If the last 12-months have taught us anything, it’s that our pets are more precious than ever before and with that comes a new wave of pet culture hitting our homes.
Our furry, scaly, or feathery friends have been there through it all – unfortunate for them, they’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly. They’ve been around for unbrushed teeth early morning zoom call starts, business up top, pyjamas down below, and they’ve enjoyed long afternoon walks and more playtime with at-home office setups.
We’ve seen more tails wagging, more afternoon treats and more pets making their digital debut in the back of video calls; not to mention new puppies bring rolled out front and centre of meetings generating “oooohs and ahhhhhhs”.
That’s not been the only behavioural change we’ve seen when it comes to our pets, pet pages, ads and social media feeds have risen significantly, with more pet parents entering the market than ever before.
Other trends that have followed the record pet ownership statistics include pet fashion, premium food recipes and famous animal influencers, all wrapped under the new emerging trend we’re calling ‘pet culture’.
This rise in pet ownership in Australia was the catalyst of the new pet culture taking over. New pet owners and long-time owners now having more time to shower their pets with even more love and attention, more accessories, more fashion.
Pet Culture Trend #1: Pet Adoptions
Pet adoption is at an all-time high as more and more Aussies experience the pure joy of becoming a pet parent.
During the lockdown months within Australia, the rising trend of pet adoption saw several thousand animals rehomed from animal shelters and rescue centers. This is 5 times higher than the average.
This has been one of the great side effects from the pandemic. The move of Australians choosing to adopt their new family member, rather than go breeders, shows a new step forward into a new aspect of pet culture, giving a second chance to a rescue animal.
Over the years, Petbarn has helped customers and soon-to-be pet parents to choose pet adoptions and rescues over puppy farms and pet shops, and recently reached the incredible milestone of 50,000 adoptions in 2020.
The top reasons why you should join the many other Aussies in welcoming a rescue pet into your house:
- Pets need forever homes
- Adopted pets are often trained and socialised
- You’ll get to know your pet before choosing them
- Adoption saves lives
- You’re sure to get a healthy pet
- It’s charitable, and cheaper
If you’re looking to adopt head to Petbarn Adoption
All pets deserve the chance to have a happy and healthy life with a loving family. Welcoming a pet into your family does come with a lot of responsibility and adopted pets can have a few traits that require more training and time. Persistence and patience are the keys to success with almost any animal, and the rewards are far greater than buying a new pet from a breeder.
Your pets health and wellness is paramount and as the threat of lockdowns ease and we welcome a new norm, post Coronavirus, a holistic vet-led approach is needed when routine’s change once again, and your new furry friend will be left at home.
Appropriate training, the right toys, treats and nutrition can all assist in easing your pet into the routine change. Following these vet-led tips can make all the difference in helping your pet’s wellness and reduce their separation anxiety.
The most popular toys and boredom busters for keeping your pet entertained in a “post-pandemic” world are occupy and feeder toys. These toys are designed to stimulate, challenge and keep your dog healthy with mental and physical exercise.
Some of the best toys to keep your dog entertained:
- KONG Wild Knots Bear Dog Toy Assorted Medium
- KONG Classic Dog Toy
- Zeus Nosh Strong Chicken Chew Bone Dog Toy Small
Toys to keep your cat entertained:
Pet Culture Trend #2: Working from Home
We’ve seen Zoom call cameos, new healthy habits like lunchtime walks, and pet Instagram selfies all becoming the new normal during peak pandemic times.
While your dog enjoyed their midday walk, pet parents also got the benefits from stepping away from their desk for a while. Increased enthusiasm, feeling more relaxed, and improved physical fitness were all felt upon returning from even a quick 30-minute walk.
A combination of new-pet passion, more free time, and a few episodes of ‘Dance Moms’ has led to a spike in pet Instagram pages. This new wave of social presence and online pet culture has increased over the last 12 months, as pet parents want to share the experiences of their newest family member. Every step of the way is recorded, from each spontaneous nap, mid-meeting Zoomie or bark-a-thon.
One of the latest trends we’ve seen is in pet naming has been the shift in the type of name chosen for pets, with traditional human names proving to be popular. In a survey in 2019, the most popular ‘human’ names for dogs were Max, Charlie and Bella. The most popular cat names were Chloe, Bella and Felix.
