It is still unclear how exactly dogs become domesticated, but for thousands of years, canines have followed humans. Since the times of hunting and gathering that didn’t require a trip to Target, dogs have evolved to adapt to the food available to them near us. While wolves are carnivores, dogs can eat just about anything their bipedal friends have around, including a wide range of vegetables and grains.
New premium pet food brand Petaluma is inspired by the science surrounding dog nutrition and a desire to feed Fido a more sustainable and animal-friendly diet.
“As a result of a half-century of creative marketing, there is a common misconception that dogs are carnivorous like wolves and require a diet of animal protein to survive. Fortunately, just like humans, dogs evolved to be omnivorous and have the genetic record to prove it,” said Garrett Wymore, co-founder of Petaluma, in a press release. “As animal lovers, we are excited to create evidence-based diets that allow us to care for the planet and traditional agricultural animals as well as we care for our pups.”
With branding and packaging designed with Mexico-based studio The Branding People, the tone is cheerful, playful, and fun. Bright and colorful, the dog food bags depict different dogs doing human-canine activities like playing fetch with a frisbee, going for a bike ride, reading at the park bench, and going for a stroll. Whole ingredients like sweet potatoes, peanuts, and carrots sit in a dog bowl. The wordmark gets executed with a typeface that is reminiscent of a wagging dog tail. Instead of using plastic liners, Petaluma uses plant-based fibers that reducing plastic by 40 percent.
According to Petaluma, dogs consume 20% of meat. By reducing that amount via a plant-based diet, the associated water, farmland, and greenhouse gases from meat production are reduced, in much the same way a reduction and elimination of meat in human diets does.
Petaluma dog food is available directly from its website FeedPetaluma.com
