Latino/ Hispanic households reported the highest rates of dog ownership (44.6%) and pet bird ownership (4.2%). White households showed the highest rate of cat ownership (31.8%), while the highest rate of pet horse ownership was among Native Americans/Asian/Pacific Islanders/Aleutians/Eskimos.
The United States of America
The USA has the most dogs in the world per capita – as of 2021, there are 274 dogs for every 1000 people, and the vast majority of those are considered pets. As for sheer numbers, the latest estimate is 90 million dogs, which puts the USA just behind China.
Millennials make up the largest percentage of current pet owners (33%), followed by Gen X (25%) and baby boomers (24%). In 2022, Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets, up 10.68% from 2021 ($123.6 billion). Dog owners spend an average of $730 a year on their dogs.
Dogs continue to be Australia's most popular pets, with just over 5 million dogs across the nation. Forty per cent of Australian households have at least one dog (largely unchanged since 2016, at 38%).
There are currently an estimated 28.7 million pets in Australia and we have one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world [1]. Approximately 69% of households in Australia own pets, with dogs being the most common (48%), followed by cats (33%) [1].
Approval is required for the keeping of: three or more dogs over the age of 12 weeks (other than a working dog) on any premises. one or more dogs on a non-residential premises. a guard dog on any premises.
Today, some seven in 10 (71%) younger men aged 18-44 own a dog compared to just three in five (60%) of their female counterparts.
During a survey conducted in 2023, it was revealed that millennials represented the biggest share of pet owners in the United States (33 percent), followed in second place by Generation X (25 percent). Baby Boomer's came in third, representing some 24 percent of pet owners.
While some dogs choose a single person to latch onto emotionally, some dogs love social experiences with humans and have big groups of humans they're friendly with. Bonding time with a range of people aside from the primary caregiver can be great for socializing dogs and stimulating their brains.
Germany is one of the dog-friendliest countries in the world. Virtually every business welcomes dogs and provides them with water and treats. Home to the largest animal sanctuary in Europe, you may want to bring one back home with you when visiting.
Middle Eastern countries and Indonesia have some of the world's lowest per-capita dog rates, in part due to Islamic traditions that cast dogs as unclean. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Indonesia all have fewer than two dogs for every 1,000 people--the lowest per capita ownership rates of 53 countries surveyed by Euromonitor.
China. Although accurate figures are difficult to obtain, China is believed to be responsible for the majority of global cases of cat and dog slaughter. Each year, around four million cats and 10 million dogs are believed to be slaughtered in the country.
Border Collie
The valedictorians of the dog world, these herders took the top spot in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings, meaning most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95% of the time.
In the 21st century, dog meat is consumed to a limited extent in Korea, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Switzerland, and Vietnam, and it is eaten or is legal to be eaten in other countries throughout the world.
Key Takeaways. Colorado tops the list of states with the most devoted dog owners.
Without a doubt, the United States is the top country in the world for both dogs and cats. There are approximately 70 million domestic dogs and 74 million domestic cats in the United States.
Members of younger generations, such as millennials, are waiting longer than previous generations to start families and as a result, tend to treat their pets as their children. Millennials and Gen Xers spend more money on their pets, especially when it comes to veterinary care.
Gender: While there is no set rule that a female dog will be a better friend for a male dog, if you have never had two dogs at the same time it is generally easier and often safer to have dogs of the opposite sex. Same-sex combinations can be tricky to manage as dogs work out their dominance or pack order.
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.
And dogs? They're noisy, disruptive and "lick you and themselves," counters Sanford Reikes of Louisville, Ky. Clearly, there are dog people and there are cat people. But it's not much of a contest: 74 percent of people like dogs a lot, and only 41 percent like cats a lot.
There's no legal limit to how many dogs you can walk at once, though it's widely advised not to walk any more than four at a time.
Registration and permits
The Queensland Government requires all dogs to be registered with their local council. In Brisbane you can keep two dogs per residence without a permit. If you want to keep more than two dogs, you will need to apply for a permit.
For dogs: females must have no more than 5 litters in their lifetime. For cats: females must have no more than 8 litters in their lifetime.