When did dog food get invented?

Answer 1

The first commercial dog food was introduced in England about 1860, by James Spratt, an electrician from Ohio.

He came up with a biscuit, shaped like a bone, made of wheat, vegetables, beetroot and beef blood. Spratt's dog food company thrived, and around 1890 he took it to the U.S. where it became "Spratt's Patent Limited".

In the 1950s Spratt's became part of General Mills, and they produced Purina.

In 1907, F.H. Bennett introduced Milkbone dog biscuits as a complete dog food and a direct competitor to Spratt. Milkbone and Spratt's Dogs Food and Cake dominated pet food manufacturing until the 1920's when canned dog food was first introduced by Ken-L-Ration.

Answer 2

The concept of commercial dog food began in the mid-19th century when James Spratt created the first dog biscuit in England in 1860. This marked the start of the pet food industry as we know it today.