How about sharing a meal with your dog? It's all the rage in Japan, where companies even offer dishes made to be shared between humans and animals. Even food giants are getting in on the act. In Japan, the major confectionery specialist, Morinaga, announced that it will be marketing its first snacks to be shared between a dog and its owner at the end of February 2026.

Morinaga explains that it conducted market research and found a real demand from its customers, who now consider their pet a full-fledged family member, and sometimes even a child. They also consulted animal behavior specialists, and these scientists confirm that dogs experience particular happiness when they can share their human's food, directly from the same plate or package.

Strawberry pancakes or chicken and pea risotto

The major Japanese confectionery specialist will release seven different products that have been designed by chefs and a team of veterinarians. The recipes are generally less sweet and the textures are less resistant to allow small dogs to chew and digest them without problems. For example, there are small vanilla biscuits, frosted strawberry pancakes, or small pear jellies. Each of these snacks costs around 300 or 400 yen, or less than 2 or 3 euros.

But Morinaga is not alone in the market; many companies now offer these meals to share with your dog. The offering continues to grow. You can now also find frozen ready-made meals to share directly with your dog. The Cainz group released a whole special range at the end of 2025. A quick zap in the microwave and you can enjoy, in front of the TV, with Fido, a dish of pasta with pork and zucchini or a kind of chicken and pea risotto. Each portion is 400 yen, which is 2.20 euros.