To join this humanising of pet names, other traditional ‘human’ activities are also getting created for pets. And we are here for it! We’re seeing more pet birthday celebrations, tea-parties, playgroups and pet- cameos in wedding parties being shared online. To help pet-parents celebrate these special occasions, birthday cards, dog friendly cakes and chocolates have also been made available in stores.
Another benefit of spending extra time with your pet includes being part of the numerous, and very amusing pet social media trends. A lot of these get you up and moving, and have you been active and creative with your pet. If dancing in front of your phone has not been for you, then the world of pet TikToks and Reels is just waiting for you.
Check out our collection of “#ClapAtYourDog Challenge” posts to see the joy of pets.
Pet Culture Trend #3: Premium Pet Foods
“You are what you eat” is now taking a step in to the world of pet culture. Pet parents are taking their love of pets to a new level, with more and more requests for highly nutritious and premium food. No longer are pet owners simply browsing the aisles for kibble and treats, they’re now looking into every label and searching for ingredients they recognise themselves.
The shift in pet culture post COVID-19 shows that pet parents aren’t simply choosing between wet or dry dog food, they have a far more holistic approach; taking into account everything from the packaging to sustainability, ingredients, nutritional value, and are more interested in preventative health than ever before.
Nutrition is the cornerstone of pet health and wellness and is the biggest single change a pet parent can make to improve their pet’s health.
Using vet-led advice and countless years of knowledge, introducing super-premium food can make a world of difference to your pet’s health and wellness. Premium food is vitamin-rich, and nutritionally dense with quality proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Your pet can find premium food that mirrors their life stage, breed and even specific medical conditions which means they will receive all the nutrition they need and in the right proportion at every meal.
Product Recommendation
Pet Culture Trend #4: Health and Wellness
This new wave of pet parent cares as much about what they feed themselves as they do their pet. This new pet culture trend has seen a spike in premium food, luxury bedding and other creature comforts with vet-led health and wellness one of the fastest growing categories.
As we settle into the ‘new norm,’ the health and wellbeing of pets has proven to be peak priority to pet parents. Some of the most popular categories and products in the last 12-months include:
- An increase in fresh and frozen varieties –
- Luxurious pet bedding –
- Pet Clothing – growth in both fashionable and functional clothing –
Pet Culture Trend #5: Vet-led Health
Pet parents are more in tune with finding the right information specific to their pet. The cultural trend of becoming more conscious of health and vet-led wellness is apparent.
With the world of pets comes an even bigger world of information, which can sometimes be overwhelming, especially with being a first-time pet owner. This is where vet-led health and wellness information proves to be an important resource for pet parents.
Our close partnership with Greencross Vets has allowed their 180 vet clinics to be the voice supporting and calling out any leading animal trends within the industry. The recent launch of the ‘Build a Better Bowl’ program was created as veterinarians started reporting a steep rise in pet parents placing their pet on human diets, which could be potentially harmful.
Build a Better Bowl was created to teach pet parents how to create recipes that add variety to their pet’s diet and make food even more exciting for them, without accidentally causing harm.
The ‘Build a Better Bowl’ program offers tailored recipes for cats and dogs, utilising a mix of dry, wet, raw, frozen and fresh foods with toppers and treats. The recipes are designed by vets with recommended ratios and combinations to build a nourishing and satisfying bowl.
Grab your recipe ideas and mix up the menu for healthier, happier pets.
Pet Culture Trend #6: Clothing, Bedding and Other Creature Comforts
The global pet accessories market is set to reach US$22 billion by the end of 2023, according to a 2018 report by Research Nester. This new trend in pet culture has seen owners are adopting ‘pet parenting’ behaviours, mimicking a typical parent-child relationship and showering their ‘fur-baby’ with love in the form of cute accessories and even cuter clothing.
Pet clothing sales have grown 30% from 2019 to 2020, with a further rise in clothing forecasted for the 2021 fashion season. Historically, only winter clothing was released, which focused on functional items including raincoats, puffer jackets, and warm, waterproof coats. A new pet trend is on the rise, where fashion items have been added to summer clothing ranges too, including t-shirts, singlets, and even hats!
