Our Methodology
How we research
and recommend.
A clear, repeatable framework behind every Petterly guide — so you always know how a recommendation was made, and why.
Our approach
A consistent framework for honest pet recommendations.
Every Petterly guide follows the same underlying process — careful research, expert input, owner perspective, and ongoing review. The aim is simple: give Australian pet parents advice they can act on with confidence.
We don’t rank products by who pays the most or who shouts the loudest. We rank them by what the evidence, the experts, and everyday Australian pet parents tell us actually works.
What we look at
Five things we weigh up on every product, every time.
Whether it’s a kibble, a harness, a litter box, or a fish tank filter — the same questions guide our judgement before anything makes it into a guide.
Does it do the job it promises, according to the evidence and owner experience?
Is it safe and appropriate for Australian pets, homes and climates?
Is it genuinely good value at its current Australian price?
Does it suit a real Australian household, with all the mess and chaos that brings?
Would we comfortably recommend it to a friend with the same pet?
How a guide gets written
From research to recommendation, step by step.
Every Petterly guide starts the same way — with a clear question we’d want answered as pet parents ourselves. From there, we work through a defined sequence so nothing important gets skipped.
The result is a guide that’s easy to follow, transparent about its reasoning, and revisited as new products and evidence emerge.
- Define the question — what does an Australian owner actually need to know here?
- Map the landscape — what’s available locally, at what price, and from whom?
- Gather the evidence — manufacturer information, expert sources, and owner perspectives.
- Cross-check with experts — vets, trainers and specialists where relevant.
- Write, edit, publish — and revisit on a schedule to keep advice current.
How we score and rank
Four pillars behind every Petterly score.
Performance
Does the product actually do what it claims? We weigh published evidence and owner experience over marketing copy.
Safety & suitability
We check ingredients, materials, build quality and Australian compliance — and flag where a product suits some pets better than others.
Value
Price is judged against Australian alternatives and against expected longevity, not against overseas RRPs that don’t apply locally.
Liveability
How does it fit into a real Australian home — with kids, couches, hot summers, sandy paws and the occasional chewer in the mix?
Our editorial principles
Five non-negotiables on every Petterly page.
If a product, brand or claim can’t pass these five filters, it doesn’t make it into a Petterly guide — no matter how popular it might be elsewhere.
A note on commissions
Affiliate links never decide a recommendation.
Petterly is reader-supported, and some links earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are always made on editorial grounds first — commissions follow the recommendation, not the other way around. If a product isn’t right for the job, no amount of commission will get it into a guide.
Spotted something off?
Tell us — we’ll take another look.
Our methodology is only as good as how honestly we apply it. If a guide feels out of date, a recommendation doesn’t sit right, or you’ve spotted something we’ve missed, we genuinely want to hear about it.