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‘Seniors’ are a Growing Part of the Pet Population


This from GlobalPETS a global, pet industry, executive management weekly newsletter

Over the past decade, the number of US households with a dog older than 7 years of age has increased from 42% to 52%.

Like the human population, the dog and cat populations in the US include a growing share of ‘seniors’ (defined as pets aged 7+). This is fueling sales across several sectors in the pet and veterinary industry. The sectors that are especially benefiting include veterinary services, chronic condition prescription pet medications, aging, mobility and pain-related pet supplements, and specialized weight-management and digestive-support/allergen-conscious pet food formulations for senior pets.

Seniors on the rise

In terms of the current age distribution of pets in the US, MRI-Simmons data shows a long-term increase in the share of dog-owning households with senior dogs (age 7+), rising from 42% in 2012 to 52% as of summer 2022. This means that a total of 26.5 million households own senior dogs. In contrast, the share of households with puppies under the age of 1 dropped from nearly 13% to 9% over the same period…. Read more here.

















This from GlobalPETS a global, pet industry, executive management weekly newsletter

How do dogs “see” with their noses? by Alexandra Horowitz

A charming 04:12 animation by Alexandra Horowitz from February 2019.

https://www.ted.com/talks/alexandra_horowitz_how_do_dogs_see_with_their_noses

You may have heard the expression that dogs ‘see with their noses.’ But these creature’s amazing nasal architecture actually reveals a whole world beyond what we can see. Alexandra Horowitz illustrates how the dog’s nose can smell the past, the future and even things that can’t be seen at all. [Directed by Província Studio, narrated by Pen-Pen Chen].

Japanese Dogs

Friends are traveling in Japan. They asked if I wanted anything from Japan. I said, “Pictures of Japanese dogs!”

June 15, 2023
“It’s 90° here today so they have their sun hats on!”

Reading – Beyond Words by Marta Williams

How did we communicate before spoken language? Ever know something to be true that was not communicated to you by words?

It is that everyday, interspecies language that Williams elucidates in this straight forward book that reconnects us to our common language, suppressed in this hyper-rational culture.

Filled with “amazing” stories. Of course, they are only “amazing” stories if your starting point assumes the non-human world is void of sentience and the ability to communicate!

This is one of those books that’s been on my shelf for years. I’m finally reading it. I guess I should have read it years ago. I feel my future is in this book. 🙂

Reading – On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas

A 76-page primer of dog body language. Rugaas, a well-respected Norwegian dog trainer, has filled this book with lots of photos. It is easy to read and very accessible.

Yawn. Lick your lips. Turn your eyes and face away from your dog. Sit at 90° to her. All these are polite, calming, “peace, man!”, basic “words” that dogs instinctively know. Try it!

Recommended to me by international, veteran dog trainers Vero Chavez and Judy Shevelev.

Reading – The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell

I’ve just re-read this after 19 years. In my experience, her method is sound no matter how she got there. I use it. It works.

With a few simple, kind steps dogs relax knowing you are the pack leader.

Following the practices of Monty Roberts, aka The Horse Listener/Whisperer, Fennell does with dogs what Roberts does with horses. She listens, watches, acts and loves dogs.