Meet the "big dog" of price comparison search engines: DogDug, a one-stop source for locating cheap dog supplies, from nail clippers to flea and tick treatment.
The site, officially launched today, breaks the leash of online shopping to focus on the consumer needs of human's best friend. But not to worry, all you feline fanatics -- DogDug plans to dig beyond cheap dog supplies to unearth cheap pet supplies for the likes of cats, fish, reptiles, and, well, you name it. A comparison shopping tool for pet insurance is in the offing, as well.
As any pet owner knows, being a master is an ongoing cost commitment. According to the American Pet Products Association, annual expenses for a dog or cat easily exceed $1,200. That's a lot of fat to trim.
Almost in a class by itself, DogDug efficiently and effectively points canine owners to the lowest cost products without the annoyances of pop-ups and advertisements. A general search for "pet price comparison sites" turns up one rival, Petazon.com, which blankets the pet universe and seems trickier to navigate than DogDug. Whereas DogDug is divided into simple categories, such as ceramic dog bowls, grooming, pet jerseys, and food and treats, Petazon is organized by animal, merchant, brand, and/or item category. The exact same product -- a vehicle safety harness, say -- may appear in Petazon's search results multiple times but on DogDug it comes up only once along with all the sites selling it.
Available promo codes also appear in DogDug search results. Rover, an optional browser tool, automatically notifies users when a coupon is available as they peruse the listed vendor sites.
DogDug's owner, David Keh, is himself master of a standard poodle and conceived the idea for the site out of frustration wioh navigating traditional price comparison engines. Aside from displaying the cheapest prices for dog supplies, DogDug also adds value for owners, for example, by screening for counterfeit and imported pet medications that lack FDA approval.
The New York Times "Bucks" blog reports that Keh is solely intent on providing lists of retailers offering cheap dog supplies. It does not sell products directly but maintains commission deals with some featured sites.
