> 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/pet-type.md).

# Pet Type

### OVERVIEW

The Pet Type field identifies which animal species the product is designed for. It is the most fundamental filter in any pet store catalog — without it, a dog harness and a rabbit hutch live in the same undifferentiated pile. With it, every page, filter, and recommendation becomes instantly smarter.

This field drives top-level navigation, search filtering, and cross-sell logic. It is the backbone of any pet-specific product experience and should be populated on every single product in your catalog.

**Business value**

* Pet owners navigate exclusively within their animal type — dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits
* AI recommendation engines use pet type as the first filter before any other attribute
* Cross-selling (collar → leash → harness) only works when pet type is consistent catalog-wide
* Seasonal campaigns ("summer dog gear") require a reliable pet type filter to execute
* Multi-pet households expect separate sections — not a mixed soup of species

<br>

TECHNICAL SETUP

| Where       | ACF dashboard → Templates tab → Product scope → Add new field                  |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Label       | Pet Type                                                                       |
| Name / Key  | pet\_type                                                                      |
| Namespace   | accentuate (default — no change needed)                                        |
| Field type  | Shopify >> Single-line text (List) — recommended for new fields                |
| Multi-value | Yes — enable "Allow multiple selections" for products spanning several species |

ℹ️ ACF will auto-generate the field name as "pet\_type" from the label. The namespace defaults to "accentuate" — leave it unless you have a reason to override.<br>

STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH

1. In ACF, open the Templates tab and select the Product scope
2. Click "Add new field" in the top bar
3. Set the Label to "Pet Type" — the Name/Key auto-fills as "pet\_type"
4. Leave the Namespace as "accentuate" (default)
5. On the next screen, select field type: Shopify >> Single-line text (List)
6. Enable "Allow multiple selections" so one product can belong to Dog + Cat
7. Click Done, then Save in the right sidebar
8. Open any product in ACF editor — "Pet Type" should now appear ready to accept values

| Shopify admin (optional pinning): To also pin this field in the Shopify admin sidebar: go to Settings → Custom data → Products → Add definition. Use namespace "accentuate" and key "pet\_type" with type "Single-line text (List)". This syncs with ACF automatically. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Repeatability: Shopify >> List types are repeatable by definition - no extra configuration needed in ACF for multi-value behavior. |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

#### REFERENCE VALUES &#x20;

Example values — adapt to your catalog

| Value            | When to use                                                             |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dog              | Any product designed for canine use — food, accessories, grooming, toys |
| Cat              | Feline-specific products; toys, litter, scratchers, furniture           |
| Bird             | Avian products: cages, perches, seed mixes, enrichment toys             |
| Fish             | Aquarium products; food, water treatments, tanks, filtration            |
| Rabbit           | Small mammal: hay, hutches, accessories, grooming                       |
| Hamster / Gerbil | Tiny mammals: cages, bedding, wheels, treats                            |
| Guinea Pig       | Slightly larger small mammal; similar to rabbit needs                   |
| Reptile          | Lizards, snakes, turtles: terrariums, heat lamps, substrate             |
| Horse / Equine   | Equestrian products: saddles, feed, supplements, grooming               |
| All pets         | Genuinely universal products: scales, carriers, some grooming tools     |

#### BEST PRACTICES &#x20;

* Populate this field on 100% of products — no product should be left without it
* Use singular, capitalized names: "Dog" not "dogs" or "DOGS" — inconsistency breaks filters
* For multi-species products, list each applicable species as a separate value
* Sync your pet\_type vocabulary with your navigation taxonomy for filter consistency
* Run a quarterly audit to catch newly added products missing the field

#### &#x20;COMMON MISTAKES — AVOID THESE &#x20;

* Using "Pet" as a value — this tells customers nothing; always be species-specific
* Putting "Large Dog" here — breed size belongs in the breed\_size field, not pet\_type
* Mixing plural and singular: "Dog" and "Dogs" will produce split filter results
* Leaving universal products blank instead of using "All pets"
* Using cute marketing names like "Furball Friends" instead of "Cat"

#### &#x20;IN CONTEXT — EXAMPLE PRODUCT &#x20;

| 🐾 Adjustable Nylon Harness — Size M                                  |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Pet type:   Dog                                                       |
| Breed size:   Medium                                                  |
| Age group:   Adult                                                    |
| Activity level:   High                                                |
| Safety notes:   Reflective stitching; escape-proof double-lock buckle |


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