March Brand of the Month: Spotlight on Tall Tails, Provider of Wellness Beyond Food

Tall Tails is a brand that continues to set its own path in the world of toys and bedding for fur babies. Proudly operating ahead of the curve, the company offers an unparalleled level of product testing and safety, thanks to its past history in the baby goods category.

“There’s a strong element of trust and perception of care and quality associated with our brand,” said George Barton, director of marketing. “This has earned us respect among the entire pet industry.”

With an emphasis on pet family wellness, Tall Tails uses child product safety standards (ASTM) as a foundation to guide its product development and testing protocols, and features the highest quality materials in its growing portfolio. Tall Tails also utilizes the services of Intertek, a third-party testing firm, focusing on hazardous material content, colorfastness, tensile strengths and more. Complementing this foundation is continued new product introductions as well as on-going promotions that enhance margins for retail partners, while making their line more approachable for all pet parents. Here, George Barton offers an in-depth look at what has made Tall Tails a standout brand.

Q: How does your brand meet the needs of today’s pet parents?

A: Tall Tails ensures that there’s a toy for every dog size, breed, age, temperament and play style. We design toys in five categories – sensory, tug, fetch, reward and chew. Within each play style, toys are constructed with different materials and different features, guaranteeing each is unique, innovative and provides a fun experience for both the pet and the pet parent.

Q: What has the growth of enrichment play products had on the market?

A: The enrichment category is growing and very much on-trend. With pet parents spending more time at home, many look for solutions to prevent boredom and provide mental stimulation to their pets. Our expanding assortment of enrichment toys are all constructed with durable materials, promote active and independent play and provide multi-sensory stimulation.

We’re excited to be adding Tall Tails Enrichment 2-Packs this month, which combine a durable chew with a treat-dispensing toy. We’re also debuting new Tall Tails chews in May, taking our most popular antler style and adding a peanut butter scent.

Last year we introduced three Foraging Mats, which have continually sold out, so this summer we’re expanding to six styles. These 100 percent food grade silicone slow feeders enable pet parents to place kibble, wet or raw food in them. Their interlocking edges make the mats expandable, creating a different textured environment for pets to explore.

Importantly, for retailers, Tall Tails enrichment products help sell more of their store. The treat-dispensing reward toys and Bully Stick holders have a universal fit and can accept most small treats and treat sticks retailers currently carry.

Q: Why is Tall Tails the go-to brand for independent pet specialty retailers?

A: The reasons are many. We use best-in-class distributors, continuously release new and innovative toys to refresh their sets and keep them exciting, regularly offer buy-in promotions for retailers that combine new and like open stock, and offer on-going pet parent promotions through Astro Loyalty. We also feature the first and only toy frequent buyer program for pet parents.

With a mission to “Comfort Those Who Comfort Us®” Tall Tails has donated well over $1 million dollars in blankets and toys to animal shelters and foster organizations around the world. In 2025, Tall Tails will continue supporting our local pet communities through retailer-driven promotions.

Tall Tails will be exhibiting in Booth #1858 at this month’s Global Pet Expo.