Now, over summer and winter, the hottest new pet fashion styles are released with plenty of the trends parallel to the human fashion industry, contributing even more to the humanising pet trend, a social shift being seen across many countries. There has even been a move of well-known clothing brands stepping into the pet fashion industry.
Market research indicated a strong interest in pet parents wanting to be able to coordinate their style with their pet. Recent Petbarn pet fashion lines have taken this new aspect of pet culture on board with activewear, pyjamas and streetwear all looking very similar to staple human fashion trends.
The future outlook for this pet fashion trend is using more sustainable fabrics in line with the fashion industry, using PET and organic fabrics as a starting point.
The world of pet bedding has also seen a massive transformation compared to what a traditional dog bed used to be. With various styles, sizes, and beds designed to help your pet cope with various specific health problems. The stereotypical mat on the floor is on the out, with comfort, luxury and beds that match the home décor being top of mind.
Some of the most popular dog bed brands so far in 2021 are:
Popular cat bed brands we have seen this year are:
- Harmony,
- You & Me, and
- La Doggie.
Pet Culture Trend #7: Pet Services
Puppy school has always been an integral part of the new puppy experience. A place to teach your new family member the basics, along with some manners, while quietly comparing the naughtiness of the other puppies to your own!
A recent trend seen in puppy school services is the need for “teenage” puppy classes. Over the last 12 months, puppy schools have been impacted by lockdowns and COVID safety regulations. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of puppies unable to attend the basic training classes recommended to be taken between 8-16 weeks old.
Now, as restrictions are easing and the puppy schools are back in action, there has been a sub-section of puppers now needing schooling. The “teenage” beginner classes are designed for dogs who may have missed out on puppy school or socialisation during their early weeks or may be lacking in manners and need a refresher.
An additional unit has also been incorporated into both puppy and beginner classes to help pet owners cope with their pet’s separation anxiety. Pets brought home during lockdown had the pleasure of their pet parent being at home with them all day. As life is turning back to normal, and more and more people are heading back to the office, this new class helps pet parents adjust their pet’s routines back to being left alone for longer periods of time.
A pet’s happiness and health should be maintained at every stage of their life, from pup to pooch. Australian pet parents are welcoming this movement in pet culture by continuing to train their pet beyond the recommended puppy classes. An increase in the request for more advanced obedience and training has been seen, with Petbarn starting to roll out these more advanced options.
Health and wellness come in all forms for your pet – physical, nutritionally and mentally, and pet-owners are excited to invest more time into their pet, wanting nothing but the best for them.
Along with our vet practices, groomers and specialists are also experiencing a boom. This comes as pet parents place more significance on preventative health, getting on top of grooming, and kickstarting wellness plans.
In fact, the demand for grooming and grooming services has seen a 15% increase compared to this time last year. This demand for high quality grooming services has caused problems for salons in that they can’t find the talent to meet demand. This has led to growing waiting lists and, most worryingly, shaggy pups!
Petbarn Services
The new pet culture trend is rising, and consumer needs are changing too, with an increase in same day delivery, customer rewards and loyalty programs. We’ve seen a growing trend towards the humanisation of pet services, with owners looking to offer their pet all the same services and standards they want for themselves.
There is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, no one could be prepared for the impact COVID-19 would have. When Same Day Delivery was introduced into Petbarn as a normal delivery service, we were able to use Uber to fulfil orders within a 12-hour period.
We have continued this service and refined it to a point where we are often able to deliver in as little as 2 hours to Metro areas. As you can imagine, pet parents and pets alike are very pleased to receive their new toy, treat, or have a fresh bag of food in such a short time frame. It saves you the trip to the shops and allows for more play time or the chance to practice that new trick!
Pet Culture
The rise of pet culture has brought many new trends and behaviours to light. As advocates for adoptions, seeing these pets going to a new home, only to be smothered in love and fed high quality meals every day is an absolute joy to behold. We’re at the forefront of ensuring the pet culture trend continues and keeps developing. We’ll help you explore new ways to delight your pets, whether old, young, big, small, high-energy or sleepy cuddle bug.