Trends from the 2008 Super Pet Expo

Last weekend Jen and I attended the 2008 Super Pet Expo in King of Prussia, PA. It was a big event, with hundreds of vendors but there were some definite trends at the show that we are excited to share with our readers.

The first major trend was healthy and all-natural dog food. After last years recall pet owners are becoming more aware of what is in their dog’s food and are finding all sorts of unhealthy and unnatural fillers. Companies like Nutro, By Nature and Natural Balance were all at the expo to show off their natural foods that leave no questions about what you are putting in your dog’s bowl. If you are not already on board with this trend, go to the pet store and talk to someone about natural foods for your pooch!

The next trend was high performance leashes for the more rugged dog owner. EzyDog’s shock-absorbing, stretch leashes were a big hit at the show as the unique handle adds a lot of control for large dogs and dogs that pull. Marine Dog also brought a leash that was very popular at the expo. Their leashes are made of double-braided nylon and are extremely durable as well as salt waterproof. This leash is perfect for the sporty pup or any dog that is very rough on their leash.

We also noticed a big trend with homemade and gourmet dog treats, many of them decorated and looking tasty enough for humans. Annie’s Pooch Pops brought some delicious treats for your pup and our favorite is their Pooch Value Meal which includes treats that look like a burger, fries, pizza and a hot dog. Bing’s Barkin’ Bakery brought a very impressive spread of doggie cookies and cakes that were beautifully made and sure to be delicious for your dog.

Lastly, the most popular trend in collars goes hands down to ribbon collars. There were many booths at the expo featuring tons of designs and ribbons so that your dog can wear a beautiful patterned collar to match his/her style and personality. In this category Persnickety Pup definitely stole the show for us with their huge selection of patterns, colors and sizes.

We had a great time at the 2008 Super Pet Expo and we will be sure to keep on top of the trends for 2008 so that you don’t have to!