At The Wildest, we’re here to help pet parents shop better for their four-legged family members. Our team of editors and reporters extensively tests new products worthy of our own pets — based on design, durability, innovation, value, maintenance, and safety. We interview veterinarians, veterinary nutritionists, animal behaviorists/trainers, and groomers whose expertise we (and you) can trust. They also regularly contribute to The Wildest and/or serve on our Expert Collectiveopens in a new tab.
Best of Show 2023, our annual roundup of the best pet products of the past year, drops just in time for the holidays. Think of it as a giant, carefully curated gift guide, complete with the best products for dogs and cats that have earned our seal of approval in 10 key categories:
What we look for and how we choose our products
We know our readers are just as devoted to their pets as we are, and they take giving for them seriously. So, after a full year of commerce coverage and the team testing products, we’re here to bring you the best for your holiday (and year-round) shopping experience.
Our team of editors selected these products based on what we, as pet parents and knowledgeable pet industry professionals, think are the best quality for your dogs and cats. We only recommend a product if it is safe, and, if applicable, durable enough to last you more than a few months.
Outside of using these products themselves, our experts — certified trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians, and more — have heartily recommended them to us. We also always consider information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)opens in a new tab during our research process and encourage you to do the same as you continue to research what product is best for you.
Our team
The writers and editors of The Wildest are dedicated pet parents. Our Editor-in-Chief, Samantha Gurrie, has spent more than a decade working in pet care and rescue, and is especially passionate about pet health — both mental and physical. The rest of our editors and contributing writers are pet parents who use the products we recommend in their daily lives with their puppies and kittens. So, we mean it when we say that the products we recommend to our readers are the products we independently research, test, and ultimately choose for our own pets.
Speaking of research, we turn to both market insights and peer-reviewed studies published in scientific journals for the latest, most legitimate information about the brands and products we recommend.
Our experts
The medical and behavioral experts we consult with are all credentialed pet care professionals who are uniquely qualified to address a pet care concern and/or product. On board, we have certified trainers, veterinary nutritionists and animal behaviorists, the top dog dentists in New York City, and other experts with experience at top universities, including Harvard, Cornell University, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, and more.
When selecting them, we check their professional experience, publications, affiliations, and — of course — social media accounts. As previously mentioned, many of these people are members of our Collectiveopens in a new tab, which we consult for our regularly published content. Others are experts we spoke to specifically about the winners of each Best in Show.
Diversity
We employ a diverse group of staff members and contributors who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other minority groups to ensure our coverage — and our considerations of the overall quality of a product — are inclusive. In our daily coverage, and in this shopping guide, we make sure to feature brands owned by these minority groups; we are especially focused on putting the spotlight on small businesses. As pet parents, we know no experience is like it, which is why our diversity goals are a top priority in every endeavor, especially Best in Show.
A note on affiliate partnerships
We have affiliate partnerships with some of the vendors listed in this guide. This means that we make a commission if you purchase an item from the provided affiliate link. We selected these items independently of our affiliate relationship; they are included only after extensive research and expert consideration.
