Dog owners now mirror their own diets in pet food choices

**What's Good for Me Is Good for My Dog**

Sugar-free dog food, preservative-free meals, gluten-free diets, or vitamin supplements—according to online retailer Digitec Galaxus, these trends are booming. The shift toward healthier human nutrition is now making its way into the dog bowl.

But is it true that more and more dog owners are projecting their own dietary habits onto their pets? Uta Jürgen, a psychologist who earned her doctorate at ETH Zurich and researches human-animal relationships, confirms this trend to Swiss public broadcaster SRF. She believes there is a growing tendency for pet owners to align their animals' diets with their own beliefs about healthy eating.

This isn't entirely new, she explains, but it may now be taking on an economic dimension. The anthropomorphism of pets has always existed. "Today, these projections might manifest in people choosing to feed Fifi a gluten-free diet," Jürgen says.

She has observed that vegans often opt for vegan pet food as well. Those who reject the idea of slaughtering animals and avoid animal products themselves may also struggle with opening a can of meat-based dog food. Similarly, people who eat organic tend to prefer organic pet food. It seems that some owners are extending their personal nutrition philosophies to their dogs.

However, Jürgen suggests the motivation isn't so much about following a dietary lifestyle as it is about avoiding the exploitation of livestock and nature through pet food choices.

**Nutritional Advice for Dogs**

Tibor Jakob runs a canine and feline nutrition consulting service in the Emmental region. He doesn't necessarily see dog owners mirroring their own diets in their pets' meals.

Many simply aim to feed their animals in a species-appropriate and healthy way, often avoiding conventional supermarket pet food.

Jakob has noticed, though, that some vegetarians—who avoid meat for personal reasons—also feed their dogs a vegetarian diet. But he says this is rare.

His own approach to species-appropriate nutrition is based on the wolf, a carnivore. He also points out that conventional pet foods aren't always tailored to animals' needs, often containing ingredients like sugar, which are unhealthy for any organism.

"Wanting to feed an animal in the way that's presumably best for it makes sense," Jürgen says. And if this trend does exist, she views it positively—it reflects a heightened awareness of pets' needs.

**Tagesschau**

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