As an expert in retail and ecommerce with over a decade of experience analyzing the pet industry, I‘ve seen firsthand how Chewy has revolutionized the way Americans shop for their furry family members. This online pet supplies giant has won over millions of customers with its unparalleled selection, low prices, personalized service, and speedy delivery to doorsteps from coast to coast.
But for Canadian pet owners looking to get in on the Chewy action, one key question remains – does Chewy ship to Canada? I‘ll share the current shipping policies, potential alternatives, and insider tips to help you get the best products at the best prices for your pet, no matter which side of the border you‘re on.
The Scoop on Chewy‘s Service Area
Let‘s start with the burning question at hand: can you get Chewy orders delivered to Canada? As of 2023, the short answer is no. Chewy‘s delivery map is limited to the lower 48 United States – they don‘t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or any international destinations, including Canada.
This might come as a disappointment to the 8 million Canadian households (nearly 60% of the population) that own at least one cat or dog. After all, Chewy has become synonymous with convenience and savings for U.S. pet parents, with projected sales of nearly $9 billion in 2020 – a 45% jump from 2019.
So what‘s holding Chewy back from bringing its renowned service to Canada? It likely boils down to logistics, regulations, and market dynamics.
Expanding into international markets is a complex undertaking for any ecommerce business, but it can be especially tricky in the pet supplies category. Here are a few of the major hurdles Chewy would have to clear to start shipping to Canada:
- Setting up customs brokers and processes to clear orders with the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency)
- Ensuring all products comply with Canadian regulations around pet food ingredients, labeling, and safety
- Finding warehousing space and distribution partners to enable fast, cost-effective delivery within Canada
- Providing customer service in both English and French to comply with language laws
- Dealing with the exchange rate and offering prices in Canadian dollars
In addition, many of Chewy‘s U.S. brand partners and suppliers may not be equipped to sell into the Canadian market. Forging new supplier agreements and onboarding processes takes significant time and resources.
Understanding the Canadian Pet Market
Before investing heavily in a Canadian expansion, Chewy also has to crunch the numbers and determine whether the available market is large enough to justify the added complexity.
Consider these figures:
| Country | Population | Dog-Owning Households | Cat-Owning Households |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 328.2 million | 48.2 million (38.4%) | 31.8 million (25.4%) |
| Canada | 37.7 million | 3.7 million (32.3%) | 3.4 million (29.9%) |
In absolute terms, the U.S. has far more pet-owning households that Chewy can target. The American Pet Products Association estimates total U.S. pet industry expenditures reached $103.6 billion in 2020, with ecommerce sales soaring due to the pandemic.
By comparison, Canadians spent approximately CAD$5.7 billion (USD$4.5 billion) on pets and pet products in 2020 according to Statistics Canada. While still a substantial market, the relative size difference may impact Chewy‘s expansion priorities and timeline.
Chewy did briefly test the international waters with a short-lived pilot program in the United Kingdom in 2018, but has since refocused its efforts on capturing more of the U.S. market. The company has made no formal announcements about plans for Canada, although a rep has hinted that it may be in the cards down the line.
How Canadian Pet Parents Can Still Get Their Chewy Fix
Until Chewy opens its virtual doors to Canada, what‘s a savvy pet shopper to do? You may be enticed by some of the unique products and deals south of the border, but hefty international shipping rates, duties, and taxes can quickly turn your bargain buy into a budget buster.
As a professional bargain hunter, I‘ve seen my share of workarounds and "hacks" for accessing U.S.-only retailers. Here are two legitimate strategies Canadian Chewy fans can try, along with some key considerations:
1. Use a Package Forwarding Service
A popular option is to enlist a third-party package forwarder that provides you with a U.S. address to use when placing your Chewy order. The forwarding company receives your package at their American location, then ships it on to your real address in Canada.
How much extra will you pay? It depends on the forwarder, but expect to be charged based on the weight and size of your items, along with customs brokerage fees. These added costs can tack on an extra 25-50% to your order total in some cases.
Using a forwarder can make sense if there are specific products you can‘t find locally and you‘re willing to pay a premium. Just be sure to carefully vet potential forwarding partners. Cross-border shipping scams involving stolen credit cards are unfortunately common, so check for a track record of positive reviews and BBB accreditation.
2. Ship to a U.S. Address
If you have access to an address in the States, you can take advantage of Chewy‘s free 1-2 day shipping on orders $49+ within the contiguous U.S. Ask a friend or family member if you can have your Chewy box delivered to them, or rent a P.O. box in a border town and drive down to retrieve it.
Of course, this means you‘ll be responsible for physically bringing your pet supplies back into Canada. Depending on the length of your stay, you may be able to claim an exemption on taxes and duties, but remember to declare any items over your limit to avoid fines. The current personal exemptions are:
- 24 hour absence: Up to CAD$200 per person duty and tax free
- 48 hour absence: Up to CAD$800 per person duty and tax free
- 7 day absence: Up to CAD$800 per person duty and tax free, plus a limited amount of tobacco, alcohol, and other goods
If you make frequent cross-border shopping trips, consider applying for a NEXUS card to expedite your border clearance process.
Ultimately, both package forwarding and personal cross-border shopping come with extra costs and complexities. For many Canadian pet owners, the added savings may not be worth the hassle – especially with several strong homegrown options for buying pet supplies online.
Top Online Pet Retailers in Canada
The good news for Canadian pet parents is that the domestic market for online pet supplies has matured rapidly over the past few years. While Chewy dominates mindshare (and market share) in the U.S., there are plenty of merchants to choose from north of the 49th parallel.
Here are some of the leading places to shop for pet food, treats, toys, litter, medications and more in Canada:
1. PetSmart.ca
PetSmart is one of the most recognized names in pet retail on both sides of the border. The company‘s Canadian ecommerce site offers a broad product assortment, with free shipping on orders over $49 and the ability to return online purchases to any of its 150+ stores nationwide.
