Increased anxiety and loneliness led to a boom in pet sales during lockdowns – but as offices open up again, people are having to navigate new challenges. A slew of pet-tech solutions is cropping up to relieve pet parents of the guilt of leaving home and to help alleviate separation anxiety.

Americans are increasingly prioritizing their pets’ health and wellbeing. Canvas8 spoke to seven people across the US to get a better idea of pet owners’ changing relationships with and concerns about their pets, as well as to better understand their expectations from pet brands and services.

With over a year of lockdowns, many dogs got accustomed to their owner’s constant presence. But as people return to the office, some dogs are finding the adjustment difficult. To cope, pet owners are turning to insurance coverages to address the needs of their distressed and lonely pets.

For a new generation of pet owners, spurred on by the pandemic, the emotional health of their animals is more important than ever before. Petpuls’ AI-powered dog collar promises to deepen the pet-owner relationship and provide emotional transparency by giving dogs a voice.