People usually go looking for “pet rocks” for one of two reasons: they’ve seen the old 1970s Pet Rock fad mentioned somewhere, or they’re weighing up a harmless, low-effort “pet” idea for a child, a classroom, or a small moment of calm on a desk.
A rock won’t need feeding or vet visits, but the story around it matters. Done well, it becomes a small ritual: choosing, naming, placing, noticing. Done poorly, it slips into muddled claims about “care” and “companionship” that don’t quite fit the reality. Here’s the straight version—where the Pet Rock came from, why people get attached to objects, and how to use a rock as a simple creativity or mindfulness prompt without pretending it’s a living thing.
The Pet Rock: what it was (and why it took off)
The original Pet Rock was a novelty toy created in 1975 by advertising executive Gary Dahl: an ordinary stone sold in a small cardboard “pet carrier” with ventilation holes and straw, plus a humorous instruction booklet.1, 2
It arrived at exactly the right moment—when people were primed for a joke about responsibility and convenience. Reports from the period and later summaries commonly put sales at around 1.3–1.5 million units during the initial run, with the peak of the fad lasting only months.1, 3
The cultural impact wasn’t about rocks. It was about packaging, timing, and the gentle satisfaction of owning something that asked almost nothing of you.
Why people can feel fond of an inanimate object
Humans are meaning-making animals. We form habits and associations around places, songs, tools, toys—anything that reliably shows up in our day.
Psychology has several useful ideas here, but they’re often oversimplified. One is projection: attributing something from our own inner world to something outside us.4 Another is transference, a clinical concept describing the way feelings from earlier relationships can be displaced onto a person in the present (often noticed in therapy).5
With a pet rock, it’s usually more ordinary than that. A rock can become a small “anchor” for attention—something you pick up when you’re thinking, or keep nearby when you want the desk to feel less bare. The attachment is real enough, but it’s built from routine and story, not from the rock “giving” anything back.
What a pet rock can (and can’t) offer
A pet rock is not a substitute for an animal, and it isn’t a lesson in animal welfare. It can, however, be a safe object for play and practice—especially for kids who like rituals, collections, and imaginative worlds.
What it can do well
- Low-stakes responsibility practice: remembering where it “lives”, keeping it clean, not losing it.
- Creativity: decorating, building a “habitat”, making a tiny storybook or label.
- Conversation and humour: a shared joke that can take the edge off a tense day.
- A simple mindfulness cue: a physical reminder to pause and notice the present moment.6
Where people overreach
- Calling it “companionship” in the literal sense: companionship usually implies mutual interaction. A rock can support a feeling of comfort through ritual, but it doesn’t respond.
- Using it to teach “pet care” as if it maps onto animals: the basics of animal care are about welfare needs (food, water, enrichment, health). A rock doesn’t model that.
Pet rocks and “responsibility”: a more accurate way to frame it
If you want the activity to genuinely teach something, keep it grounded. The responsibility is not “caring for a pet”—it’s caring for an object and the small commitments you’ve chosen to attach to it.
Simple, practical responsibilities a child can actually do:
- Choose a safe spot where the rock won’t be a trip hazard or get vacuumed up.
- Wash it with water (and a little mild soap if needed), then dry it well before decorating.
- Keep craft materials appropriate and supervised—especially small parts that could be a choking hazard for little kids.
- Make a “home base” (a small box or bowl) so it’s easy to find and put away.
Using a pet rock as a mindfulness tool
Mindfulness is paying attention to what’s happening right now—deliberately and without judgement. It’s not about forcing calm; it’s about noticing what’s here.6
A pet rock works here because it’s steady, textured, and ordinary. It doesn’t demand a reaction. It just sits there, like a small piece of landscape brought indoors.
A quick “rock grounding” exercise (1–2 minutes)
- Hold the rock in your hand, or rest your fingers on it.
- Notice three physical details (cool/warm, rough/smooth, heavy/light).
- Take three slow breaths, letting your attention return to the rock each time the mind wanders.7
- Look up and name one thing you can see and one sound you can hear.
If mindfulness practices bring up distressing thoughts or feelings—especially for children—consider doing it with a trusted adult or an experienced practitioner, and keep it brief and gentle.8
The imagination factor (without pretending it’s real)
Imagination is the whole point. A pet rock invites storytelling because it’s a blank surface for attention. You can build a tiny “field guide” entry, invent a habitat, or give it a name that makes you smile.
It helps to keep one foot in reality:
- Say “let’s pretend” when you’re describing what the rock “does”.
- Describe behaviour as a story, not as a fact about the rock.
- Let the rock stay quiet. That quiet is part of its charm.
Make your own pet rock (simple, safe, and tidy)
If you’re making one at home or in a classroom, aim for materials that won’t flake, smear, or create sharp edges.
- Choose the rock: palm-sized, stable, not crumbly. Avoid stones that shed grit.
- Clean it: wash and dry thoroughly so paint adheres.
- Decorate: acrylic paint pens work well; allow proper drying time.
- Seal (optional): a clear craft sealer can help if it’ll be handled a lot—use in a ventilated area and follow the label.
- Give it a “home”: a small box, bowl, or tray to stop it wandering.
Final thoughts
The Pet Rock started as a well-timed joke with sharp packaging and a straight face.1, 2 What’s lasted is softer: a small, touchable object that can carry a story, a craft session, or a quiet pause in the day. If you keep the claims modest and the rituals simple, a rock can earn its place on the shelf—still as stone, but doing useful work in the background.
References
- Pet Rock (background, packaging, timeline and reported sales)
- Gary Dahl (biographical details and Pet Rock development)
- Investopedia: Five Famous Collectibles That Inspired Fads (Pet Rock summary and sales estimates)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Psychological projection (definition and explanation)
- JAMA Psychiatry: “An Exceptional Transference in Psychotherapy” (clinical definition of transference)
- healthdirect (Australia): Mindfulness (definition and general benefits)
- Victorian Public Sector Commission: Mindfulness and guided meditation (present-moment attention and non-judgement)
- Raising Children Network (Australia): Mindfulness for parents, kids and teens (everyday mindfulness and cautions)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom