Australian dog owners say they’ll go to great lengths for their pets.

The dog is in the detail. This is what Melbourne, Australia-based dog foodmaker Scratch has discovered after conducting its own “The Great AustralianDog Survey” in May 2020.

A total of 20,664 Australians from age 18 to over 55 took part to share funand enlightening details about their relationships with their dogs, such assleeping arrangements, travel plans and their distrust of big dog foodcompanies.

Love me, love my dog

The survey seems to support the notion that our dogs are an extension ofourselves as three in four people said they choose breeds that reflect theirpersonality. Hopefully this is true, because the survey identified thefriendly, good-natured and intelligent Labrador Retriever as Australians’favorite breed.

Australians really love their dogs: two out of three said they spend more thansix hours a day with their dogs, with half of the surveyed dog owners evenwilling to take a pay cut to spend more time with them.

As is to be expected, dog lovers (which is 40% of Australians, according toScratch) are not crazy about places that don’t welcome dogs and their wish isto take them anywhere they go, like a restaurant or public transport. For thisto happen, they (81%) want their government to know that it’s time to viewdogs not as mere objects or property. The majority (95%) of respondents saidthey would also bring their dogs with them if they have to move abroad.

Fake news in pet food?

If the results of The Great Australian Dog Survey are to be believed, fewerthan one in three Australians believe the claims of big pet food companiesregarding their products. To make an informed decision, Australians turn tothe nutritional information printed on the dog food packaging, with 43% sayingthey are neutral about what they read, 30% trusting it and 27% saying theydon’t trust what’s on the label.

If the fine print on the pet food labels isn’t enough, then Australians askfor a veterinarian’s recommendation to help them choose what dog food to buy.Their choice could also be influenced by a brand’s reputation, price and whatfriends and family say.

Pet stores (33%) and online shops (27%) are where they would likely buy dogfood, the survey showed.

When it comes to feeding dogs bones, many (61%) have no quarrel about it. Anoverweight pet dog also doesn’t seem to be a cause of worry as very few (8%)would acknowledge it.

Some Australians calling for more regulation

Scratch, like many in the Australia pet food industry, is calling on theirgovernment to create proper pet food regulation that will cover pet foodlabeling along with the claims being made. At present, pet food companies mustcomply with Australian consumer law and the Australian Standard formanufacturing and marketing of pet food.

Scratch offers on subscription its premium grain-free kibble recipes with 28%+sustainably sourced protein, rich in fiber and with four healthy oils toimprove chronic skin conditions. The owners tout that they have “the mosthonest nutritional labeling in the industry.”

Source: Petfood Industry

Image: Bigstock

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