How many dogs are there in the US? According to a pet owners survey, there were approximately 89.7 million dogs owned in the United States in 2017. This is an increase of over 20 million since the beginning of the survey period in 2000, when around 68 million dogs were owned in the United States.

Why has this figure increased?

The resident population of the United States has also increased significantly within this time period. It is, therefore, no surprise that the number of dogs owned in U.S. households has also increased, especially when considering that the household penetration rate for dog-ownership reached almost 50 percent in recent years.

The dog food market in the United States

The large number of dogs owned by Americans creates a lucrative market for pet food brands and retailers. Pedigree, the leading dry dog food name brand in the U.S., had sales amounting to around 550 million U.S. dollars in 2017. Pedigree also led the pack in the wet dog food category , with sales of around 240 million U.S. dollars in the same year.

An estimated ** million households in the United States owned at least one dog according to a 2024/25 pet owners survey, making them the most widely owned type of pet across the U.S. at this time. Cats and freshwater fish ranked in second and third places, with around ** million and ** million households owning such pets, respectively. Freshwater vs. salt water fish Freshwater fish spend most or all their lives in fresh water. Fresh water’s main difference to salt water is the level of salinity. Freshwater fish have a range of physiological adaptations to enable them to live in such conditions. As the statistic makes clear, Americans keep a large number of freshwater aquatic species at home as pets. American pet owners In 2023, around ** percent of all households in the United States owned a pet. This is a decrease from 2020, but still around a ** percent increase from 1988. It is no surprise that as more and more households own pets, pet industry expenditure has also witnessed steady growth. Expenditure reached over *** billion U.S. dollars in 2022, almost a sixfold increase from 1998. The majority of pet product sales are still made in brick-and-mortar stores, despite the rise and evolution of e-commerce in the United States.

Idaho had the highest dog ownership rate in the United States (U.S.), with ** percent of households owning a dog in 2025. In Tennessee, around ** percent of households were dog owners in that year. Dog food industry in the U.S. The sales value of dog food in the U.S. amounts to a total of approximately **** billion U.S. dollars annually, excluding treats. Among the various dog food categories, dry dog food makes up the largest share of sales, with just under ***** billion U.S. dollars. The leading dog biscuit, treat, and beverage vendor in the U.S. in terms of sales is Big Heart Pet Brands, which generates sales of over * billion U.S. dollars annually. The sales of Big Heart Pet Brands are more than twice as much as those of its biggest competitor, Nestlé Purina PetCare. The leading frozen and refrigerated dog food vendors in the U.S. is Freshpet. The company dominates the market by a considerable margin. Dog ownership in the U.S. Nationwide, approximately ** million U.S. households own at least one dog. Dogs are the most widely owned type of pet among American households. Within the last 12 years, the number of dog-owning households grew by more than ** percent. In general, there has been an increase in the household penetration rate of pet ownership in the U.S. during the last 35 years. In 2023, about ********** of households owned at least one pet. Since the state of Idaho has the highest percentage share of dog owners among U.S. states, it is unsurprising that its state capital, the city of Boise, has the largest number of dog parks per 100,000 residents in the country. There are *** off-leash dog parks per 100,000 residents in Boise, Idaho.

Wyoming had the highest pet ownership rate in the United States, with 72 percent of households owning a pet in 2025. West Virginia came in second place with a 71 percent pet ownership rate. In comparison, Colorado's pet ownership rate that year was 65 percent.

This driver analyzes the number of domesticated pets and companion animals owned in the US. Pets, defined in this driver as either cats or dogs, provide personal company or protection but are not considered working animals or livestock. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) conducts a biennial National Pet Owners Survey, and the data used in the survey regarding cat and dog ownership is collected and discussed here.

In the United States, more than half of the population reported owning a pet in 2011. This number has been quite steady since then. Today there are more than 90 million cats in the United States, while the number of dogs is just below the 90 million-mark. Freshwater fish are the most common pet with almost 140 million nationwide in 2018, followed by the aforementioned cats and dogs.   Pet expenses    When it comes to expenses, fish are generally considered low maintenance compared to other pets. Dogs especially require high expense, particularly for kennel boarding while their owners are away. However, the highest costs for dog owners are due to surgical vet visits, reported at almost double the expense for cats in 2019. Lower life expectancy could be a factor - around 11 years for a medium-sized dog, compared with 12 to 15 years for cats.  
  Pet food  

Food is currently the largest expense for cat owners, and the second highest for dogs, not even including treats. Despite the convenience of buying pet food online, or while already grocery shopping in a supermarket, food store, or wholesale club, the highest share of pet food sales comes from pet specialty chains. With many owners are willing to make the extra trip for their pets, chain shops Pet Smart and PetCo make up almost half the market for pet companies in the United States.

