Aaron Clayton's blog

Why would anyone rent a goat?

When I was in college, my friends and I rented a house in Providence. That spring, a few of my roommates wanted a mascot for their new literary journal, the Philtrum Press, and they settled on a goat named Phil. Phil kept our backyard nicely mowed (and fertilized). We thought that Phil was great (our landlords did not), but it never occurred to us that we might turn Phil's voracious appetite into a business.

Shock collar trainer tells client she is using a "clicker."

MIT research: When success is reinforced, physical changes in neurons observed that enable fast learning. No such changes observed in non-rewarded behavior.

The bottom line is that many pet owners are reluctant, rather than enthusiastic, customers of a boarding kennel. So the market has responded and we're seeing the emergence, across the country, of higher end boarding facilities that cater to pet owners who want a great experience for their dog while owner and dog are separated. Just another example of Value Leadership in action.