20 Dog Statistics All Pet Lovers Should Know in 2026
In this article
Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Dogs have been people's favorite pets for thousands of years. They provide unconditional love and support, help relieve stress, and improve mental health. We know how important dogs are, so we compiled 20 important statistics all about our best friends.
Hopefully, you’ll discover new facts that might help answer some of your questions, or maybe you’ll just learn something new!
The 20 Dog Statistics
8% of dog owners took their dogs to obedience class.
73% of dog owners used some kind of training method.
45% of dog owners trained their dogs themselves.
Pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025.
41% of dog owners bought premium dog food.
86% of pet owners purchased pet products online.
More than 90% of dog owners took them to the vet for at least one visit.
80% of owners have had their dogs spayed or neutered.
59% of dogs were rated as overweight or obese in the U.S. in 2022.
2.8 million dogs enter animal shelters every year in the U.S.
2 million dogs are adopted and 320,000 dogs are euthanized.
95 million households in the U.S. own at least one pet.
53% of households in the U.S. have dogs.
31% of millennials are pet owners.
43% of dogs sleep on their owners’ beds.
25 million dog owners take their pups on vacation.
2.8 million dogs go to work with their owners.
79% of dogs received a Christmas present.
The French Bulldog has been the most popular dog since 2022.
47% of dog owners have a small breed.
Dog Training Statistics
1. 8% of dog owners took their dogs to obedience class.
(AKC)
That’s a slight increase in owners taking their dogs to obedience training, and the increase in dog ownership due to the COVID-19 pandemic has also seen an increase in training.
2. 73% of dog owners used some kind of training method.
(AKC)
Just in 2018, 57% of dog owners used some type of training method, so that’s an increase of 16 percentage points.
3. 45% of dog owners trained their dogs themselves.
(Vetstreet)
In a survey of more than 1,800 readers, it was almost an even split: 45.5% did the training themselves, while 46.7% took their dogs to class.
Pet Products/COVID-19 Statistics
4. Pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025.
(APPA)
That’s up 3.7% from the year before, and spending is projected to reach $165 billion in 2026.
(APPA)
That makes premium food more popular than basic food, which 26% of dog owners bought.
6. 86% of pet owners purchased pet products online.
(AKC)
This is up 20% from before the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the share who usually shopped in person dropped from 60% to 41%.
Dog Health Statistics
7. More than 90% of dog owners took them to the vet for at least one visit.
(AKC)
The increase in dog ownership and more people at home spending time with their dogs means more care.
8. 80% of owners have had their dogs spayed or neutered.
(AKC)
This is an important one because it helps reduce homelessness, which will reduce the number of euthanasia cases that occur.
9. 59% of dogs were rated as overweight or obese in the U.S. in 2022.
(APOP)
This equals about 50 million dogs that are too heavy, which can lead to health issues.
Dog Shelter Statistics
10. 2.8 million dogs enter animal shelters every year in the U.S.
(ASPCA)
Luckily, about 542,000 dogs do end up back with their owners, but 2.8 million is still far too many.
11. 2 million dogs are adopted and 320,000 dogs are euthanized.
(ASPCA)
These numbers are due in part to spay/neuter issues but also because people don’t always realize the cost and responsibility of owning a dog.
12. 95 million households in the U.S. own at least one pet.
(APPA, AVMA)
Pet ownership has held steady, with 95 million U.S. households owning at least one pet, and there are nearly 89 million dogs and 77 million cats.
General Dog Ownership Statistics
13. 53% of U.S. households have at least one dog.
(APPA)
Dogs outnumber all other pets as the most popular pets in the U.S.. Cats come in second at 39%.
14. 31% of millennials are pet owners.
(APPA)
After millennials, baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) come in second at 29%, generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) are at 26%, and lastly, generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) are at about 14%.
15. 43% of dogs sleep on their owners’ beds.
(APPA)
We love our dogs, so this one probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. We enjoy a cuddle just as much as our dogs do, and we both mutually benefit from spending time together.
16. 25 million dog owners take their pups on vacation.
(APPA)
It’s quite possible that this number would be higher if there were more pet-friendly hotels and travel was more commonplace.
17. 2.8 million dogs go to work with their owners.
(APPA)
People need a work environment that encourages or is okay with dogs being brought into work. This number would probably be much higher otherwise.
18. 79% of dogs received a Christmas present.
(APPA)
We love our dogs, and they are most definitely a part of our family, so we give them gifts on important days.
19. The French Bulldog has been the most popular dog since 2022.
(AKC)
The Lab topped the chart for 31 years straight before the French Bulldog took over in 2022! In 2025, the Labrador Retriever was the second most popular, and the Golden Retriever was third.
20. 47% of dog owners have a small breed.
(AKC)
This makes small dogs the most popular size in North America. It’s due in part to the fact that they cost less to take care of compared to large dogs, both in food and with certain veterinary bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the pet industry continue to grow?
A few years ago, the roughly $100 billion industry was forecast to almost triple by 2030 to $275 billion! This has everything to do with the increase in pet ownership due to the pandemic. (Morgan Stanley)
How many pet owners believe that pets bring happiness?
We know how much our pets make us happy, and 68% of pet owners believe the same. To add to that, 73% of families believe that dogs bring them closer together. (APPA)
How much do dog owners believe that our dogs are good for our health?
About 80% of dog owners believe that pets are quite beneficial to their health, and another 62% believe that they contribute to lowering stress. (APPA)
How many people plan on getting a pet?
Within the next 5 years, 65% of 18- to 34-year-olds plan on adding a new pet to their households. This will see an increase in pet ownership of 14% by 2030. (Morgan Stanley)
How much are we spending on our pets?
In 2020, average annual household spending per pet was about $980. This was forecast to rise to $1,292 by 2025 and then further up to $1,909 by 2030. (Morgan Stanley)
How important are our pets?
About 43% of 18- to 34-year-old pet owners are actually willing to go into debt to pay for their pet’s medical expenses. This number goes down as age goes up: 36% of 35- to 54-year-olds and 31% of 55 and up feel the same. (Morgan Stanley)
Conclusion
Our dogs are not just pets—they are essential members of our families. These statistics just highlight how important they are and how much our relationships with them have changed, particularly recently due to the pandemic. In times when people have felt isolated, our dogs have given us necessary companionship.
Due to this companionship, many of us prioritize their health and happiness, sometimes even at the expense of our own. It’s expected that we’ll see a dramatic increase in these kinds of statistics as time goes by. Better food, health concerns, and more training and entertainment are all important factors in taking care of our dogs—and they’re worth every cent.
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Sources
Featured Image Credit: Tatyana Vyc, Shutterstock
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
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