These Canned Pet Foods Were Super-Hot Sellers in May

• FUSSIE CAT sales were up because we are participating in the Fussie Cat End Cap competition and created a fun and unique display highlighting the new Fine Dining Pate cans! We did a “cat fishing” theme with apple crates shaped like a dock and signs that say, “No fishing” and “No cats” and “No fishing cats.” The display was shoppable, included signs with pricing and info. We also promoted the Astro deal of .99 cents per can for the Fine Dining flavors, which got them moving as well. — Rebecca Nicholson, Yarn and Bone Pet Supply, Milford, DE
• HUNGER FOR WORDS Talking Pet buttons. We have the smartest dogs in the city, the way we’ve been moving this product! We offer one-on-one coaching with dog and parent. $25.99 to $59.99. Love this one — it’s fun, a little frustrating, but the breakthrough moments are huge! — Carol Will, Lola & Penelope’s, St. Louis, MO
• We sold a ton of NULO dog cans thanks to an incredible promotional price of $1 per can! In addition to customers stocking up for themselves, we also had the benefit of a local Pug rescue asking their supporters to order cans through our web store for pick-up by the rescue. Friends of the rescue ordered more than 1,100 cans for Church of Pug, and we sold more than 2,300 cans total! — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
• TICKLESS ultrasonic Chemical-Free Tick & Flea Repellent was a huge seller for us in May. We reordered twice! Ticks are a big issue on the East Coast, and many people are looking for chemical-free alternatives. We sell the dog and human versions, have it merchandised at the cash wrap, and also with our other flea and tick repellent products. Dog version $48.99, human version $51.99. — Amy Schiek, Lucky Dogs, Skaneateles, NY
• Due to recent changes in local shop owners, post IPP issues, I’m one of the only stores carrying almost the full line of FARMINA cat foods, and it’s been hard to keep it in stock no matter how much I order. We also ran a promotion for two weeks to cross-sell Pumpkin, Quinoa or Prime kibble and Ocean kibble: buy one get one at a big % off. I worked it out with my rep to make it easy for people to try other proteins without spending as much. — Angela Velasquez, The Kitty Bodega, Houston, TX
• TALL TAILS animated toys. As soon as people see them move and squeak, it’s game over! $22.99. — Jocelyn Turner, Woof Woof Pet Boutique and Biscuit Bar, Bristol, RI
• We recently picked up most of the TIKI CAT can line, and it’s doing great! The Aloha Friends 3-ounce cans for $1.79 and the Tiki Silver 2.4-ounce cans for $1.79 have especially done well. We have a huge display for the Tiki cans, and since they are so colorful, they draw attention to themselves. The senior food is in a separate section with our other urinary/low phosphorus/specialty diet foods with a card explaining why it’s important for senior health. — Megan Swain, Critter’s Corner, New Smyrna Beach, FL
• INJOYA Snuffle Mats, $31.99 and up. Bright and colorful, they sell like crazy! — Loree Shirazi, Paw Pleasers, San Diego, CA
• TUSCAN NATURAL Simply Pure Lamb Meal Recipe. So many dogs have food sensitivities. This food has the least number of ingredients we can find. It is our No. 1 seller almost every month. $86.99 for the 28-pound bag. — Nicole Olesen, Woofs & Waves, Sioux Falls, SD
• CLOUD STAR Tricky Trainers for training puppies! — Lori Colburn, Nature’s Pet Market Orenco, Hillsboro, OR
• 12-inch Cows Tails from BULLY STICKS ORGANIC. $3.25. Safe, clean, long-lasting GREEN JUJU Freeze Dried Whole Food Bites! When they launched the balanced diets, we created a full display close to our cash wrap and can’t keep it in stock. We keep increasing the order and still have empty prongs each week. — Becci Scott, The Fetching Dog, Scottsdale, AZ
• NORTHWEST NATURALS Raw Rewards Freeze Dried Livers in chicken, beef and lamb. $11.99. — Jennifer Pastorini, Dusty’s Den, Sonora, CA

• CYCLE DOG High Roller Ball Glow in the Dark. We have a black light on them so they glow in the store. This time of year helps, too, with backyard night play. — Jenny Dubrock, Don’t 4 Get About Me, Branson, MO
