TL;DR
A PETS+ survey of pet retailers gathered requests for improvements to collars, harnesses, leashes and tags, including a dog headlamp for outdoor use. The responses are retailer feedback, not announced product launches; timing, demand levels and manufacturer plans were not provided.
PETS+ published a survey of pet retailers’ requests for changes to collars, harnesses, leashes and tags, including a headlamp designed for dogs. The responses identify product and merchandising gaps retailers say they encounter, but the report does not announce that any company is developing the requested items.
The responses came from the magazine’s Brain Squad, described by PETS+ as a group for owners and senior managers of U.S. pet businesses serving the public. Retailers highlighted practical concerns alongside appearance and price, with requests for gear that fits a wider range of dog shapes, is easier to merchandise and can be purchased in quantities that suit smaller shops.
Adina Silberstein of Queenie’s Pets in Philadelphia asked why there is no dog headlamp, saying it could be useful for people who hike or boat with dogs because it would not shift in the way a collar-mounted light can. Other respondents sought less bulky, simpler GPS trackers, including comfortable options for cats with longer battery life, and more interchangeable leash components and tag clips.
Harness feedback focused on fit, movement and adjustability. Retailers asked for designs that avoid restricting dogs’ shoulders, accommodate barrel- and deep-chested bodies, and offer more adjustment for unusual builds or growing puppies. Some also requested training harnesses with more appealing designs. In collars, requests included wider styles and center-ring designs that make leash attachment easier.
Retailers Seek Better Fit and Flexibility
The survey offers manufacturers and buyers a view of retailer-reported unmet needs across a product category with many sizes and designs. Requests for adjustable or shape-specific harnesses point to fit as a recurring concern in the responses, while simpler trackers and more comfortable leash grips reflect calls for practical changes in everyday gear.
Retailers also described business constraints that affect what they stock. Kristen Hawkins of Pup in Carl Junction, Missouri, said high minimum order quantities had led her to stop carrying harnesses because she could not justify ordering more than she expected to sell. Others asked for product assortments that let shops order common sizes without buying a full line, and for improved displays so products are easier to identify and compare.
These points matter because retailer feedback can inform product design and wholesale practices, but the report does not establish how widespread each issue is among pet owners or retailers. The responses are a collection of individual suggestions, not sales data or a representative measure of market demand.
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A Survey of Independent Retailers
PETS+ presented the responses under the heading “Retailer Wishlist” as part of its report on what sells, what customers value and where retailers see gaps in collars, harnesses, leashes and tags. The article was published October 6, 2026, according to the supplied source material.
The magazine says the Brain Squad is open to owners and top managers of U.S. pet businesses serving the public. Its invitation describes a monthly five-minute quiz and says participants can make their views heard on industry issues. The source does not provide the number of people who responded to this particular survey, how responses were gathered, or whether the results were weighted.
Alongside product requests, respondents raised merchandising and purchasing concerns. Robert L. Critselous of Drooly’s Dog Bakery in Bentonville, Arkansas, said retailers need products that are easier to identify, size and display, arguing that stores are not warehouses. April Wright of The Dog and Cat in Essex Junction, Vermont, also asked for better ways to display products so individual options do not get lost on crowded walls.
“I have stopped carrying harnesses because I can’t justify the MOQ when I only sell a handful a year.”
— Kristen Hawkins, Pup, Carl Junction, Missouri
adjustable dog harness for large breeds
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Survey Scope and Product Plans
The source does not state how many retailers responded, how the survey was conducted beyond identifying it as a Brain Squad survey, or whether participants represent the wider pet retail sector. It also gives no sales figures or customer research to show how common the reported needs are.
There is no indication that manufacturers have committed to producing a dog headlamp, new tracker designs, revised harnesses or other requested products. The responses should be read as retailer suggestions, not confirmed product announcements. The report also does not give prices, release dates, or evidence that particular designs would address the fitting or comfort concerns raised.
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Manufacturers Face Retailer Feedback
The published responses put retailers’ requests on record, but the source names no next product launch or industry response. Any follow-up would depend on manufacturers or distributors acting on suggestions about fit, design, order quantities and store displays.
PETS+ invites qualifying U.S. pet-business owners and senior managers to join the Brain Squad and take a monthly quiz. The magazine’s report does not give a date for another survey or say whether it plans to track responses from manufacturers, so readers should look for further reporting before treating any requested item as forthcoming.
interchangeable dog leash components
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Key Questions
What did pet retailers ask for?
Requests included a dog headlamp, more comfortable and adjustable harnesses, simpler GPS trackers, wider collars, better leash grips and easier-to-merchandise products. Retailers also raised concerns about minimum order quantities and buying full product lines to stock selected sizes.
Is a dog headlamp being released?
The report does not announce a product launch or identify a company developing one. The headlamp appears as a retailer suggestion from Adina Silberstein of Queenie’s Pets.
Who took part in the survey?
PETS+ identifies the respondents as members of its Brain Squad, a group for owners and top managers of U.S. pet businesses serving the public. The article does not state how many people responded to this survey.
What business issue did smaller retailers describe?
One retailer said high minimum order quantities made harnesses impractical to stock when sales were limited. Other respondents asked to order selected sizes or smaller assortments without buying an entire product line.
Do the results show what pet owners want overall?
No. The article presents retailer responses and does not provide customer polling, sales data, response counts or a methodology establishing that the suggestions represent the wider market.
Source: rss
