Chinese woman spends Rs 1.6 lakh every month on pet dog's 'school', here's why
This Shanghai woman spends over Rs 1.6 lakh a month on a "school" for her pet dog, offering training, daycare, and transport, emphasising the growing luxury pet care industry in China.
A young woman in China has gone viral after revealing she spends thousands each month on what is essentially a “school” for her pet dog.
According to a report by South China Morning Post, the Shanghai-based woman, who goes by the pseudonym Taotao, enrolled her six-month-old Samoyed in a premium pet kindergarten due to her demanding work schedule.
The programme, which costs around 12,000 yuan (approximately Rs 1,62,950) per month, offers a range of structured services for pets. These include personality assessments, behaviour training sessions, social interaction activities, and even a dedicated pickup and drop-off service, described as a “school bus” for dogs.
Explaining her decision, Taotao said, “I am usually too busy with work and do not have much time to keep it company,” emphasising the challenge of balancing work with pet care.
As detailed in the South China Morning Post report, the monthly fee is broken down into multiple components. It includes a daily boarding charge, additional fees for interactive “parent-child” sessions, and transport services, while meals are billed separately.
The facility itself operates as a full-service centre, offering grooming, health monitoring, cleaning, and structured socialisation alongside training. Pet owners can also check in on their animals remotely through live monitoring systems.
A founder of one such school in Shanghai, identified by the surname Chen, noted that demand has surged, with waiting periods of up to two to three weeks for new enrolments. The centre typically accommodates 20 to 30 pets during quieter periods, but numbers can exceed 100 during peak seasons like Chinese New Year.
The rise of such services reflects a broader shift in China’s pet economy. According to industry data cited by the South China Morning Post, urban pet-related spending reached 312.6 billion yuan in 2025 and is projected to cross 405 billion yuan by 2028.
These specialised centres are not just about convenience, they are also designed to address behavioural issues such as excessive barking, jumping, or poor toilet habits, while providing a structured routine for pets.
Pricing across the sector varies significantly. In cities like Shanghai, basic daycare options can cost under 1,000 yuan per month, while mid-tier services range between 3,000 and 6,000 yuan. High-end, customised programmes like the one chosen by Taotao can exceed 10,000 yuan monthly.
The trend has sparked strong reactions online, with many expressing disbelief at the cost, while others admitted a hint of envy at the level of care being offered to pets.
A young woman in China has gone viral after revealing she spends thousands each month on what is essentially a “school” for her pet dog.
According to a report by South China Morning Post, the Shanghai-based woman, who goes by the pseudonym Taotao, enrolled her six-month-old Samoyed in a premium pet kindergarten due to her demanding work schedule.
The programme, which costs around 12,000 yuan (approximately Rs 1,62,950) per month, offers a range of structured services for pets. These include personality assessments, behaviour training sessions, social interaction activities, and even a dedicated pickup and drop-off service, described as a “school bus” for dogs.
Explaining her decision, Taotao said, “I am usually too busy with work and do not have much time to keep it company,” emphasising the challenge of balancing work with pet care.
As detailed in the South China Morning Post report, the monthly fee is broken down into multiple components. It includes a daily boarding charge, additional fees for interactive “parent-child” sessions, and transport services, while meals are billed separately.
The facility itself operates as a full-service centre, offering grooming, health monitoring, cleaning, and structured socialisation alongside training. Pet owners can also check in on their animals remotely through live monitoring systems.
A founder of one such school in Shanghai, identified by the surname Chen, noted that demand has surged, with waiting periods of up to two to three weeks for new enrolments. The centre typically accommodates 20 to 30 pets during quieter periods, but numbers can exceed 100 during peak seasons like Chinese New Year.
The rise of such services reflects a broader shift in China’s pet economy. According to industry data cited by the South China Morning Post, urban pet-related spending reached 312.6 billion yuan in 2025 and is projected to cross 405 billion yuan by 2028.
These specialised centres are not just about convenience, they are also designed to address behavioural issues such as excessive barking, jumping, or poor toilet habits, while providing a structured routine for pets.
Pricing across the sector varies significantly. In cities like Shanghai, basic daycare options can cost under 1,000 yuan per month, while mid-tier services range between 3,000 and 6,000 yuan. High-end, customised programmes like the one chosen by Taotao can exceed 10,000 yuan monthly.
The trend has sparked strong reactions online, with many expressing disbelief at the cost, while others admitted a hint of envy at the level of care being offered to pets.