• HIMALAYAN PET SUPPLY Yogurt Sticks. They come in three flavors: plain, peanut butter and bacon. Around $7. The company has a “chew meter” for products, which helps owners “chews” the right one for their dog. These are a 1 out of 10, so great for dogs of all ages. They also have added prebiotics and probiotics, and are easily digestible, even for dogs with sensitive stomachs. We haven’t done any promos yet, but they are one of the many awesome brands on Astro Loyalty, which customers appreciate very much! For every 12 they buy, they get one free. — Corey Heenan, Boutique and Pet Spa, Altamont, NY
• Chew for all sizes of dogs. — Nancy Okun, Cats n Dogs, Port Charlotte, FL
• We brought in the REDBARN Chew-A-Bulls Hydrant dental chews and put them on our cash wrap. They sold like hot cakes as an impulse item. $1.99 to $4.99. — Angie Scavone, Sniffany’s Pet Boutique, Albany, OR
• TICKLED PET Codfish Skin Twists were a hot seller for us. We rotate what items we put on our front counter, which is what got people interested initially, and now they are buying them repeatedly. 8-ounce bag for $16.99. — Jennifer Hall, All Things Pawssible, Charlottesville, VA
• LENNOX Lifebound Collagen Chews are selling very well. The dogs like them, and they are substantially cheaper than a comparable bully stick. — Barbara Clemmens, Aardvark Pet Supplies, Thornwood, NY
• Sales of EARTH ANIMAL No-Hides are rocketing since the introduction of WEST PAW’s Funnl toy. Specifically the medium chews (7 inches, $10.99) and large (11 inches, $15.99) in all flavors. In April, we discovered we had some short-dated 7-inch No-Hides, so customers got one free with the purchase of a Funnl, while supplies last. It was a slam dunk — we sold through our first case of Funnls and moved all the short-dated No-Hides, and now it’s restored interest in the No-Hide line. — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones, Providence, RI
• IV SAN BERNARD shampoos and conditioners, the products we use in the grooming salon. As we educate owners to proper skin/coat care, they are motivated to use better products at home. — Kelly Boesel, Blue Ribbon Pets, Ukiah, CA
• Viking Hat by DOGO PET. $22.99. Because of the Viking Festival, a big event our town puts on every year. — Kirsten Puhr, The NW Dog, Poulsbo, WA
• THE PUPPER CUP Ice Cream Cake. $24.99. It has a cutout for “Happy Birthday” and one for “Happy Gotcha Day.” It is a great last-minute grab. We’re known for our custom cakes, but dogs don’t remind you ahead of time. — Cindy Samartino, Wiggle Butt & Whiskers, Leesburg, VA
• DR. BECKER’S beef Warrior Bites, $16. Signage outlining the Warrior Program. Customers were eager to support the program around Memorial Day. — Diane Mullen, Winni Paw Station, Wolfeboro, NH
• PET RELEAF CBD Stress Releaf treats! It’s a great tool to help teach dogs how to learn emotional regulation. — Kristi May, Legend Acres, Surprise, AZ
• WOOF The Pupsicle. Great unique treat holder, easy to use with premade treats or make your own. Easy to clean. Customers and staff have a lot of puppies right now, and these have been fabulous, especially for older puppies. The premade treats make them really have to work at it! — Andrea Demmons, The Tailgait Market, Asheville, NC
• We have been selling a whole lot of SUZIE’S CBD Treats products. — Jennifer Baird, Earthwise Pet, Corpus Christi, TX
• Mega Monster Bully Stick by SUPER CAN. No promotions, but many things in our ‘pink bucket section,’ which is where a lot of our chews are, do quite well. It’s pretty expensive, but it’s popular because of how long it lasts! $23.99. — Erin Paitrick, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Summerville, Summerville, SC
• BOCCE’S BAKERY Cookies, $8. I just started carrying them, and they are selling very well. They are priced on the lower end of treats — not sure if that’s why, but people recognize the brand. — Susan Nagel-Rees, Winky’s Pet Boutique, Chester, NJ
• HAPPY HOWIE’S 11-inch Beef Woof Stix are a perennial favorite. We sell them for under $2 — never had a promotional price. Customers will grab a couple to put them over the next level in our perks program, or use them in the WEST PAW Quizl as a (much) less-expensive alternative to a bully stick. — Susan Weyrauch, Total Dog Company, New Hope, MN
• NORTHWEST NATURALS 6-pound frozen food (promo was $20 off a certain number of bags). THE BONES & CO 18-pound was $20 off per box chicken and turkey for May. — Samantha Youngblood, Youngblood’s Natural Animal Care Center and Massage, Wilkinson, IN
• Live crickets. We’re one of the few non-big box stores around that offers them, so it’s been a great month of sales with these. — Zachary Dewitt, Skilos, A Family Pet Store, Milwaukee, WI
