with the Charoen Pokphand Group's Jerhigh pet treats.

item one thing on a list - ของ, สิ่งของ, สิ่งของในรายการ
items on  menu - one food or "dish" on the menu of a restaurant (that you can order and eat)

items on the dog menu
Now there are 10 items on the dog menu and quite a few for the owners too.

excited - ตื่นเต้นดีใจ
get all excited

run around -  วิ่งเล่นไปทั่ว
run around together
they get all excited and run around together

"Sometimes people say their dogs are usually quiet, but once the dogs see their friends, they get all excited and run around together.

interfere - to deliberately become involved in a situation and try to influence the way that it develops, although you have no right to do this การจงใจแทรกแซง
interfere with their fun - stop them from having fun (by something you do)

We should not interfere with their fun, because if we do, they'll all just look at us like we're not one of them," said Mrs Nantana.

consulting - giving expert advice on a subject (for example: how to run a business or how to build a building) การให้คำปรึกษา
a consulting service

launch - to start selling a new product or service to the public เริ่มวางขาย เริ่มต้น เริ่มโครงการ
launch a consulting service

veterinarian - an animal doctor  สัตวแพทย์ (See Wikipedia)
a vet - Same as "veterinarian"

on hand - present or existing at a place (so you can use them or talk to them)  ติดตัว,หยิบใช้สะดวก
veterinarians on hand

At the end of this month, Coffee & Puppy will launch a consulting service, with veterinarians on hand to advise dog owners once or twice a month.

clinic - Same as "medical clinic"
medical clinic  

session - a formal meeting การชุมนุม ประชุม
Q&A session

medical treatment - the process of providing medical care การรักษา
treatment - Same as "medical treatment"

medical treatment for dogs
medical treatment for humans

falling sick - becoming sick, getting sick (going from being healthy to being sick)
preventing from falling sick

It won't be a clinic but rather a Q&A session. Often when you go see the vet, it means your dog is already sick, but what we're doing is preventing the dogs from falling sick. As we well know, sometimes treatment for our dogs costs more than for humans.

partners - Same as "business partners" in a partnership
The partners plan to open two more branches of Coffee & Puppy in the near future, costing 500,000 baht apiece.

brand - a type of product made by a particular company ตรา, ยี่ห้อ
Products will be introduced under the cafe's own brand this year. 

excluding - not including ไม่รวม, นอกจาก, นอกเหนือ
excluding food - not including food
300-550 baht excluding food

Coffee & Puppy also offers day and night care for dogs, priced from 300-550 baht excluding food, depending on the dog's size.

fashionable - popular at a particular time ทันสมัย
do it just to be fashionable

urban - in a city (not rural area) ในเมือง เขตเมือง
urban areas

"More and more people will own pets not just to be fashionable but because they really love them. Particularly in urban areas where people will have fewer children, dog cafes will become normal," he said. 

pick up - take up something with your hand หยิบ, หยิบขึ้น
poo - waste, faeces, poop ขี้, อุจจาระ

pick up poo
pick up dog poo

ready - prepared เตรียมพร้อม, พร้อม
ready to pick up other dogs' poo

sincere - when a person really means what they say and do; (of a person, feelings or behaviour) not pretending or lying; honest จริงใจ, ตรงไปตรงมา
you must be sincere

But to be truly successful in this business, you must be sincere and ask yourself if you are ready to pick up other dogs' poo.