It should come as no surprise that the most popular pet in the world is the dog. There is a reason why people say the dogs are a man's best friend, and there are tens of millions of them living in the United States alone. Globally, approximately one-third of all households in the world have at least one dog.
1. Dogs. Dogs come in at number one, with48.3 million households owning dogs in the United States, making these four-legged friends one of the most popular pets around. For people who live active lives and love giving out belly rubs, dog ownership can be a rewarding experience.
It should come as a surprise to no one that dogs are the number one most beloved animal. They're not just popular — historically, the symbiotic relationship between dogs and people helped both species survive. The second most popular animal is the cat.
Dogs are the most popular pet, with almost half of Australian households keeping at least one dog (48% in 2022, up from 40% in 2019). Cats come second, with a third of all households with at least one cat (33% in 2022, up from 27% in 2019).
Around 40% of Australian households include at least one dog, making them the most popular type of pets. This is followed by cats (27%), fish (11%), birds (9%), small mammals (3%) and reptiles (2%) - with another 2% of households reporting that they have pets such as horses, goats, cows, alpacas and hermit crabs.
It's our feline friends that are the cutest pets of them all, according to science. With cats coming out as the animals with the most adorable faces, followed by ferrets, rabbits and hamsters.
Least Popular Dog Breeds of 2022
At the bottom of the list (Nos. 197 through 199) are the Sloughi, Norwegian Lundehund, and English Foxhound. Last year, the Norwegian Lundehund was at the bottom, but they have surpassed English Foxhounds in registration over the past year.
Celia, the last Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica), was found dead on 6 January 2000 in the Spanish Pyrenees, after hunting and competition from livestock reduced the population to one individual.
A national symbol of Mexico, the Chihuahua takes the top spot for the most affordable and budget-friendly dog breed in the world mostly on account of its small size.
Quokkas - a.k.a the world's happiest animal
They're friendly and likely to approach people but they've been known to bite unsuspecting visitors. They're also the size of a domestic cat, so they're bigger than you might expect. Wait for them to approach you before you get close and snap a photo with the mini wallabies.
Women, on the other hand, choose cuddly critters like guinea pigs, hedgehogs and panda bears. Besides the butterfly and the penguin, every one of the female-preferred is a mammal. What's in a number?