Shen Jing pampers her fur baby in every aspect of life. From meticulously choosing high-quality dog food brands, ordering custom-made treats and toys, scheduling regular trips to the grooming parlour, to occasionally splurging on creative styling, the 23-year-old treats her Golden Retriever as if it were her own child.

　　“I spend around 1,500 yuan per month on my dog, mostly on food, snacks and toys, with some going toward healthcare expenses,“ she shares.

　　Pet owners are generous parents, with some willing to pay a jaw-dropping 5,867 yuan just for a pet toilet, far exceeding average prices for a human version.

　　“My dog is way too chubby!“ said Gao Boxin, 26, who purchased a pet treadmill for his Corgi Taotao. He even splurged on a heart rate monitor and cooling foot patches to sooth his dog's paws after a workout. Despite feeling a pang in his heart when he thinks about buying a sports watch for himself, when it comes to his pet, he throws money at it without a second thought.

　　FROM PET ECONOMY 1.0 TO 3.0

　　China is embracing the era of pet economy 3.0.

　　In the 20th century, during the pet economy 1.0 era, pets were primarily kept for practical purposes -- dogs for guarding homes, cats for catching mice, and chickens for producing eggs. By the 2000s, the pet economy 2.0 era emerged, which was marked by a shift toward companionship, as people began to value pets for emotional interaction. Since 2015, the pet economy has evolved into the 3.0 era, where pets have achieved an elevated status, accompanied by a niche market serving diversified, pet-oriented consumption needs.

　　Around four years ago, Three Squirrels, a prominent Chinese snack brand, launched a subsidiary focused exclusively on dog food.