Puppy & Pooch Trends During COVID-19

If there is one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s to look for the silver linings. Out of the varying hardships we’ve endured, there’s a clear winner — and that is man’s best friend. Home-bound with few activities, the pandemic has created the perfect condition for most to make becoming a dog parent a reality. And for those current owners, the chance to not only re-nest work/school/exercise/living spaces for themselves and their family, but for the family dog, too.

The American Pet Products Association projects Americans to spend a record-high $99 billion this year on all things pet, ranging from food to veterinary care.

—CNBC, December 2020

DOGGIE DECOR

Sales of dog beds have gone through the roof in 2020. With Ultra Modern Pet, pet parents can match their dog’s bed to the décor of their home. No longer are people satisfied with getting their dog a generic sleeping pad. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach anymore: Puppies need a bed that they can’t chew up; more mature dogs adopted from rescue shelters may require their beds to have extra support; and pets that are stressed-out can take comfort in an anti-anxiety bed.

HEALTH MONITORING

As pets are humanized, wellness comes with it. Sure Petcare has the technology to monitor your dog’s food and water intake and changes in weight. If you have multiple dogs, it can even recognize which dog is there to eat and release the right portion to them. Additionally, owners are taking no chances when it comes to accidents, illness or industry, contributing to a growing $1.6 bllion dollar pet insurance market.

CBD TRANSCENDS SPECIES

CBD is another trend and is quickly becoming common place in people’s homes. Not for the parents, but for the furbaby. Holistapet is a growing CBD brand for dogs. Studies have found that dogs react to CBD the same way that people do. People want their pets to be as comfortable as possible, and CBD’s ability to have a calming effect made it a popular purchase in 2020. More than 68% of all CBD ingestion by dogs is through dog treats.

HAIR & SKIN CARE

Mr. Fluff is a brand of dog essential hair and skin care products out of Australia. They say their dog grooming products harness the benefits of the best organic extracts and ingredients to keep tails clean and wagging. Quite honestly, these are the same benefits that humans are looking for in their hair and skin care needs. But the similarities don’t stop there – the packaging is designed so well that people wouldn’t want to hide it under the sink.

HOME SEARCH CRITERIA

About one in three millennials who have recently purchased a house over the last year reported that their decision was influenced by the need to have space for a dog. These numbers have gone up since COVID-19. When homebuyers were asked why they were buying their first home, the third most popular reason was needing space to keep a dog, ranking above children and marriage. Needing space for Fido to run around isn’t just for the dog – it’s to make us feel better about the home we provide. Watch for dog grooming showers and bathtubs coming to new home construction.

POST PANDEMIC

But the bigger question is, how are our furry four-legged friends going to respond when the pandemic is under control, kids go back to school and adults who were working from home go back to work? Our dogs will have had and held our attention 24/7.

“As restrictions ease and people start to spend more time outside the home, connected products that enable pet parents to monitor their animals will be a key category.” WGSN, November 2020

Technology will certainly come into play. Furry little ones will be able to see their owners with smart pet cams, which allows you to see and to talk to your dog through your phone. Some technology allows you to remotely dispense a treat to your dog through the same device and it not only makes your dog happy, but gives you a sense of connection throughout the day.

SUMMARY

Today’s pet owners are showing their animals love in every way, at every chance. As parents have tried to compensate their kids for what experiences they’ve lost since the pandemic, the same goes for their dogs. And when we return to a more public, socialized existence, we’ll likely see pet parents work overtime to make their pooches happy and comfortable while we’re away from the house.