History of Dog Food Development

As time progresses, so does the world of pet products. In China, attitudes towards pet care can be quite polarized—either excessively indulgent or somewhat simplistic. While many rural areas and third-tier cities remain unaware of proper pet nutrition, pet owners in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are intensely exploring individualized pet care needs, particularly focusing on more refined dietary options.

Origins of Pet Products: Dog Food Looking back over thousands of years of pet history, the "domestic life" of cats, dogs, and even chickens has often been quite grim: they typically ate leftovers from their owners. If fortunate enough to be born into nobility, pets might have experienced the early stages of "pet care," where their diet was carefully considered, although still tailored to human tastes rather than scientific nutritional principles. The Industrial Revolution was a turning point for pets. This transformative period generated substantial wealth and a burgeoning middle class. As these individuals sought to enrich their lives, they began keeping pets, elevating their status significantly. The first pet food, specifically for dogs, was created by James Spratt in 1860. Spratt, an American electrician who had come to England to sell lightning rods, observed that dogs enjoyed the leftover biscuits from ships. He then mixed wheat flour, vegetables, beetroot, and meat to create a product aimed at balancing nutrition and taste. While not scientifically based, this product marked a milestone in pet care by providing a dedicated food source for pets. Emergence of Pet Food Following Spratt, an American company took over the role of "pet food creator," leveraging the limited nutritional knowledge of the time to introduce enhanced biscuits and dry meat patties. The variety of dry food continued to expand, and after World War I, canned dog food was introduced. By the 1950s, extruded dry pet foods became available. If pets had the ability to speak, they might have exclaimed, "A millennium in the making!" There is a theory that the rise in the status of pets is directly related to the animal rights movement of the 20th century. This movement, which can be traced back to Rousseau, achieved significant victories by the end of the century. Its goals included not only advocating for more compassionate treatment of animals but also promoting basic "human" rights for animals. In other words, animals should be regarded as equals to humans, not merely as property or tools. Some countries have enacted laws to protect animal rights, such as Switzerland's 1992 law recognizing animals as "beings" rather than "things," and Germany's 2002 constitutional inclusion of animal protection clauses.

This movement has significantly elevated the status of animals, including pets, and has led pet owners to adopt a "non-human-centric" mindset. Many now view their pets as family members or companions. Current State of Pet Food Pets are now in a golden age, with pet ownership becoming increasingly popular. In the United States, the latest survey by the American Pet Products Association indicates that 55% of American households own at least one dog or cat, with approximately 38% owning one or more dogs and 33% owning at least one cat. The dog population in the U.S. is around 55 million, and the cat population is approximately 66 million. In China, there are about 60 million pets across more than 200 cities. Since Mars introduced Pedigree pet products to the Chinese market, there is now a vast array of pet foods available in supermarkets and specialized pet stores in China. These products are tailored to different pet sizes, types, and ages. Many pet owners invest as much effort into their pets' diets as they would for a child. Some even taste-test pet food themselves to understand their pets' preferences, demonstrating a meticulous attention to their pets' needs.

Pet owners are no longer satisfied with merely providing specialized food. The concept of balanced diets has also been applied to pets, with proper ratios of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals. Institutions such as pet care academies now teach pet owners how to provide balanced diets for their pets. Dr. Mei Jianxun, the director of one such academy, notes that some pet owners may be overly indulgent: "They can be excessively pampering, fearing nutritional inadequacy and mixing in other meats, or they may not ensure enough exercise, leading to obesity issues. Last year, 13 out of every 100 pets visiting veterinary hospitals had health problems related to obesity."