Kibble remains the dominant choice of dog food across various demographics, but new research suggests that factors such as income, age, education, and location are influencing pet owners’ decisions to explore alternatives like canned, raw, and home-cooked meals.
A survey conducted from January 2, 2020, to December 31, 2022, and involving over 40,000 dog owners, reveals that kibble continues to be the most popular option for feeding pets. This trend holds true across income brackets, education levels, and geographic locations. However, the study, led by researchers at Texas A&M University and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, found that demographic factors were linked to preferences for other dog food types.
Income and Diet Choices
While kibble remains the staple for nearly all income levels, owners earning $180,000 or more showed a slight preference for raw diets. Overall, 81% to 85% of dog owners, regardless of their income, fed their pets kibble as the primary food.
Age and Dietary Preferences
Age also plays a role in dog food selection. Older dog owners, particularly those beyond 50, were more likely to offer a variety of diets, including canned, freeze-dried, and home-cooked meals. In contrast, younger pet owners, particularly those aged 18-24, overwhelmingly favored kibble (91%).
Education Level and Food Choices
Education did not show a strong correlation with dog food preferences, but owners with some college or trade education were slightly more likely to choose raw diets or prepare home-cooked meals for their pets.
Regional Variations in Dog Food Choices
Geographic location also impacts dog food preferences. Rural pet owners were more inclined to feed their dogs raw, home-prepared diets, while urban dwellers preferred commercial raw food. Coastal regions, meanwhile, saw a dip in kibble consumption compared to inland areas.
Kibble Dominates, But Alternatives Are Growing
Kibble remains the dominant food choice for dogs, with 82% of survey participants feeding their pets dry food as the primary diet. This far surpasses other options such as home-cooked meals (4%), canned food (4%), commercial raw diets (4%), and freeze-dried options (2%). Despite kibble’s popularity, 35% of owners supplemented their pets’ meals, with canned food (32%) being the top addition, followed by home-cooked meals (21%) and more kibble (17%).
Grain-Free and Organic Diets
About 40% of dogs were fed grain-free diets, with no significant differences across income levels. However, only 20% of owners opted for organic foods, a trend that did not correlate strongly with household income.
Diet Shifts and Feeding Consistency
Approximately 27% of pet owners reported making changes to their dogs’ diets during the study period. However, most dietary shifts were minor, with kibble continuing to dominate new diets (79%). Common reasons for dietary changes included switching brands (26%), discontinuing grain-free diets (17%), and addressing health concerns (16%).
Despite dietary adjustments, feeding routines remained largely unchanged, with 89% of owners maintaining a consistent feeding schedule. Only 10% allowed for some variety in feeding times, and just 1% reported irregular routines.
The findings suggest that while kibble continues to reign as the preferred choice for dog food, changing demographics may influence future demand for other formats, such as raw and canned diets.
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