Episode Description
In this episode of Barking Mad, hosts Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler sit down with consumer strategy expert Michael Johnson to unpack the rise of luxury pet products and the humanization of pets through the lens of economics, guilt, and lifestyle signaling. From diamond-studded collars to ultra-premium pet foods, this conversation challenges the assumption that higher prices always equal better care, explores how affordable options are increasingly stigmatized, and asks a critical question facing the industry today: what happens when “doing right by your pet” starts to feel financially out of reach?
Helpful Links
💎 Check out Posh Puppy's Jeune Tulipe diamond dog collar: https://www.poshpuppyboutique.com/collections/collars/products/la-jeune-tulipe-diamond-dog-pet-collar-exclusive-to-posh-puppy-boutique
💰 And these other luxurious products for dogs: https://www.lordsandlabradors.co.uk/blogs/journal/the-world-s-most-expensive-luxury-gifts-for-pets?srsltid=AfmBOoroy7at5EVFBfQRYwNMb-bDZpkefEIjZczvozKf8UeNcHSQZ8DB
🤔 Is the humanization of pets truly in their best interest? Michael Johnson asks and answers the hard questions in this article: https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/18800-pets-or-people-the-impact-of-humanizing-pets
📰 Read more about "Petflation: How soaring pet food prices are straining households" (CBS News): https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/petflation-how-soaring-pet-food-prices-are-straining-households/
Show Notes
00:00 – Inside the Episode
01:30 – Now Entering: The Lap of Luxury
03:30 – Judgement, Jealousy, and Perspective
10:30 – Don’t Burst My Economic Bubble!
15:30 – Humanization, Guilt, and Pets as People
18:30 – Premiumization vs Accessibility
22:30 – Can Quality Pet Nutrition Also Be Affordable?
31:30 – Parallels to (Human) Parenting
39:30 – Are We Pricing People Out of Pet Ownership
43:30 – Today’s Key Takeaways