Market prospects: Puppy adoption vs. senior dog spending

Learn about age-related trends in the dog ownership space, including the demographics of puppy adoptions versus senior dog spending.

July 6, 2023

Dog ownership is seeing shifts, with multiple potential causes merging together to highlight senior pups.

Dog ownership is seeing shifts, with multiple potential causes merging together to highlight senior pups.

superpeet | iStock.com

As argued in Packaged Facts’ “Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S.” (September 2022), a single-minded focus on pet population growth, or even more narrowly on new pet parents, can mean looking at pet market opportunities from the wrong end of the telescope.

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The veterinary profession and pet food

Traditionally, veterinarians have not been provided with nutritional education that matches pet owner expectations.

Veterinarians must be provided with nutritional education that matches pet owners’ unique needs with regards to their animals’ health and wellness.

Targeted premiumization strategies in pet foods

From fresh pet food to personalization, the various avenues in the premium pet food space continue to expand.

Fresh pet food growth is one of the ways the premium pet food market is expanding its reach as more pet owners look to optimize their animals’ eating habits.

Rising pet food, veterinary costs top challenges to pet ownership

Consistent price increases in pet care over the last several years are taking a toll on the stability of pet ownership.

Pet owners are feeling the costs of pet ownership more now than ever, as prices for everything continue to increase.

Pet food shopper psychographics: A generational perspective

Everyone is concerned about rising prices, but how loyal are the various generations to current pet food trends?

Pet Owner Generations

US pet ownership update

Overall pet ownership has dipped slightly, especially where dogs are concerned, with cats finally gaining ground.

Cats have gained ground in the pet ownership arena during the last several years — even before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape.

Lessons from pet owner psychographics

Both dog and cat owners seem to agree on where pets belong in their humans’ lives.

Pets are undeniably part of peoples’ families, but what does that translate to in terms of things like identity and long-term ownership?

‘All of the Above’ and pet product channel shopping trends

Omnichannel shopping continues to evolve as pet owners eschew the either/or concept and use whatever’s most convenient.

The continued expectation of convenience in purchasing has led to the strengthening of the omnimarket approach to pet food shopping.

Pet product retailing and political outlook

Data shows particular political leanings when it comes to who shops where for pet food.

Everyone agrees that their pets are the best — but when it comes to politics, there are some differences in shopping channel preferences.

Pet food price inflation and retail shopping shifts

Price changes have affected how — and where — pet owners conduct their pet food shopping.

Pet food shopping continues to shift as inflation pressures, omnichannel options and pet owner preferences evolve.

Generational notes on pet food

The younger generations are firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to pet food shopping trends.

Millennials are the current pet food purchasing powerhouse generation, but as more Gen Zers become adults, they’re throwing their preferences into the trends mix.

Cross-currents in pet food expectations

Pet owners provide clear preferences in surveys, but their actual purchases don’t always bear their thoughts out.

Pet owners treat their pets like family, and with that comes the same conflicts of desire vs. practicality in pet food purchasing that exist in human food purchasing.

Vets as pet care influencers are on a more crowded stage

Specialty pet shops and the internet have gained in influence in recent years.

Veterinarians remain a reliable source of pet information in pet owners’ eyes, but other sources of information are gaining ground among millennials and Gen Z.

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