> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.accentuate.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.accentuate.io/use-case-guides/pet-products/age-group.md).

# Age Group

#### OVERVIEW

What is this field?

The Age Group field classifies what life stage the product is designed for. Nutritional needs, joint health, dental hardness, toy safety, and behavioral enrichment all vary dramatically by age. This field ensures the right product reaches the right animal at the right moment in their life.

Age group works across all species but is most critical for dogs, cats, and small animals. When in doubt, populate it — customers searching for "kitten food" or "senior dog joint supplement" are using age group logic whether your system supports it or not.

#### BUSINESS VALUE

Why this field matters

* Nutritional formulations differ significantly between puppy, adult, and senior life stages
* Toy safety varies by age: puppies need softer materials, seniors need gentler textures
* Dental products are age-dependent: puppy teething chews vs adult tartar control
* Life stage is a strong emotional purchase driver — owners feel understood when products match
* Age-based email campaigns ("Is your puppy turning 1?") require structured age data

#### TECHNICAL SETUP

How to configure this field in Accentuate Custom Fields

| Where       | ACF dashboard → Templates tab → Product scope → Add new field         |
| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Label       | Age Group                                                             |
| Name / Key  | age\_group                                                            |
| Namespace   | accentuate (default)                                                  |
| Field type  | Shopify >> Single-line text (List)                                    |
| Multi-value | Yes — some products are formulated for Puppy and Adult simultaneously |

| Shopify >> List type is ideal here. Each life stage is a separate array element, enabling precise filtering and collection conditions. |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

#### STEP-BY-STEP IN ACF  

1. In ACF, open Templates tab and select the Product scope
2. Click "Add new field"
3. Label: "Age Group" — Key auto-fills as "age\_group"
4. Namespace: leave as "accentuate"
5. Field type: Shopify >> Single-line text (List)
6. Enable "Allow multiple selections" for products covering multiple life stages
7. Click Done, then Save
8. Open a food or supplement product and verify the field accepts life stage values

| Shopify admin (optional pinning): Pin in Shopify admin via Settings → Custom data → Products. Namespace: "accentuate", Key: "age\_group", Type: Single-line text (List). ACF picks up the existing definition automatically — green checkmark confirms alignment. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Repeatability: Shopify >> List is repeatable by nature. No repeatable section configuration needed in ACF. |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

 REFERENCE VALUES  

Example values — adapt to your catalog

| Value          | When to use                                                           |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Puppy / Kitten | Under 1 year; higher protein, calcium, and calories for growth        |
| Junior         | 1–2 years; transitioning from juvenile formulations                   |
| Adult          | 1–7 years (dog/cat); maintenance nutrition and standard products      |
| Mature Adult   | 5–7 years; early senior considerations, joint and cognitive support   |
| Senior         | 7+ years; lower calorie density, joint support, easy-to-chew textures |
| All ages       | Appropriate and safe for any life stage; genuinely universal          |

####  BEST PRACTICES  

* Align age\_group values with packaging and vet guidance language your customers already know
* For supplements, be precise — joint support for "Mature Adult" differs from "Senior" formulas
* For toys, note when a product is NOT suitable for puppies (choking hazard implications)
* Use "All ages" sparingly — only when genuinely appropriate, not as a lazy default
* Consider adding the actual age range in the product description alongside the life stage label

####   COMMON MISTAKES — AVOID THESE  

* Using "Young" and "Old" instead of standardized life stage terms
* Setting "All ages" on food products that clearly have age-specific formulations
* Forgetting that "Senior" starts at different ages for different breeds (giants age faster)
* Omitting age group on dental products — this is safety-relevant, not just a filter
* Conflating age with size: a small-breed adult needs different nutrition than a large-breed adult

####   IN CONTEXT — EXAMPLE PRODUCT  

| 🐣 Grain-Free Salmon Dry Food — Senior Formula      |
| --------------------------------------------------- |
| Pet type:   Dog                                     |
| Age group:   Senior (7+ years)                      |
| Breed size:   M / Medium, L / Large                 |
| Dietary needs:   Grain-free, High protein, Omega-3  |
| Health support:   Joint support, Cognitive function |

#### Developer Implementation

| Liquid note: Shopify >> List type returns a metafield object. Use .value to get the array, then loop over it. |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

```
{% comment %}
  Age Group — Shopify >> List type
{% endcomment %}


{% assign age_group = product.metafields.accentuate.age_group.value %}


{% if age_group %}
  <div class="life-stage-pills">
    {% for stage in age_group %}
      <span class="pill pill--{{ stage | handleize }}">{{ stage }}</span>
    {% endfor %}
  </div>
{% endif %}


```


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