Big Survey 2025: The Future

What is your top priority for the next stage of growth in your business?

Candace D’Agnolo Tip: It’s exciting to see so many looking to grow in different ways, but what really stands out is so many focusing on strengthening what they already have. Growth doesn’t always mean bigger; sometimes it means better. Investing in your people, customer experience and in-store improvements can create the strongest foundation for future expansion.

If you could bring in one consultant to help you grow, who would it be?

Candace D’Agnolo Tip: It’s no surprise that digital marketing and SEO top the list. As the industry becomes more competitive, visibility is everything. Visibility starts with a strong online presence because it drives foot traffic, builds trust and boosts sales. Pairing digital marketing with a clear overall strategy is required for serious momentum — especially for independent pet businesses looking to stand out.

If you are the business owner, what is your exit strategy?

What do you think will be the next breakout category or feature in products?

Quite a few respondents joked that if they knew, they’d “already be gazillionaires.” Other top answers revolved around products that improve health and longevity. And, of course, there were mentions of technology for pets.

• “Puzzles and engagement toys are getting a lot of traction.”
• “Freeze dried and dehydrated will continue to dominate growth.”
• “AI-based toys that learn to interact with pets based on usage, personality, etc.”
• “Items that benefit dental health. There’s a whole generation of pet owners starting to realize they have to care for their pet’s teeth and not doing so is very costly in the long run.”
• “Anything to do with tracking pets, maybe even an embedded chip.”
• “Air dried is really growing and so is gently cooked. We’re excited to see more minimally processed foods.”
• “At home tests — allergy, intolerance, gut microbiome, etc.”
• “Dog-walking robots.”
• “Probiotics in everything.”
• “The gently cooked arena is just getting going. Big brands are catching on to the profitability. ”
• “Growth of more restrictive diets as a pushback against prescription diets.”
• “Virtual reality games for pets. Think about a dog with goggles and a headset!”
• “Continued growth of novel proteins.”
• “If the economy continues to slow down, I see more smaller animals as pets as they are much cheaper to maintain, so more products for them.”
• “More made in the USA products.”
• “Robot fish tank cleaner.”
• “It could be SeaMonkeys and pet rocks all over again for all I know!”

If you could ask a fortune teller one question about the future of the pet industry … ?

The overwhelming majority of respondents would ask if independent brick-and-mortar pet businesses will still exist. Other answers:

• “Will the next generation be able to afford the joy of pets? Or will rising costs make them a luxury item?”
• “Will vets ever embrace raw food?”
• “What products should I invent that everyone will buy?”
• “Will puppies be available in the future?”
• “Scientifically valid or not, what’s the next big scare? Grain-free food was the most recent, and I’d like to get out in front of the next one.”
• “Will AI be generating ideas for more Doodles?”
• “I would like to know what food will be recalled in 2026.”
• “What brands are going big box?”
• “Will we still be able to sell any animals?”
• “How will tariffs affect us long-term?”
• “Will Doodle owners ever learn to brush their dogs?”
• “Will there be AI pets?”
• “Is it worth it? Are all the stressful moments, long days and headaches going to pay off?”

Are you using any of the AI-powered large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Co-Pilot or Claude to help you with your business?

What areas are you using them for? Check all that apply:

Candace D’Agnolo Tip: It’s exciting to see more than half of respondents already exploring AI — especially for marketing, sales and content creation. For the 35% not using it yet, this is a huge opportunity. Even small, simple tasks like for writing emails, product descriptions or social posts can save time, boost creativity and help you work smarter not harder. Give it a try!

Tell us about a specific use of an AI agent that has markedly improved your business life?

We could tell that quite a few respondents used AI to answer open-ended questions in this survey. No shade! We applaud your use of tools to efficiently complete tasks.

• “We use AI to listen to and summarize dog-training lessons.”
• “Create newsletters and social media posts. When I have writer’s block, ChatGPT helps me get past it.”
• “I take pictures of every groom and use AI to edit backgrounds and place the pets into them. Clients love it.”
• “Help with taxes.”
• “We used ChatGPT to help craft our messaging of a price increase for grooming.”
• “Wrote a sales dialogue with a customer discussing higher cost of quality nutrition.”
• “Creating responses to negative reviews/ customer complaints.”
• “I use auto-texting with our clients when they have questions. It can even find open appointments and suggest times to book.”
• “Write hiring ads.”
• “Helping me analyze reports and create buying plans.”
• “It’s like having a marketing department, a copywriter and a therapist — without payroll. AI wrote that.”
• “Our employee handbook. I don’t need to reinvent the wheel on this one. I just need an outline to edit and make it applicable to our business.”
• “ChatGPT for generic, SEO-optimized product descriptions.”
• “Video content for Tik-Tok, Instagram and FB.”
• “Giving us guidelines on handling an HR situation.”
• “Event planning! I can name the craziest idea, and ChatGPT will plan it from start to finish.”
• “Sales data analysis by category. Record retention. Forecasting. Research.”

Do you think that the ultimate benefit of AI will be to … ?

Speaking of the future, what does your type of business look like in 25 years?

Respondents said they envision an evolved business model that leverages AI and automation to create even more space for expertise and customer experiences.

• “I picture pet stores as high-tech hubs — AI-powered nutrition stations recommending custom diets, robotic grooming assistants, and interactive virtual play zones where pets can be enriched safely indoors. Shopping will be less about shelves and more about experiences, with technology anticipating each pet’s needs before the owner even asks.”
• “Like a pet food ‘bar’ experience, where people can build their perfect complete meal from start to finish, kind of like Chipotle.”
• “Emphasis on live animals and services, the things you cannot duplicate online.”
• “A hybrid approach to dog training: a mix of in-person coaching (one-on-one and/or group training classes) and online modules for clients to refer back to as they train at home.”
• “I envision the potential for in-store allergy and intolerance tests, and potentially on-demand bloodwork to decide what supplements pets could benefit from!”
• “Robots will be grooming dogs and really messing them up. So my type of luxury grooming salon will be in even more demand.”
• “Better digital support, but still with the knowledge and customer service that only people can provide. Nothing should replace the human element.”
• “I envision secure self-checkout to be standard. I think interaction with people will make a swing back to being desired, unless more pandemics have caused us to shop only online for delivery. People’s short attention spans will require ‘activities’ to be a constant draw. All pricing will be electronic — no more price stickers.”
• “Dogs would have bar codes on their collars for check in/out and payment, and probably arrive at daycare in an autonomous vehicle.”
• “More biologically appropriate foods. More freezers, more raw.”
• “More professionals on the team with licensing and meaningful certification across all specialties. No more big companies, only small ones.”
• “Delivery by drone. Mobile grooming by robot.”