Frequent sales and an AutoShip subscription program with 5% savings make PetSmart.ca a go-to for many Canadian pet parents.
2. Walmart.ca
Retail behemoth Walmart has steadily expanded its pet category in recent years to keep pace with the growing market. Walmart.ca boasts a wide selection of budget-friendly pet products and brands, often with lower everyday prices than specialty pet stores.
While Walmart Canada‘s network of retail locations makes in-store returns convenient, its standard threshold for free shipping (on orders $35+) is slightly lower than some competitors.
3. Amazon.ca
No list of giant-killers is complete without Amazon. The ecommerce titan sells thousands of pet SKUs on its Canadian site – including products from its own Wag and Solimo private labels.
As with other categories, Amazon excels in price competitiveness and sheer selection. Free Prime shipping sweetens the deal for members, although the $35 minimum for non-Prime orders is on the lower end for this category.
4. Costco.ca
Shopping in bulk pays off for multi-pet households and those with bigger breeds. Costco carries a relatively narrow range of pet products compared to a dedicated retailer, but makes up for it with eye-popping value. Where else can you buy a 15 lb. bag of premium dog food alongside a season‘s worth of toilet paper and rotisserie chickens?
Keep in mind that most prices on Costco.ca include shipping, but a membership ($60-120 annually) is required to order.
5. Canadian Tire
This quintessential Canadian chain is a one-stop shop for all things home and hardware – including an ample pet care section. While Canadian Tire may not be top-of-mind for pet supplies, its large network of stores and trademark Canadian Tire ‘Money‘ loyalty program make it a convenient option for many shoppers.
How Canadian Pet Retailers Stack Up vs. Chewy
To see how the major Canadian players compare to Chewy on key metrics like price, selection, and shipping, I analyzed offerings across five popular pet product categories. Here‘s a snapshot of what I found:
| Retailer | Dog Food | Cat Litter | Flea & Tick | Dog Toys | Cat Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chewy | Blue Buffalo Life 30 lb. | World‘s Best Multi-Cat | Seresto Collar | KONG Classic (L) | Fancy Feast Medleys |
| $54.99 | $33.20 | $59.99 | $13.99 | $16.88 | |
| Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | |
| PetSmart.ca | $59.99 | $36.99 | $63.99 | $13.99 | $18.99 |
| Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | Free shipping $49+ | |
| Walmart.ca | $54.97 | $34.47 | $62.29 | $14.88 | $17.27 |
| Free shipping $35+ | Free shipping $35+ | Free shipping $35+ | Free shipping $35+ | Free shipping $35+ | |
| Amazon.ca | $61.32 | $36.99 | $59.99 | $16.29 | $21.54 |
| Free w/ Prime or $35+ | Free w/ Prime or $35+ | Free w/ Prime or $35+ | Free w/ Prime or $35+ | Free w/ Prime or $35+ | |
| Costco.ca | N/A | $41.99 | $97.99 (2-pack) | N/A | $34.99 (24-pack) |
| Shipping included | Shipping included | Shipping included | |||
| Canadian Tire | $59.99 | $38.99 | $54.99 | $14.99 | $19.99 |
| Free shipping $99+ | Free shipping $99+ | Free shipping $99+ | Free shipping $99+ | Free shipping $99+ |
This comparison illustrates a few key takeaways:
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On pure price, Chewy and Walmart tend to have an edge in most categories. However, the gap is usually less than 10%.
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The retailers‘ free shipping thresholds vary – Walmart ($35+), Amazon/Chewy/PetSmart ($49+), and Canadian Tire ($99+) – which can affect your total cost.
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Chewy‘s selection is broader than the Canadian stores in some areas (particularly dog food and treats), but the essentials are readily available from all.
Of course, this is just a small sampling of products. The best way to find the lowest prices is to comparison shop across multiple retailers, taking advantage of sales, discounts, and loyalty programs. Subscribing to each store‘s email list is an easy way to stay on top of promotions.
The Future of Online Pet Retail in Canada
E-commerce sales have been on a tear globally over the past decade, and the Canadian pet market is no exception. With over 40% of Canadian pet owners now buying at least some of their pet supplies online, the competition between merchants is heating up.
This should ultimately benefit Canadian pet parents through lower prices, expanded selection, and more seamless online shopping experiences. Newer entrants like Homes Alive Pets and The Dog Market are also injecting fresh energy and ideas into the space.
In order to stay ahead of the pack, we may see the major retailers invest even further in ecommerce capabilities like:
- Customized subscription boxes and meal plans
- Mobile apps with more personalized content and offers
- Interactive tools like product finders and live chat support
- Expanded assortments in trending categories like raw/fresh pet food, CBD, smart tech, and eco-friendly products
As a life-stage category with frequent, high-volume purchases, pet supplies will likely be a proving ground for retail innovations.
It‘s also worth watching how Chewy responds to the rapid consolidation in the U.S. pet industry. With big-box stores, supermarkets, and Amazon all vying for a piece of the pie, Chewy may view international expansion as a key lever for growth. We could see a stronger push into Canada sooner than later.
The Bottom Line
While Chewy doesn‘t currently ship to Canada, that may change as the company looks to maintain its torrid pace of expansion. Package forwarding and cross-border shopping are options for determined shoppers, but most pet parents will find plenty to wag about from the selection, prices and service at Canada‘s own online pet retailers.
As the market continues to evolve, Canadian pet owners should enjoy even greater choice, value and convenience in caring for their furry friends. By staying informed and keeping an eye out for deals, you‘ll be well-equipped to fetch the best products at the best prices – no matter where you decide to shop.