Rent-A-Rover
April 26, 2007 3:54 PM   Subscribe

Is your plan of spending an idyllic Saturday at the lake playing fetch with your chocolate Lab hampered by the fact that you don't own a chocolate Lab? Flexpetz to the rescue! If you live in Los Angeles or San Diego, you can rent a dog by the day.
posted by freshwater_pr0n (37 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
That seems like a really bad idea for the dogs.
posted by Kwantsar at 4:01 PM on April 26, 2007


This was totally my idea.
posted by birdherder at 4:10 PM on April 26, 2007


In truth, the dogs are renting the owners by the day.
posted by phaedon at 4:12 PM on April 26, 2007 [1 favorite]


No, this was MY idea! I can't believe someone stole my dog brothel concept from my mind!
posted by lemuria at 4:15 PM on April 26, 2007


The vet clinic at MSU used to do this. Most of the dog's were "retired" greyhounds as I recall. It was very popular pick up a dog for a few hours when the weather was good. The dogs seemed happy with the setup.
posted by Eddie Mars at 4:20 PM on April 26, 2007


This is perfect for desperate guys who've heard that dog parks are great places to pick up chicks.
posted by brundlefly at 4:25 PM on April 26, 2007


I'm waiting for Flexkidz myself.
posted by Cyrano at 4:40 PM on April 26, 2007



A fabulous musical comedy about the dot com boom revolved around the loser idea of a rental puppy website. The song about consultants is priceless.

Great to see it is coming true.
posted by brewsterkahle at 4:40 PM on April 26, 2007


Without a member of the most noble and perfect of all dog breeds*, I predict imminent failure.
posted by docgonzo at 4:42 PM on April 26, 2007


Now if it were babies, then you'd be talking.
posted by gottabefunky at 4:48 PM on April 26, 2007


"I'm waiting for Flexkidz myself."

Are you a priest?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:49 PM on April 26, 2007


It's gone now -- a hoax?
This is the most perfect of all dog breeds. I don't want a dog who thinks it's better than me.
posted by Methylviolet at 4:50 PM on April 26, 2007


I like that they're doing this with rescued animals -- it seems like a fine alternative to a one-way trip to the fertilizer plant.
posted by killdevil at 4:52 PM on April 26, 2007


It's gone now -- a hoax?

Nope - a typo. Delete the quotes at the end of the URL linked above.

And *all* dogs think they're better than us. Some are just more willing to wear a "princess" sweater if it means food than others.
posted by katillathehun at 4:57 PM on April 26, 2007


Methylviolet writes "It's gone now -- a hoax?"

There's a stray quotation mark at the end of the URL. Delete it and it should work fine.
posted by brundlefly at 4:58 PM on April 26, 2007


No, katillathehun, you're thinking of cats.

Dogs, though, are the world's most successful parasites. Superiority doesn't come into it.
posted by docgonzo at 4:59 PM on April 26, 2007


I really, really wish they had this where I am, right now. And that they had a black and tan longhaired miniature Dachshund available.

I need a puppy to hug.
posted by po at 5:00 PM on April 26, 2007


docgonzo writes "Dogs, though, are the world's most successful parasites."

They're not really parasitic as much as they are a vestigial remainder from a formerly symbiotic relationship. Kind of like children after the Industrial Revolution.
posted by mullingitover at 5:05 PM on April 26, 2007 [6 favorites]


Okay, first of all - Greyhounds are the perfect breed. They're like cats, but less snotty and dog-shaped! A Greyhound could only be surpassed (and only MAYBE) if I was able to breed an Italian Greyhound to have the Greyhound personality. It'd be the cutest, laziest motherfucker around.

The idea of this is a little exploitative to me, but really, I can't see who loses - dogs get people to play with them, humans get dogs to pick up chicks^H^H^H^H^H^H play with, and everbody wins.
posted by god hates math at 5:09 PM on April 26, 2007


Yes, that was what it was.

I think it is neat. The only way it could work is by being expensive enough to rule out people with only a casual interest -- and it is. People who sign up for this have made a significant monetary commitment, and are likely to be careful with and kind to the dogs.
posted by Methylviolet at 5:12 PM on April 26, 2007


It seems like this would be a great thing for pounds and RSPCAs to do- they have to exercise the dogs anyway, why not let people volunteer to do it for them?

