Acceptability of Dry Dog Food Visual Characteristics by Consumer Segments Based on Overall Liking: a Case Study in Poland

The present work aimed to explore the response of dog owners to the appearance of pet foods. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of the visual characteristics of dry dog food on the human consumers’ acceptance and beliefs they associate with the products. The acceptability of the appearance of dry dog foods by consumers is influenced by the number of different kibbles present, color(s), shape(s), and size(s) in the product. The results indicated that dry dog food manufacturers should take special consideration with the appearance of the kibbles to enhance the acceptability of their products. These findings can help dry dog food manufacturers meet the consumers’ needs with increasing benefits to the pet food and commodity industries