85% of dog owners consider their dog their child, says a new study

Three in four dog parents think their dog is the “main character” of their family (76%), according to a new study.

A survey of 2,000 dog parents found that puppies are valued so much that most think of their dog as their own child (84%).

Because of this, twice as many respondents think about their dog before anyone else after a stressful day – even more than their partner (41% vs. 19%).

The survey also looked at “common pet commandments” in the average household, resolving some of the common dog debates.

Conducted by Talker Research for The Pets Table, a pet food brand from HelloFresh, the results showed that fur parents said it’s perfectly acceptable for dogs to be on the couch (70%) and on the bed (67%).

On the other hand, an overwhelming majority have strong feelings against dogs at the dinner table (70%) – yet the average dog parent feeds their table scraps four times a week, with one in six doing so every day.

And although most see their pets as their children, more than half of respondents (56%) balked at the idea of ​​using strollers for their dogs.

How do Americans feel about puppy love? The jury is out: the majority of respondents said their dog is allowed to lick their face (56%), while 44% said it is not allowed.

No matter what, dogs come first in respondents’ households, with nearly half saying they’d rather cut some of their expenses than their dogs’ (48% vs. 9%), especially when it comes to to go out (70%), shopping (60%) or traveling (53%).

On average, dog parents spend $612.10 worth of things on their dog each year; one in seven would even exceed the $1,000 limit on gifts for their pet within a year.

The top ways respondents enjoy spoiling their dog is with premium food and treats (62%), birthday gifts (40%) and clothes (21%).

Looking at whether or not pet parents have routines for feeding or going out, the results showed that only 18% have a “strict schedule”, while 42% consider themselves to go with the flow.

Respondents are more likely to stick to a strict schedule when it comes to feeding their dogs (62%); otherwise, they pass whenever they feel entitled to be given treats (65%), allowed to take a nap (83%) or go out (62%).

Similarly, just three in 10 said their dog has an official bedtime (31%), averaging around 9.30pm.

Even if they don’t have a set schedule, respondents mentioned that their dog is used to certain activities every day, such as being able to go outside (73%) – specifically around 1:36 p.m.

Dogs are also in the daily habit of meals (65%), playtime (53%) and walks (51%).

Thirty-five percent said their dog also expects to eat a specific food each day.

“We believe that 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 can vary between families, finding that most families think of their pets as children reinforces our core values ​​of health, quality and happiness for our little ones.”

For many, it’s their dog’s way or the highway, as 40% said their dog is likely to have a temper tantrum if they fail to do what they expect.

Punctuality is important as fur parents said their dog would remind them to go out (57%), eat dinner (43%) and eat treats (35%) if they were behind.

While most believe they are already doing their bit by feeding their dog a healthy diet (83%) – with the most popular pet food options being kibble (45%) or a mixed diet (29 %) – one in seven notices that the dog has gained weight in the last six months.

To try something new, a quarter of respondents would be likely to switch their dog’s food to a human-grade option – especially as most said it’s important for their dog to have the same quality of food like them (77%).

“Providing our fur babies with a healthy, minimally processed diet is one of the most important ways to protect their health,” Zakas said. “Choosing healthy food for your dog is essential to their well-being. By prioritizing their diet, we not only improve their health, but also show our commitment to their happiness and longevity. After all, our pets deserve nothing but the best!”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 dog owners; The survey was commissioned by The Pets Table and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between July 5 and July 9, 2024.