Pet Products

Pet products may have improved in variety, quality and availability over the years; however, pet products themselves have been a part of pet culture for hundreds and hundreds of years!

Whilst there is no exact date (or even Century) that heralds the fruition of pet products, the Elizabethan era reveals some the earliest historical evidence of pet products and the effective use of them. In many Elizabethan artworks and literary accounts, reference to pet grooming (in particular, that of dogs) is obvious, which implies that the pet products industry originally grew from grooming tools like brushes and combs. Pet products including beds, and leads were most likely next, although, many lithographs from this Century all feature similar pet products - bows and other 'decorations'.

The origin of pet products can also be traced back to 17th century France, when the poodle was the official 'dog at Court'. Requiring substantial grooming, all manner of pet products were created and crafted to ensure that the appearance of the French monarchy's poodles was that of utmost perfection - including specific brushes, fur shampoos, fur conditioners, and elaborate decorative pet products. Furthermore, the era of King Louis XV of France reveals the first official records of dog grooming parlours - where pet products like beds, brushes, bows and early toys were all employed and documented in both paintings and journals alike.

Pet products are a common part of pet ownership and pet appreciation today, however, unlike those in Centuries before us, we have a far greater range of pet products to choose from. The principle of caring for, tending to and maintaining the appearance of one's pet remains the same.