| One of the best things about attending the Global | | | | play "hunt the squeaker" with all squeaky toys. |
| Pet Expo is that I get to see trends in the pet | | | | Petlane's favorite new non-squeaky toys are the |
| industry. The most noticeable trends occur in the dog | | | | ones that have a place to put an empty water bottle |
| product category. For example, one year two | | | | in. Then, instead of squeaking, the dog makes this |
| vendors have beautiful new dog carriers, and then | | | | wonderful crinkling sounds that dogs seem to love. |
| the next year every vendor has beautiful new dog | | | | 2) Pet suppliers are definitely becoming more |
| carriers. A couple of vendors having luck with | | | | environmentally aware. There is a definite trend |
| wheat-free treats? You can bet you'll see them | | | | towards using (when possible), fabric scraps, recycled |
| everywhere the following year. The nice part of that | | | | materials, all-natural treats, and (for those willing to |
| is that the pet industry is definitely influenced by | | | | pay the price) a line of plush dog toys made from |
| consumer trends. This year in the dog world, I was | | | | 100% organic cotton (the dog still tears the toy up in |
| delighted to witness three definitive trends: | | | | 5 minutes, but you can feel good that he's not |
| 1) More and more suppliers are making interesting, | | | | ingesting pesticides in the process). I was particularly |
| high quality toys that are designed to stand up to | | | | impressed by a shampoo company (one that we are |
| the more aggressive chewers. Several years ago, | | | | hoping to add to our line in fall) who bottles their |
| aggressive chewer toy lines consisted essentially of | | | | shampoos in biodegradable (even in landfill) bottles. |
| rubber bones and balls, not terribly interesting. This | | | | 3) This last innovation (it's not widespread enough |
| time around, I saw toys in all shapes, sizes, and | | | | yet for me to really call it a trend) was especially fun |
| colors, and many had interesting knobs or textures | | | | for me to see. Petlane has known for several years |
| which I believe will really appeal to dogs who like to | | | | that pets can see certain colors. Dogs respond well |
| gnaw. | | | | to blue, green, and yellow while cats do better with |
| Flatties (a.k.a. Roadkill - and no, I'm not making that | | | | the blues and purples. Once we learned this, we |
| up) are definitely another trend in the world of dog | | | | immediately started designing products in the colors |
| toys. These are essentially stuffed toys with the | | | | pets see. And I think we're having an impact! |
| stuffing removed. They still have squeakers, but | | | | One vendor had a full wall of toys, all done in green |
| since they're flat, dogs have a much harder time | | | | and blue, with a headline that read something to the |
| tearing the toy apart in their quest for the squeaker. | | | | effect of "Designed in the colors dogs see!" It's a |
| Toys without squeakers are also cropping up. | | | | pleasure to see the pet industry really starting to |
| Squeakers squeak at a level similar to prey - hence | | | | cater to the needs of pets. |
| the reason most dogs instinctively feel a need to | | | | |