National Survey Reveals Nearly Half of Dog Owners Plan to Give Their Dog a Treat This Valentine's Day

FRESNO, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 26, 2015) - Wholesome dog treat maker -- Plato Pet Treats -- announced today national survey results that indicate 47 percent of Americans with dogs plan to gift their four-legged friend a treat for Valentine's Day. This figure increases for dog owners ages 18-34 where six in 10 will get their dog's tail wagging with a treat. And what do dog owners think their pets want most this Valentine's Day? Treats, of course! Responses reveal that more than three in five (62 percent) American dog owners think a treat would top their pup's wish list this Valentine's Day if they could ask for a gift.

In addition to treats, dog owners shared which celebrity's dog their pooch would have a crush on, if they were to have a crush on a celebrity's dog. Among female dog owners ages 18-34 Bradley Cooper's dog, Charlotte, gets the top spot with one in five females ages 18-34 (22 percent), while close behind is Dali, Hugh Jackman's dog (18 percent). Rounding out the pack among female dog owners ages 18-34 is Lupo, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's dog (11 percent).

"Americans truly love their dogs, and what better way to show that love than with a treat?" said Aaron Merrell, co-founder and co-owner of Plato Pet Treats. "The act of giving a treat allows us to give something special back to our pets as a reward, an act of love or simply just because. Our dogs treat us everyday, let's treat them in return with the best treats possible."

Plato Pet Treats was founded on the premise that dogs are family members and pet parents should feel good about what they give their dogs. Because of this philosophy, Plato treats ensures all treats are "wag worthy" -- made only with natural ingredients. All treats are slow-baked in-house, unlike other treats that are loaded with fillers and packed with calories, sugar, molasses, maple syrup, corn or wheat. Each Plato Pet ingredient can be traced back to its original source. And, dogs love the taste of Plato!

The online survey was conducted in January 2015 by Harris Poll on behalf of Plato Pet Treats among 1,386 dog owners.

Plato Pet Treats "Made with Love" Survey Bites
The responsibly sourced pet treat maker conducted the national survey to demonstrate the love pet parents have for their dogs. Highlights include:

• Paws Up for the Northeast - Dogs in the Northeast are some of the luckiest since that region topped the list with 54 percent of dog owners planning to gift a treat.
• What Dogs Would Really Want - While treats top the list for what pet parents think their dogs would want more for Valentine's Day (62 percent), a toy comes in second with 17 percent, and at the bottom of the wish list is a tie between a trip to the groomer (4 percent) or a bed (4 percent).
• Hollywood's "Hot" Dogs - When asked which celebrity pooch their dog would have a crush on, respondents ages 18-34 (19 percent) said their dog's first choice would be Bradley Cooper's dog, Charlotte, whereas Americans 65 and older said Anne Hathaway's adorable dog, Edward, would capture the heart of their pup.

More information on the entire Plato Pet Treat product line can be found at PlatoPetTreats.com or Facebook.com/PlatoPetTreats.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Plato Pet Treats from Jan. 9-13, 2015 among 3,006 adults ages 18 and older with 1,386 dog owners. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, see media contact information below.

About Plato Pet Treats
To meet the need for a truly healthy and safe treat alternative for dogs, Plato Pet Treats formulated a series of all-natural treats and supplements, including Plato Pet Treats Real Strips®, Plato Pet Treats Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil®, Plato Pet Treats Thinker Sticks®. Family owned and operated, all Plato Pet treats are slow-baked in-house in Fresno, Calif. Unlike most pet treats, each ingredient can be traced back to its original source. Only fresh vegetables and meat ingredients are baked in the organic-certified facility -- the Plato Way. More information on the entire Plato Pet Treat product line can be found at PlatoPetTreats.com or Facebook.com/PlatoPetTreats.