• Cod Skins from POLKADOG. We sell them for $1 each, and people love them for their dogs. — Jessica Ryder, The Bark Club, Weymouth, MA
• YOGHUND YoPup Frozen Yogurt Cups! No promos! No additional anything! — Gloria VonZech, The Principled Pet, Collingswood, NJ
• Our freeze-dried raw diets are a growing category for us — it’s always been a big focus for us, but we’ve run some aggressive $-off promotions with various brands, and it’s working. Selling freeze-dried diets as toppers, for puzzle toys/enrichment, and as a complete and balanced diet makes them a very versatile option for customers. We also extensively sample our freeze-dried diets for dogs and cats; every customer gets a sample, and our team briefly covers why it’s an excellent addition to their pet’s diet. — Jeffery Jensen, Four Muddy Paws, St. Louis, MO
• 2 HOUNDS DESIGN Freedom Dog Harness. — Kim Sykes, K9 Manners & More, Broken Arrow, OK
• Raw raw and more raw! We love selling raw food and, with the remodel project showcasing a brand new freezer room, it’s selling more than ever! — Kelly Hilzendager, Treat Play Love, Grand Forks, ND
• TUESDAY’S NATURAL DOG COMPANY Tremenda Discs for the win! Sold them hand over fist without any promotions because they are unique and our shop dog loves them. — Jennifer Thomas, Lucky Dog Pet Grocery & Bakery, Lawrence, KS
• OPEN FARM treats. We did a promo with our rep and sold over 200 bags. — Beth Staley, Happy Dog Barkery, Downers Grove, IL
• TALL TAIL toys continue to be hot for us. — Jennifer Moore Baker, Grateful Dog Bakery, North Ridgeville, OH
• SMALLBATCH Lightly Cooked Beef 5 pounds. No promos, just our No. 1 gently cooked seller every month! — Jennifer Guevin, Holistic For Pets, Bradenton, FL
• GREEN JUJU treats. All flavors. It’s a good price point, $9.99 to $14.99 depending on the protein, and customers love that it’s such a soft simple ingredient treat. — April Wright, The Dog And Cat, Essex Jct, VT
• REDBARN Collagen Braid, $8.99 to $12.99 These are a fair constant for us, but folks like the value for size and length of time. Now that Redbarn has changed how they look and they aren’t smoked the same way, the new batches look completely different, I’ll be very interested to see if they continue to sell as well, as we don’t think they look nearly as appealing, despite the fact that now they are considered “single ingredient.” — Adina Silberstein, Queenie’s Pets, Philadelphia, PA
• REDBARN Beef Cheeks! We sell the plain for $9.99 and other flavors for a couple dollars more. — Jennifer Flanagan, Nature’s Pet Market Sherwood, Sherwood, OR
• STEVE’S REAL FOOD Nuggets at $55.99. Customers are becoming more interested in feeding raw. Steve’s has the best price point and does not use vitamin packs. — Kris Lamoreaux, Healthy Pets Mountain West, Cottonwood Heights, UT
• REDBARN Air Dried Dog Food! Customers love that it comes in small packages, as they can use them for treats. These come in beef, chicken and fish. I highly recommend the beef and chicken to use as treats, as they do not crumble and are easy to break smaller if needed. The wholesale price is great, and it’s a great seller! — Sandy House, Paws ‘N Effect, Hamden, CT
• PETCUREAN dog food is beginning to grab a foothold. We’re phasing out MERRICK, and people are liking this brand as a replacement. — Michele Saharic, Barkley’s Marketplace, Flemington, NJ
• Tremendous Discs by the TUESDAY’S NATURAL DOG COMPANY have done very very well at $7.99. It’s newer to us and not an easy choking hazard due to its wide diameter. — Brett Foreman, Eupawria Holistic Pet Center, Owego, NY
• We did mystery bags to move out some of our clearance merchandise. We did large and small dog for $30 (valued at over $60) and cat for $20 (valued at over $35). We included toys, treats and even food in each bag. Some bags included collars and leashes or wellness products. People love the surprise factor along with a “deal.” — Elaina Stanley, Three Happy Hounds, Fernley, NV
• We sold 150 cookies in May, the majority during our birthday celebration week. We chose to promote our birthday selfie station (6-foot inflatable birthday cake, balloons etc.) and encouraged guests to take pictures of their dogs with their new purchases. Cookies were the easiest, but this impacted overall store sales. From toys to treats to life jackets, etc. Sales went up 28% from last month. — Shari Wilkins, Lake Dog and Their People, Eufaula, OK
