Americans admit they think about their dog more than their partner
A survey of 2,000 dog owners found that puppies are so highly regarded that the majority (84%) consider their dog to be their child.
As a result, twice as many respondents think about their dog after a stressful day than about anyone else, even more than their partner (41% vs. 19%).
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The study also looked at the common ‘pet commandments’ in the average household, helping to resolve some common dog-related debates.
Conducted by Talker Research for The Pets Tablea brand of pet food from HelloFresh, the results showed that dog owners find it perfectly acceptable for their dog to lie on the couch (70%) and in bed (67%).
On the other hand, a large majority have strong feelings against dogs at the dinner table (70%). Yet the average dog owner feeds their dog table scraps four times a week, with one in six doing so every day.
And while most people consider their pets to be their children, more than half of respondents (56%) were not happy with the idea of using strollers for their dogs.
What do Americans think about puppy love? The jury has spoken: Most respondents said they can let their dog lick their face (56%), while 44% said they can’t.
Either way, dogs come first in respondents’ households, with nearly half saying they’d rather limit some of their own spending than their dog’s (48% vs. 9%), especially when it comes to going out (70%), shopping (60%) or traveling (53%).
On average, dog owners spend $612.10 on supplies for their dog each year, with one in seven spending the $1,000 mark on gifts for their pet within a year.
Respondents prefer to spoil their dog with luxury food and treats (62%), birthday gifts (40%) and clothing (21%).
When asked whether pet owners have a routine for feeding or going outside, the results showed that only 18% have a ‘strict schedule’, while 42% consider themselves to be ‘going with the flow’.
Respondents are most likely to stick to a strict schedule when it comes to feeding their dog (62%). Otherwise, they feed their dog when it’s convenient (65%), let them take a nap (83%), or let them go outside (62%).
Only three in ten people said their dog has an official bedtime (31%), which is on average around 9:30pm.
Even if they don’t have a set schedule, respondents said their dog is used to certain activities every day, such as being able to go outside (73%) – specifically around 1:36 p.m.
Dogs also have the habit of being given treats daily (65%), played with (53%) and walked with (51%).
Thirty-five percent said their dog also expects a specific type of food each day.
“We believe pets are part of the family and deserve to live life to the fullest,” said Dovas Zakas, co-founder and chief marketing officer of The Pets Table. “While pet parenting styles vary from family to family, the fact that most households view their pets as children reinforces our core values of health, quality and happiness for our pups.”
For many, it’s the other way around: 40% said their dog becomes moody if he doesn’t get what he expects.
Punctuality is important, as owners say their dog reminds them to go outside (57%), eat (43%) and get a treat (35%) when they are running behind.
While most believe they are already doing their part by feeding their dog a healthy diet (83%) – with the most popular food options being kibble (45%) or a mixed diet (29%) – one in seven have noticed that their dog has gained weight in the last six months.
To try something new, a quarter of respondents would likely switch to a human-grade food for their dog, especially since a majority said it was important for their dog to get the same quality food as they do (77%).
“Feeding our fur babies a healthy, minimally processed diet is one of the most important ways we can protect their health,” Zakas said. “Choosing healthy food for your dog is essential to their well-being. By prioritizing their diet, we are not only improving their health, but we are also demonstrating our commitment to their happiness and longevity. After all, our pets deserve nothing but the best!”
