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PETS+ published responses from pet retailers describing products and merchandising support they want in collars, harnesses, leashes and tags. Requests include a dog headlamp for outdoor activities, better-fitting harnesses, less bulky trackers and more flexible ordering. The survey records retailer opinions; it does not establish how widespread each request is or whether manufacturers will act on them.
PETS+ published a survey of pet retailers’ requested improvements to collars, harnesses, leashes and tags, including one retailer’s call for a dog headlamp that stays in place during hikes or boating. The responses highlight product-fit, design, pricing and store-display concerns, but the report does not say whether manufacturers have committed to developing any of the suggested products.
The feature, published October 6, presents responses from members of the magazine’s Brain Squad, a group for owners and senior managers of U.S. pet businesses serving the public. Retailers described products they wish existed or changes they would like brands to make. The report does not provide a respondent count or survey methodology, so the responses should be read as individual retailer feedback rather than a representative measure of the whole market.
Among the requests, Adina Silberstein of Queenie’s Pets in Philadelphia asked why there is no dog headlamp, saying lights attached to collars can shift and that people take dogs hiking or boating. Other respondents wanted cat GPS trackers that are lightweight and have longer battery life, and trackers that are less bulky and complicated.
Harness feedback focused on fit and movement. Retailers requested options for barrel- and deep-chested dogs, designs that leave shoulder movement less restricted, and adjustable styles for unusual body shapes and growing puppies. Suggestions also included clearer guidance to help shoppers choose harnesses by a dog’s build or behavior, such as pulling or backing out.
Product Gaps Affect Store Choices
The responses connect product design with practical retail decisions. A harness that does not fit a particular body shape, or a collar or leash that is uncomfortable, can leave stores with fewer suitable choices for customers. Better sizing information and merchandising materials could also help staff explain which products may suit a particular dog, according to the retailer feedback.
Retailers raised operational concerns alongside consumer preferences. Kristen Hawkins of Pup in Carl Junction, Missouri, said minimum order quantities can make it hard for a small store to carry or replace specific harness sizes; she said she had stopped carrying harnesses because she could not justify the minimum order for a product she sold only a handful of times a year. Other responses called for easier-to-display products and more flexible buying options.
These are suggestions, not evidence that requested items are unavailable across the entire market or that retailers have agreed on priorities. Still, the list gives product makers a set of specific issues raised by independent stores: fit, comfort, design choice, inventory commitments and the effort needed to merchandise a wide range of sizes and styles.
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How the Brain Squad Survey Works
PETS+ describes the Brain Squad as a group open to owners and top managers of U.S. pet businesses that serve the public. The publication says members are invited to take a five-minute quiz each month and can be featured in the magazine. The October 6 feature presents the responses as a retailer wish list for the collars, harnesses, leashes and tags categories.
The list spans both product ideas and improvements to existing retail offerings. Retailers asked for more affordable seasonal designs, more cat collar styles, wider collars, center-ring collars for easier leash attachment, stronger interchangeable tag clips and leashes with more comfortable grips. Some also called for modular products, so customers could change leash lengths, handles or attachments without buying a complete new system.
Several comments addressed the way products reach and appear in stores. One retailer argued brands should give more attention to in-store merchandising alongside direct-to-consumer sales, while another asked for display solutions that help products stand out on crowded walls. The feature does not report responses from manufacturers or detail any resulting product launches.
“Lower MOQs so smaller stores could reorder (or special order) only sizes they need to replace.”
— Kristen Hawkins, Pup, Carl Junction, Missouri
adjustable dog harness for deep-chested breeds
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Survey Scope and Follow-Up
The feature does not state how many retailers responded, how the responses were gathered or whether the participants represent pet retailers nationally. It also does not compare the requests with existing products, sales data or customer research. The comments therefore show what the cited retailers want, but cannot establish how common each need is among retailers or pet owners.
It is also unclear whether any brands are developing a dog headlamp, new tracker designs, revised harnesses or the other requested products. The report includes no manufacturer responses, product timelines or commitments. Suggestions about product comfort and fit are retailer opinions; the feature does not provide independent testing or technical findings.
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Whether Brands Respond
PETS+ says eligible U.S. pet-business owners and top managers can join the Brain Squad and take a monthly quiz, but the report does not announce a follow-up survey or a manufacturer response. The next clear development would be any public product announcement or retail program addressing the requests; none is identified in this feature.
For now, the published list offers retailers and suppliers a record of the concerns respondents raised. Whether brands change product designs, order minimums or merchandising support in response remains unknown.
dog harness for puppies and large breeds
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Key Questions
What is the news in the PETS+ report?
PETS+ published Brain Squad retailers’ requests for new or improved products in collars, harnesses, leashes and tags, including a dog headlamp and better-fitting harnesses.
Who asked for a dog headlamp?
Adina Silberstein of Queenie’s Pets in Philadelphia made the request. She said a headlamp would not shift like a light attached to a collar and could be useful when hiking or boating with dogs.
Did the report say a dog headlamp is being developed?
No. The article records a retailer’s wish, but does not identify a manufacturer developing one or announce a launch.
What harness changes did retailers request?
Responses called for more adjustability and options for different body shapes, less restriction over dogs’ shoulder blades, and clearer advice for matching harnesses to dogs.
Does the survey show these views represent all pet retailers?
The feature does not give a respondent count or survey methodology. Its responses document the views of the cited retailers, but do not establish how common those views are across the industry.
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