Although the pet-related market has been around for centuries, with merchants selling animals, animal food or bird seed, the concept of the pet store took off in the late 19th century. The need for such a market rose with the domestication of animals, helping owners find relevant animal merchandise so as to create a beneficial environment for them to grow and evolve.
In regards to ancient times, there are a few examples of pet affiliation, such as Egypt having cats as pets and even worshipping them, while other civilizations, like Greece or Rome, kept more exotic pets (parrots, monkeys). They also had organized gatherings that served as markets, including the existence of something similar to a pet store, where, besides animals, also sold accessories such as collars.
Based on its strong foundation, this kind of store has grown rapidly, offering a wide range of products and services while providing the owners with support and help in informed decision making. Professionalism and good communication have proven to be pivotal and remain the keys to a good seller-customer relationship.
The culture of domestication also came with responsibility towards animals, therefore the need of the pet store became more pivotal. Historically, the first steps to domestication were taken in the Mesopotamian times, when people started taming animals for other uses, such as milk, meat or hides (used for storage, building tent refuges or clothing). In regards to these category of animals, sheep and goats are known as the first domesticated animals, followed closely by chickens.
As far as pet companionship is concerned, domestication of cats and dogs happened naturally as the human species started to acknowledge their capability of being used for different purposes. On the one hand, dogs were used for hunting and guarding, while cats, on the other hand, were good rodent predators.
Another important topic to be taken into consideration is the difference between domestication and taming. This best applies when referring to birds because the domesticated birds went through genetic changes throughout the years, thus becoming reliant on humans. When it comes to tamed birds, they still have the ability to survive the wilderness while retaining natural instincts. One of the aspects that has been playing a vital role in the care of birds is the bird seed, served as an essential food source for both types of birds, wild and captive ones.
With the rise of the pet store, animal owners are able to find a great variety of products, whether accessories or food, as almost every such store offers various products, from bird seed to cat scratchers and more.
Through the years, human kind has been searching for ways of improving the means of domestication and has concluded that one of the best ones is by using bird seed. For a better understanding of the process, it is advisable to consider the birds by their level of domestication, as follows:
In the early days, the domesticated birds were foragers and mainly ate grains, insects and seeds usually located in their premises; as agriculture evolved, humans began cultivating grains such as wheat, barley, corn, etc. which eventually became the main poultry diet, referred to as bird seed. The most common seed is corn, known for its efficiency in providing energy due to it being a carbohydrate. When creating a balanced diet, wheat and barley are also of great use, as they provide the protein and fiber requirements.
Nowadays, most of the modern poultry industry relies on commercial feed which is made of processed seeds, grains and added nutrients for a more optimal growth.
When it comes to partly domesticated birds, there is a shift in their nutrition as, besides the normal usage of seeds (millet, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.), a more balanced diet is required. This diet should also include fruits, vegetables, pellets, keeping in mind that there is not enough nourishment and nutriment coming only from seeds.
Given the ascension of the need for qualitative products, sellers have begun to pay more attention to the merchandise they put on display. Moreover, having a professional interface that can provide all the needed information is crucial, as they have the ability to help the owners make good decisions regarding food, supplements, toys and accessories. Once the trust is established, it becomes easier to grow a relationship and long-term collaboration for the well-being of the pet.