Beyond the traditional game of catch in the park, pet owners now want to share more of their outdoor adventures with their pets, especially dogs. People too pay more attention to the foods they eat to fuel their lifestyles and seek out ingredients that match their focus on health and well-being.

1. Carefree Joy

Pet owners want to know that the foods they feed their pets are not harming their animals’ health. In particular, free-from claims have become important drivers in pet owners’ choices. Whether it’s GMOs, corn or gluten, pet owners avoid specific ingredients out of concerns for safety and health, regardless of whether evidence backs up their fears or not. While pets’ actual sensitivities to certain ingredients may be more abstract than empirical, people will avoid pet foods that contain those constituents.

Ultimately, people want to see their pets’ joy in eating without fears or guilt. Pet food makers can adapt to this “carefree joy” trend by trading conventional ingredients for alternatives with less stigma, such as using brown rice in place of white rice. Avoiding ingredients that people are becoming more concerned about, such as carrageenan, can also help pet food companies stay ahead of consumers’ fears.

2. Performance fuel

Along with avoiding some ingredients perceived as risky, pet food makers need to keep an eye on which ingredients consumers believe boost their health and athletic performance. The high protein trend serves as an example of this. Diet trends in human food enhanced pet owners demand for high-meat, protein-rich pet foods as “performance fuel.”

For example, protein bars accompany many people on their camping and hiking trips. Pet food makers have latched onto this by creating portable, nutrition meal bars for pets, such as the Out Bar for dogs. Using wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients can help brands meet consumers’ demands for pet foods that fuel a pet during adventures.

3. Preventive care

To embark on those adventures, people and pets can’t be ill. Increasingly, people look to avoid health problems through their diet, and like so many other trends, they want to do the same for their pets. People want their pets’ food to help the animals stay youthful, vital and vigorous.

Pet food producers have met this trend with products like dental chews that proactively clean pets’ teeth. Other manufacturers market their pet foods and treats as boosting pets’ wellness with cannabidiol.