Land Ho!

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The land has always provided for humans and our pets, and with the increase in popularity for natural products, there’s little wonder that products sourced from the land are getting most of our attention these days.

Food and Supplements

While natural, eco-friendly materials are being sourced in more innovative ways, pet food is also seeing growth in traditional land-based products. We know that human trends are almost always followed by pet trends and we’re looking at some of the ways this holds true.

Turmeric is a plant from the ginger family that is taking center stage in helping all species with everything from digestive issues to inflammation and helping with joint health. Last year, The Honest Kitchen introduced Bone Broth with Turmeric. This dehydrated broth for cats and dogs is a gourmet mix of beef bone broth, parsley, pumpkin and turmeric, which is a powerful antioxidant for pets and people alike.

Treat manufacturers are also breaking the mold on traditional proteins, including a new treat from Awesome Possum Dog and Cat Treats made in New Zealand. According to Awesome Possum, “these eco-conscious dog and cat treats are made from a destructive invasive opossum.” These treats are free of grains and GMOs, and are great for pets with food allergies.

Wild boar is another trendy canine culinary treat. This year, Tasman’s introduced Natural Pet Wild Boar Chews. These long-lasting premium wild boar hide chews are sourced in the U.S. and are antibiotic- and chemical-free.

For those craving a different taste, the new bite-sized alligator, rabbit and wild boar Soft ‘n Tasty treats from Caru are made with USDA-inspected meat as the first ingredient plus healthy blueberries and cranberries.

We’re also seeing new sources of supplements from a variety of companies. Ewegurt is an all-natural supplement that features sheep’s milk.

“Sheep’s milk contains about one-third more energy than cow or goat milk,” said Jennifer Erdman, founder of Ewegurt, LLC. “It has double the protein and much more of the right kinds of fats, vitamins and minerals—particularly calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc—while being lower in sodium. It has more than twice as much vitamin C and double or triple the other essential vitamins. Importantly, it also has more folic acid.”

Companies continue traveling the globe to find unique ingredients. Natura Petz Organics just added a new, premium organic supplement collection that each contain proprietary Master Rainforest and Andean herbal blends from the world’s richest biospheres.

Pain management for pets is also seeing green with the legalization of medicinal cannibis and hemp products. One of nature’s best sources of plant-based protein, the hemp plant is quickly starting to be recognized as a superfood.

“Pet Releaf’s products have quickly received a wonderful reception from customers and retailers alike,” said Pet Releaf founder and CEO Alina Smith. “We’re looking forward to sharing our healthy new offerings with our consumer base, as it was our consumers’ voices that led to the creation of the new products.”

Toys and Accessories

The benefits of other products require a little more research, but once you understand the interest, you’ll be purchasing for your own yard.

Dog Rocks were discovered in Australia and have been selling in the Aussie and U.K. market since 2000. Recently introduced to the American market, they’ve become popular, as dog owners have seen the rocks keep yards green and free of dog urine marks.

Land-based materials have always been a staple in manufacturing pet products, but these days, materials are being sourced from unusual locales. For instance, the cork oak tree has bark that regenerates itself every nine years. The smooth, pliable bark is durable, lightweight, waterproof, buoyant, hypoallergenic and stain-resistant.

Pelcor pet products are crafted in Europe using the highest-quality cork skin harvested from the sustainable cork oak forests of southern Portugal. With cork’s organic, dappled appearance, no two Pelcor pet accessories are exactly alike.

Sustainable materials are also important to those in the pet toy categories. These companies typically use a short list of ingredients and materials, affording a high level of transparency to consumers. For example, Jax & Bones uses nontoxic vegetable dye and cotton rope to manufacture toys.

Bamboo continues to be the darling of the pet industry. Hypoallergenic and naturally resilient against pests, bamboo is easily grown in nearly any climate. Since it does not require the use of pesticides to thrive, plantations can be kept organic and replanted each year to replenish stocks with a minimum of effort.

Companies like Loving Pets are taking full advantage of the flexibility of bamboo and have created Bambú Bowls, an eco-friendly option for pet feeding dishes.

Beco Pets was founded by British duo George Bramble and Toby Massey. The company has also embraced bamboo as a sustainable material for pet products, along with recycled plastics and natural rubber.

“Our dog and cat bowls are made from bamboo fibers taken from off-cuts when chopsticks are made and our Beco Beds contain stuffing made from recycled plastic soda bottles,” said David Levy, founder of Pet Product Innovations and distributor of Beco Pets. “We are also bringing to the U.S. a new range of eco-friendly toys, including the brand new Beco Flyer, a flying disc dog toy that whizzes through the air to the delight of its canine catchers. All our rubber chew toys, including The Beco Flyer, are made from 100 percent natural rubber and rice husks, which are toxin-free and extra tough.”