Assignment 4A: Forming an Opportunity Belief

Brainstorming:

A dog toy that talks back, lights up

-record your voice “good boy”

Needs to have a camera and needs to be indestructible

I truly believe that an opportunity exists in regard to the creation of a “smart” talking dog toy to keep a dog company when their human is not home. This toy will have a microphone which their human may speak into through an app when they are not home. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states, “One of the most common complaints of pet parents is that their dogs are disruptive or destructive when left alone” (aspca.org). Dogs can do many devious acts when they suffer from Separation Anxiety: breaking items, peeing, defecating, barking, and much more. Millions and billions of dog owners across the world have this exact problem, especially when they just bought their pets. This need has always existed. Some animal owners will lock their dogs in a cage or send the canine to daycare. I believe my invention will save animal owners money and time spent disciplining their pets.

#1 Middle-aged woman with three children, a dog, and a full-time job

·       Has your dog ever suffered from Separation Anxiety?

o   Yes. Many times. He tore up the carpet, destroyed two pillows, and peed on the couch one time and pooped on my favorite chair another time.

·       When did you first notice this destructive anxiety and how often does it occur?

o   Jake (the dog) started this behavior when we first got him and still continues it to this day. He is usually detrimental to the cleanliness of my home when I cannot get home until later on.

·       What do you do now to prevent separation anxiety? Are you fine with this solution?

o   I make sure that I am always home at the same time every day. I also give him snacks when I get home to reward him for waiting. I am somewhat satisfied with the outcome. However, it only takes one long day at the office to set him (the dog) off.

·       How would you feel using the toy I developed to help stop your problem?

o   I really like the idea of a toy that has a microphone and a camera on it. It would be wonderful to be able to stick a few of these toys around the house so I can always see what Jake is doing and correct him when he exhibits bad behavior.

Reflection: Many people seem to have this dilemma. However, they seem to be content with sweeping it over the rug.

#2 Male, Mid-Twenties

·       Has your dog ever suffered from Separation Anxiety?

o   Yes. Especially when he was younger. However, the damage dealt was not that costly whenever the “event” happened.

·       When did you first notice this destructive anxiety and how often does it occur?

o   It first happened within the first week I had him at my apartment. He had this scared look on his face the first day I was home with him, which was a Sunday. When I left for work on Monday he peed on the floor and messed with my pillows.

o   This does not seem to happen often anymore, but it was a minor problem when he was 1-2 years old.

·       What do you do now to prevent separation anxiety? Are you fine with this solution?

o   Now, I give him a treat before I leave the house. It seems he is used to his home and does not want to destroy it anymore. I don’t really know.

·       How would you feel using the toy I developed to help stop your problem?

o   I would definitely buy it. It’s great for security, and I would love to be able to check in on the little guy when I’m at work. Not sure if would stop him from peeing on my floor or tearing up a pillow.

Reflection: It seems that this problem is one that goes away with age. I will ask another person these same questions to see if this is true.

#3 Older Man

·       Has your dog ever suffered from Separation Anxiety?

o   Oh, Yes. This was many years ago though.

·       When did you first notice this destructive anxiety and how often does it occur?

o   It first happened when I just got him from the pound. I was shopping at Publix. I was only gone for an hour, and when I got back, he wreaked part of the rug on my stairs. This does not happen anymore.

·       What do you do now to prevent separation anxiety? Are you fine with this solution?

o   I am careful not to leave him alone too long anymore, and I take him with me as much as I can when I leave the home. I’m content with this solution.

·       How would you feel using the toy I developed to help stop your problem?

o   I don’t know. I am not that good with technology and would probably end up throwing it out due to frustration.

Reflection: This seems to be a trend. Older dogs are typically more mature. Thus, this leads to a decrease in emotional outbursts when left alone. Also, older people may have difficulty using this device.

Summary:

I truly believe there is still an opportunity here to make a lot of money with this product. I will just need to do further research to understand who my customer base is. It seems older people will have trouble with this device. This is ok because this device is made mostly for people who are out working and are more active than older individuals. I believe that my new opportunity is more accurate than when I started. Going around and talking to people of different demographics really helped me understand what I need to do to make the most out of this new idea. I think entrepreneurs should listen to customer feedback to an extent. However, it is important to know that if a majority of the customers are happy with the product while only a small minority are unhappy, then you should stay firm with your original idea.