• EARTH ANIMAL No-Hide Venison 7-inch chew. It is usually a great seller, but picked up a little this month. No specials. — Crisi Fetters, Local Pet, Victoria, TX
• All of our flea and tick products. While not in the top five, flea season came early and hit us hard. CEDARCIDE led the way with EARTH ANIMAL coming in a close second. — Diana Farrar, Fifi & Fidos Pet Boutique, San Antonio, TX
• No-Hides from EARTH ANIMAL were a big hit in May. Our price point on these is small $5.25, medium $10.50 and large $15.75. We did not offer any special promotions on them, but people seem to like to purchase these for their pets. — Carrie Calleja, Your Pets Desire, Milan, MI
• WERUVA cat food, all SKUs. $1.59 to $2.49 each. Ran Memorial Day Sale at 15% off all Weruva products. — Denise Strong, Pawz On Main, Cottonwood, AZ
• FROMM Adult Gold 30-pound bags were our highest sales with the Astro promo of “Buy a big bag, get a free bag of treats.” — Annabell Bivens, The Dog Store, Alexandria, VA
• GREEN JUJU freeze-dried Whole Food Bites dog food has been rapidly growing since it launched. It continues to be a daily request and a need for reordering each week. — Julie Sterling, Julz Animal Houz, Marysville, WA
• Third month of the row of FROMM Chicken A La Veg 26 pounds and 12 pounds as the bestsellers. — Natalya Schilling, Pets on Brady, Milwaukee, WI
• SOLUTIONS PET PRODUCTS Tummy Butter Tea, mostly the 64-ounce size. $23.69, and we offered no discounts other than our usual 3% cash discount. — Beth Kidd, Dogs By Design, Irwin, PA
• We brought in SOLUTIONS PET PRODUCTS. Put it on sale at 5% off. We’re a big Answers store, so the big sales with Solutions is not a big surprise. — Ruth Sturgis, Dog Daze, North Syracuse, NY
• Every May, we have our Big Anniversary Sale. We sell Mother’s Day hanging baskets and annuals. Hanging baskets sold out. But our entire store goes on sale. Our biggest pet line during our sale was FROMM. Our reports showed it blew away every other sale we did. — Jennifer Stanislawski, Eden Garden and Pets, West Allis, WI
• INFINIA ZenFood 15-pound bag. No promotions except the dog food is on frequent buyer. — Laurie McClearen, Cohutta Country Store, Blue Ridge, GA
• Hummingbird and oriole feeders were our hot sellers for the month of May. No sales or specials. Both of these birds return to our area the first of May. We always sell a lot of new feeders for them at the start of the season. Not just one brand; we stock a variety of feeders to suit people’s preferences. $11.95 to $31.95. — Shelly Nicastro, Essex Bird & Pet Supply, Essex, MA
• We did a themed cookie set for ’80s and ’90s treats, and those were the hit of the month! Super fun to see which ones people chose. We do all the baking and decorating in house. — Nicole Cummins, 3 Dogs and a Chick, Fort Walton Beach, FL
• OPEN FARM Bone Broth, new 32-ounce size. The quality (traceable, GAP, sustainability, transparency) helps sell it against other brands. — Janet Cesarini, Pupology, Georgetown, TX
• CARNA4 dog food. We’ve suddenly had a lot of customers liking it. They’re looking for simpler formulas in all areas of pet health, from food to treats to supplements, and Carna4 fits the bill. — Keith Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC
• Odor-free Jumbo Bully Sticks by TUESDAY’S NATURAL DOG COMPANY. They wholesale for $6.63, and we sell them for $14. We have always done well with treats, but the increase in bully stick sales is new. Several customers commented that it is difficult to find odor-free bully sticks. — Lisa Degloria, Good Dog Gallery, Portsmouth, NH
• Grooming again! I’m a small pet store with grooming. While we had lost some business due to online shopping, COVID took it by storm and we are not recovering. — Nicoll Vincent, For K-9S & Felines, Westfield, MA
• Bulk blueberry pancake cookies from AG-ALCHEMY. — Jill Allen, Bark 2 Basics, O’Fallon, MO
• New KONG toys! We brought in an endcap of new items from the Bradley Caldwell show to all of our stores, and they have sold well everywhere! — Cassie Nilsson, The Mill Stores, Whiteford, MD
• Our own birthday cakes and treats! — Stephanie Rossino, Giggybites Bakery & Marketplace, Chadds Ford, PA
• We sold a lot of PRIMAL Pronto, frozen bones and goat milk. There was a National Pronto promotion of $6 off per bag, which really helped to move that product. — Victoria Park, Park Pet Supply, Atlanta, GA
• PRIMAL Goat Milk. We let customers know there was a shortage, and it sold out every time we were able to secure more. — Nancy Guinn, Dog Krazy, Fredericksburg, VA
