Data and facts about the dog ownership expectations and realities.
Jump to: Overview | UK Survey (2024 Study)
Highlights
Overview
UK Survey (2024 Study)
External link:
Anderson KL, Holland KE, Casey RA, Cooper B and Christley RM (2024) Owner expectations and surprises of dog ownership experiences in the United Kingdom. Front. Vet. Sci. 11:1331793. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1331793
Surprises Reported by Dog Owners
| Category | Less than Expected | As Expected | More than Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of vet visits | 2% | 46% | 52% |
| Cost of buying / rehoming a dog | 5% | 63% | 32% |
| Patience needed to deal with their behaviour | 7% | 67% | 25% |
| Cost of items such as toys and beds | 4% | 78% | 18% |
| The impact on my social life of having a dog | 12% | 70% | 18% |
| Time needed for training | 7% | 75% | 18% |
| The amount of mess and mud in house | 18% | 65% | 17% |
| Cost of feeding a dog | 4% | 79% | 17% |
| The number of trips to the vets | 22% | 63% | 15% |
| Damage to the garden | 33% | 54% | 13% |
| Amount of noise and activity | 21% | 67% | 12% |
| Time needed for exercise | 4% | 86% | 10% |
| Damage to furniture or other household items | 50% | 44% | 6% |
| Variable | Number of Respondents | Less than Expected | More than Expected | All Surprises (Both) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner age group (years) | ||||
| 18-24 | 17,423 | 2.64 | 3.27 | 5.92 |
| 25-34 | 46,273 | 2.22 | 3.05 | 5.27 |
| 35-44 | 52,775 | 1.78 | 2.7 | 4.48 |
| 45-54 | 96,723 | 1.69 | 2.45 | 4.14 |
| 55-64 | 90,272 | 1.68 | 2.31 | 3.99 |
| 65-74 | 43,450 | 1.84 | 2.22 | 4.06 |
| 75 or over | 8,337 | 2.18 | 2 | 4.18 |
| Number of dogs owned | ||||
| 1 | 256,892 | 2.09 | 2.56 | 4.65 |
| 2 | 96,727 | 1.44 | 2.48 | 3.92 |
| 3 | 19,188 | 1.26 | 2.34 | 3.61 |
| 4 | 5,713 | 1.24 | 2.33 | 3.58 |
| 5+ | 3,446 | 1.16 | 2.11 | 3.27 |
| Age of dog (Years) | ||||
| 1 | 36,417 | 1.71 | 3.02 | 4.74 |
| 2 | 42,294 | 1.82 | 3.06 | 4.88 |
| 3 | 33,529 | 1.29 | 2.72 | 4.51 |
| 4 | 33,417 | 1.85 | 2.55 | 4.4 |
| 5 | 31,046 | 1.88 | 2.47 | 4.35 |
| 6 | 29,453 | 1.88 | 2.41 | 4.29 |
| 7 | 27,719 | 1.89 | 2.36 | 4.24 |
| 8 | 26,658 | 1.92 | 2.28 | 4.2 |
| 9+ | 25,259 | 1.92 | 2.29 | 4.21 |
| Price paid for dog | ||||
| No cost/gift | 49,450 | 1.95 | 2.32 | 4.27 |
| Up to £100 | 27,398 | 1.98 | 2.18 | 4.15 |
| £101-250 | 75,169 | 1.96 | 2.25 | 4.21 |
| £251-500 | 79,671 | 1.83 | 2.47 | 4.3 |
| £501-1,000 | 87,614 | 1.76 | 2.65 | 4.41 |
| £1,001-2,000 | 45,872 | 1.77 | 2.98 | 4.75 |
| £2,001-5,000 | 14,447 | 1.83 | 3.31 | 5.13 |
| Over £5,000 | 2,417 | 1.97 | 3.3 | 5.27 |
| Source of acquisition | ||||
| Local press | 6,618 | 1.76 | 2.34 | 4.1 |
| Rehoming website | 47,172 | 1.95 | 2.14 | 4.1 |
| Rehoming visit | 16,763 | 2.13 | 2.15 | 4.29 |
| Breed group website | 10,033 | 1.66 | 2.51 | 4.18 |
| Breeder visit | 21,799 | 1.82 | 2.47 | 4.3 |
| Breeder website | 13,131 | 1.82 | 2.61 | 4.42 |
| Local community | 8,982 | 1.84 | 2.46 | 4.3 |
| Local adverts | 2,024 | 1.91 | 2.4 | 4.31 |
| Kennel club website | 23,885 | 1.72 | 2.6 | 4.32 |
| Foreign rehoming website | 10,559 | 1.92 | 2.45 | 4.37 |
| Family and/or Friends | 58,926 | 1.91 | 2.45 | 4.4 |
| General website | 31,484 | 1.85 | 2.71 | 4.54 |
| Social media | 17,088 | 1.94 | 2.63 | 4.57 |
| Pet website | 79,786 | 1.8 | 2.86 | 4.66 |