And the perfect "breed" is no breed at all - mutts are where its at.
posted by andihazelwood at 5:15 PM on April 26, 2007


Anything that keeps dogs out of the gas chamber is thumbs-up in my book. I'm crossing my fingers that none of the dogs get abused like rental cars.

Oh, and since there seems to be a side discussion on various breeds, I'd like to submit the mighty Labrador Retriever into the mix.

Too obvious a choice, probably. Nor is it really fair to make other breeds compete with the Best Breed Evar.

Methyl - Goldens also rule and rule hard.
posted by EatTheWeek at 5:34 PM on April 26, 2007


You know who did own a chocolate lab?
posted by rob511 at 5:36 PM on April 26, 2007


Been doing this for quite some time in Japan. (warning: BoingBoing link)
posted by dreamsign at 5:52 PM on April 26, 2007


I had an immediate knee-jerk reaction against it but I actually rather like the idea a lot once I looked into the site.

These are rescued dogs -- I'm sure their temporary owners will treat them well -- they're sure to get regular vet visits -- I wonder if I'd do it if they had a New York office, it'd be a lot of fun to have a dog for a weekend!
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 5:59 PM on April 26, 2007


Why does BoingBoing need a warning?
posted by rolypolyman at 6:25 PM on April 26, 2007


I have an Australian Shepherd. He's no use in picking up chicks 'cause girls won't date a guy whose dog is smarter than he is.
posted by Eekacat at 6:27 PM on April 26, 2007


It seems like this would be a great thing for pounds and RSPCAs to do- they have to exercise the dogs anyway, why not let people volunteer to do it for them?

They take volunteers to socialize and train animals here in Louisville, and lots of other places. It is different from the FlexPetz idea in that you normally have to stay on the organization's premises, have a certain amount of training yourself, and commit to a certain schedule and duration of involvement so they an be consistent in what care and training the animals get, and the volunteers can't necessarily pick which dog/breed they want to work with. But knowing what might be going to happen to the animals (okay, mostly dogs) would be heartbreaking, too, and probably deters quite a few people.

And of course many (most?) rescues and shelters foster animals, as well, but this business seems to be geared towards people who can't make a regular commitment to an animal or schedule for whatever reason.
posted by dilettante at 6:45 PM on April 26, 2007




Au contraire, eekacat. I would happily date an Australian shepherd owner, and there are no men who are smarter than Australian shepherds. (This is not a slam at men, in case anyone is wondering. Australian shepherds are just really smart.)

And this is a GREAT idea. My beloved Chesapeake Bay retriever had to be put down almost a year ago, and I can't possibly get another dog at this point in my life (I'm a single parent, I can't afford a dog, my son is too young to help take care of a dog, I have a long commute, we're moving to Germany, etc.), but I really, really miss having a dog around, and I'd love to borrow a dog to take to the lake, or on a hike.

Hell, maybe I'll start a Rent-a-Dog service in Germany! I really want to borrow an Anatolian shepherd for a couple of days.
posted by jenii at 7:29 PM on April 26, 2007


Cyrano says: I'm waiting for Flexkidz myself.

You mean babysitting, I think. Are you free this weekend?
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:09 AM on April 27, 2007


freshwater_pr0n, thanks for posting this. Sadly, I don't live in California. I *tried* to live there, but they said I wasn't bipolar enough.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:10 AM on April 27, 2007


jenii, I was just thinking the same thing (starting one in England), but I can't stand cleaning up dogshit.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:12 AM on April 27, 2007


Then he took me to the Great Throne of Judgment, and all the people who had ever lived were gathered round, and God said, "Whoever has done the most selfless deed will sit by my right side for all eternity." and Albert Schweitzer stands up.

He says, "I devoted my whole life to curing disease in the jungle."

And God says, "By doing that Albert you totally upset their ecosystem and now they're all starving to death, smart guy. Next? It's your turn, Mr. E."

I thought, "Huh, this is tough." Then I said, "I'll tell you a selfless deed. Once in a spirit of extreme selflessness, altruism and generosity... I filled a rental dog with Premium."

And there was a loud hosanna!
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 4:15 AM on April 27, 2007


I think this is adorable. I bet the dogs love it.
posted by miss tea at 4:30 AM on April 27, 2007


Cool idea!
posted by nickyskye at 10:53 AM on April 27, 2007


Strange idea, but a good idea.
posted by ryo.pau at 5:55 PM on April 30, 2007


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