How do dog (and cat for that matter) food manufacturers know that a certain product tastes like fish, beef, chicken or what have you to a dog or cat? Do they actually TASTE these foods themselves and go “Hey! That actually kind of tastes like (insert food type here)!!!”
Also…in that same vein…I have as of yet to meet a dog who doesn’t absolutely go insane for hot dogs. There are chicken flavored foods, beef and liver flavored foods and even fish and rice flavored foods. Heck…I even saw Turkey with stuffing and gravy flavored canned dog food once. So why is there no hot dog flavored dog food?
Frankly I don’t think the animals eating that stuff can really taste much of a difference. First they have less tasting equipment than humans, and second they seem to eat it so fast that tasting it is seconday.
They have no idea what it tastes like to a dog, and they don’t care. Yes, it’s tasted by humans, and they may run it by a dog or cat to make sure they’ll eat it. Pet foods are not sold to pets! They’re sold to pet OWNERS, and it’s what they think that counts.
Ok…that sort of makes sense,Bongmaster. But if that is true, then why does my then my cat turn up her nose at fish flavored food and really dig chicken and liver flavored stuff if it isn’t related to taste(realizing of course that their sense of taste is different from ours)??
IDBB
I was once told that in a marketing experiment, the same catfood packaged in two slightly different cans, one priced 15 cents higher than the other, were put on a supermarket shelf.
The higher priced catfood sold better. Presumably because the purchaser’s have no idea which tastes better (assuming that the cat doesn’t actually refuse either) but assume that which is priced higher must be better quality.
I always thought that the manufacturers were more interested in the vitamin content of pet foods and making sure they got the right balance of nutrients. Cats and dogs have very good sense of smell so that may be more important to them than taste.
We have learnt from harsh experience at our home to only buy certain brands of cat food as our moggies get sick eating some types. Nothing worse than waking up to find the cats been sick all over the floor during the night.
I can’t see why you couldn’t run experiments with dogs. Have two options, see which one they go for. It’d have to be a bit more sophisticated that that, but… just becaue they can’t verbalize doesn’t mean they can’t communicate, their choice of food tells you which one they like.
Dr_Paprika—I’ve never seen it for sale…anywhere. But think of all the money these dog food people could make if they just listened to wierd ass ideas that actually make sense from normal people like us.
I just saw some dog food commercial where a guy says “Your dog has very exquisite taste”, or something like that. It was for some snooty, overpriced dog food that I can’t think of right now.
These commercials, and people who foo-foo up their poodles and whatnot, always crack me up. Listen pal, if Fifi had her way, she’d root through garbage and drink from the toilet.
Of course, it’s nothing but the best for my dog. Though seriously, I’m more concerned with ingredients than packaging or advertising claims. Like that high-falutin’ Fancy Feast cat food…next time you’re in the store, check the ingredients. Lungs, spleens, other by-products. Mmmmm. Chicken dinner my ass, they should call it “Autopsy Surprise”.
Though seriously, I’m more concerned with ingredients than packaging or advertising claims. Like that high-falutin’ Fancy Feast cat food…next time you’re in the store, check the ingredients. Lungs, spleens, other by-products. Mmmmm. Chicken dinner my ass, they should call it “Autopsy Surprise”.