• Freeze-dried quail eggs. — Keith Zeiler, Paws on Chicon, Austin, TX
• Astro promo for Fromm Crunchy Os, Chip’s Naturals chips. — Christina Knispel, The Purrfect Pet, Milford, NJ
• Chicken chicks. May was our peak of chick sales. Sold about 180 chicks for net sales of about $1,300. We retail them for $4.90-$6.70, depending on the breed. — Austin Strader, Westside Feed & Mercantile, Loveland, CO
• Flea and tick prevention. Florida is being bombarded by fleas lately. We attribute it to being a very mild winter that didn’t kill the flea eggs. Our customers are also looking for more “natural” solutions. Also, we have had a good uptick in the amount of frozen “gently cooked” products that people have been looking for. I guess the grocery stores are having a problem restocking “Fresh Pet.” — April Meier, Pawsitively Scrumptious, Crestview, FL
• PUREVITA Tetra packs were a big seller, with a promo running at $1 each. — Jessica Fernen, Sam’s Cats & Dogs, Naturally, Redmond, WA
• TICKLESS has been a huge seller for us! Ticks are so bad in this area, and customers are always looking for a safe alternative that actually works! — Kate Bowman, Clipper’s Canine Cafe, Ellicott City, MD
• By far our bestselling items were NUTRISOURCE cans for dogs. Our amazing KLN rep, Steve, allowed us to run all dog cans on sale for $1, and our team really got behind selling them. Folks didn’t buy a little; they bought cases. We did several social media posts, and encouraged folks to try some for their dogs as well as donate a can or two to a local rescue. — Jennifer Larsen, Firehouse Pet Shop, Wenatchee, WA
• REDBARN Braided Collagen Sticks, $5.99. — Robin Jerdee Beast Buffet, LLC, Monroe, WI
• I think local dogs are addicted to our bullies. I sell the thick guys from CHASING OUR TAILS for $20 and have had to order cases every week! — Ashley Lancaster, Hot Diggity, Hyannis, MA
• WERUVA cat foods. We buy in displays that feature “Buy 2, Get 1 free” or other promotions. Those do well for us when they are set up and displayed near our cat toy/ supply aisle. Customers who may not be buying their cat food here (thus not traveling to the cat food aisle) see the display and buy from it. We’ve done these for months, and they tend to always be a good seller for us no matter which flavors are in the display. — Stacy Davis, That Fish Place That Pet Place, Lancaster, PA
• Have you seen the Big Foot from TALL TAILS? It’s adorable just like the Yeti, but bigger and fluffier. It’s a great creative stuffie, and even though I only had five in stock, after making a quick video of it on Instagram, they were all gone the next day. — Angela Pantalone, Wag Central, Stratford, CT
• Our Frosty Pup-Cups were our top seller for May. We make our own all-natural dog ice cream, which we sell year-round, but it’s obviously a very popular seller in the summer months! We’ve been making them for three years, and they typically start selling in large amounts in the month of May, which stayed true this year as well. I advertise for them all of the time, but we up the advertising on hot days! — McKenna Burzimati, Roxies Barkery, North Adams, MA
• We brought in INJOYA Snuffle Mats, and they went over very well. We didn’t run a promo on them, but they were such a hit because people have been asking for them for a while. $30 to $50. — Diane Marcin, Benny’s Pet Depot, Mechanicsburg, PA
• TIKI CAT Puka Puka Luau. We sold a bunch of it last month. — George Beebe, Pawki’s, Eastsound, WA
• Flea and tick products were our bestsellers for May. No promotion, just our usual seasonal increase. — Joanna Shaw, All Pet & Equine Supply, Mountain Home, AR
• Harnesses, mostly RUFFWEAR. No promotions. Most priced at $49.95. — Dawn Hanner, Eastside Dog, Redmond, WA
• Patriotic cookies. — Rachel Mcginnis, Leo & Lucky’s, Parrish, FL

Services

• Grooming because I finally have a fourth groomer! We don’t have to tell people that we have a 6- to 8-week wait. Now, it’s only 2 to 3 weeks! Woohoo! — Penny Murano, Unleashed, New London, NH
• Our best selling service in May was board and train. We had so many requests for board and train and for Puppy Jump Start! — Jennifer Frankavitz, Four Leggers Pet Supplies & Services, Beverly, MA
• Grooming, of course, took off now that it’s spring. — Doug Staley, Pet Palace of New City, New City, NY
• Dog walks. — Laura Wright, PAWright Pet Services, Soddy-Daisy, TN