Blog Title: How We Test New Products: From Trial to Shelf at Pickles Pet Pantry
- Pickles Pet Pantry Team
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
At Pickles Pet Pantry, we're not just passionate about sourcing the best for your furry (and scaly or feathered!) friends—we're serious about quality. Before any new food, treat, toy, or accessory hits our shelves, it undergoes a rigorous testing process. And who better to lead the charge than our very own Animal CEOs—our Directors of Quality Control!
These trusted companions take their jobs very seriously. Meet the elite product-testing team who keep our standards high and tails wagging.
Fred – The Husky Cross & Cani Athlete
As our senior tester and Canicross expert, Fred’s endurance and energy make him the ideal candidate to trial performance-focused foods and gear. From RunningDog fuel to hydration hacks, Fred puts every product through its paces. If it can keep up with Fred—it earns a spot on our shelves.
Truffle – The Poodle-Dachshund Cross, aka "The Fussy Queen
Tiny but mighty, Truffy has a refined palate and a nose for nuance. If a food passes Truffy’s taste test, you know it’s special. She’s our go-to for gauging palatability, especially with premium diets like Peterinary. Her seal of approval means a product has passed the highest fussy-eater standards.
Winston – The Frenchie Foodie & Allergy Expert
Winston is a success story himself, having thrived on allergen-friendly diets. He’s our expert in testing sensitive formulas, hypoallergenic treats, and durable toys for dogs with special needs. If Winston’s skin stays happy and his ears itch free, the product gets a green light.
Ary – The Feline Force
Every dog team needs a strong feline voice. Ary, our mini black panther, represents the cat community with sass and style. Whether it’s protein-packed pâté or a feather teaser, Ary ensures our cat line meets her exacting standards. When she purrs, we know it’s a win.
Ruby – The Salcutta Tortoise
Our giant shelled specialist Ruby ensures our reptilian friends are well-represented. As a Calcutta tortoise, she plays a crucial role in helping us review reptile-friendly foods, substrates, and accessories. Her gentle wisdom and steady presence ensure we keep standards high for our slower-moving companions.
Marvin – The Hermann’s Tortoise
Slow and steady, Marvin is our reptile rep. He keeps an eye (and a shell) on nutritional balance and enrichment options for our cold-blooded customers. His approval is deliberate and thoughtful—just like his pace.
Once a product passes these rigorous tests, we move on to the next crucial phase—you, our trusted customers! We randomly select trialists from our loyal community to put these products through their paces in real homes and real paws. This step ensures that what we recommend has been tested truthfully and thoroughly.
We only recommend things based upon truthful trial. We're proud to say we wouldn't stock it if we didn't love it or trial it ourselves. If it's good enough for your pet, it should be good enough for ours!
From taste tests to toy destruction, our animal board makes sure everything we offer is loved by pets before it’s ever offered to yours. So the next time you pick up a treat or toy from Pickles Pet Pantry, know it’s been paw-picked, pounced on, and thoroughly approved by the pros.
Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes videos and more from our fabulous panel of product testers!
And who is Pickle?
Pickle was a beloved Quaker parrot—noisy, chatty, full of character, and the true spirit behind our name. Pickle helped inspire the inclusive, fun-loving heart of our business.
We're a family that’s had all kinds of animals over the years—including some rare and special ones like Lucy the Scarlet Macaw. Our passion for pets runs deep and diverse, and it's woven into everything we do.
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