Dog Food Advertising - Getting You To Buy More Dog Food
Dog food advertising continues to come under more and more scrutiny lately with the latest string of dog food related deaths. Manufacturers are continually trying to come up with new and innovative ways to get you to buy their dog food.
Dog food makers have to meet the nutritional guideline standards for dogs, as set forth by the NRC (National Research Council). They state that pet food manufacturers must have the minimum amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
To meet the palatability requirement so that dogs would enjoy eating this food, manufacturers can add tomato puree, bacon, salt, onion powder, garlic and other ingredients to make the food smell and taste good.
The required ease in consumer handling is accomplished by packing the product in bags with graduated poundage from one to fifty pounds, in twelve to sixteen ounce cans, and in see-through cellophane packs or cans for individual serving.
After the dog food manufacturers have packed their product in a can, bag or box, they have the added the burden of getting the dog owner’s attention to the pet food shelves. They know the family dog isn’t standing there looking over the product, a human is.
To get you to reach out and select one of the many different brands available, the product must please the eye of the consumer. The dog doesn’t care what the product looks like. The animal is only interested in how it tastes and smells.
Dog food advertising today will exhibit their product to look like fresh ground hamburger, choice steaks, chunks of lean beef, even breakfast cereals. Although dog food comes in a variety of styles, it really comes in only three types:
1) The complete/balanced food (everything the dog needs in one container). This pet food type will list the product as containing all of the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals that a canine should have for good health.
2) The supplementary food (to be added to the complete food to increase palatability). Such food items for pets are made to get the dog’s appetite stimulated enough to eat all of his main/complete food.
3) Treats and snacks (for training rewards or just plain pampering) which can range from beef jerky for dogs to small cereal biscuits.
The next time you are in the dog food aisle at the grocery store, pay attention to the dog food advertising and how much works into trying to get your attention as you hurry down the aisle. The ingenuity of some of these companies is amazing.