Number of Businesses statistics on the Dog & Pet Breeders industry in United States

Over the five years to 2024, increases in both competition and public disapproval have threatened the Dog and Pet Breeders industry. This industry includes various operations, from small independent home breeders to large USDA-certified breeding facilities. However, the industry also comprises unlicensed puppy mills, often using inhumane practices to reduce costs and maximize profit. Recent attention to these operations has hurt the overall industry's reputation. In 2017, the "Adopt, Don't Shop" campaign emphasized the ethical benefits of getting pets from shelters and adoption groups rather than pet stores. This campaign has led many pet stores to no longer work with breeders and instead host adoption events with local shelters. Through the end of 2024, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 2.6% to $3.1 billion, including an estimated 0.9% decline in 2024. The breeding industry's trajectory has been mixed with challenges. Stringent regulations like those mandated by the Animal Welfare Act have kept most breeders operating on a small scale, with only a tiny fraction exceeding the threshold for requiring USDA licensing. The public's growing scrutiny of puppy mills and other inhumane conditions has pressured breeders to maintain higher quality standards. Some medium-sized breeders will likely seek USDA certification to improve their reputation and gain legitimacy. Higher standards and requirements will enable these breeders to increase their profits. Heightening veterinary services and pet essentials costs will likely strain household budgets, leading to more careful spending on pet purchases. Demographic trends suggest older populations might shy away from new pets, while younger generations lean towards pet adoption, driven by ethical considerations. Legislative pressures and higher public awareness are expected to push the industry towards more stringent welfare standards. While adoption campaigns and regulatory constraints present formidable challenges, purebred breeders may still find sustained demand from consumers looking for specific traits and appearance. Through the end of 2029, industry revenue is projected to fall at an annualized rate of 0.4% to $3.0 billion.

The US Pet Industry Market Report is Segmented by Pet Type (Dog, Cat, Bird, Fresh Water Fish, and More), by Product Type (Food, Supplies/OTC Medicine, and More), by Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Pet Specialty Stores, Online Retail Stores, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Households now consider pets as an integral part of the family more than ever. In recent years, a record-high pet ownership rate and shifting attitudes have boosted spending on pet care services, including transportation. The broader pet care sector has flourished as pet owners sought the best for their pets. The industry's growth trajectory was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as work-from-home settings and travel restrictions left more pet owners at home than ever before, leading revenue to sink for the first time in a decade. Yet an unprecedented spike in pet ownership during the pandemic has shifted the industry's landscape, with demand for pet transportation services outpacing supply post-COVID. Pet owners' steep spending on pets has led industry-wide revenue to expand at a CAGR of 0.7% over the past five years, totaling an estimated $2.2 billion, including an expected 0.9% increase in 2024. One in five households adopted a new pet between March 2020 and July 2021, according to the American Pet Products Association. The pet ownership spike hasn't been met by an increase in pet professionals, creating an environment where demand far exceeds supply. Pet professionals have risen rates for pet owners, many of whom have eagerly planned vacations or returned to the office, allowing profit to recover from the pandemic. Pet owners have continued to book transportation services for their pets even as inflation has tightened their wallets elsewhere. Trends in pet ownership and spending aren't anticipated to subside moving forward. Rising disposable incomes will drive growth as pet owners will take more vacations and require pet transportation services. Still, most pet owners have become dependent on pet professionals, potentially building the industry's resiliency to a downturn. In all, revenue will grow at a CAGR of 1.8% to an estimated $2.4 billion over the next five years.

The American love of pets is legendary, so it won’t come as a surprise to anybody that Americans spend more on their pets than the citizens of any other country in the world. The numbers also suggest a warning: pet ownership comes with great responsibility and can involve a considerable financial cost. How much money do Americans spend on their furry friends each year? We crunched the numbers, and here’s what we found.

Reasons for dog entry denials by country for the top ten countries of origin, United States, 2020.

Pet stores prospered in recent years as households have become more financially stable and pet ownership has risen. Pet parents have increasingly lavished their pets with premium food products, designer pet accessories and luxury grooming services. The industry has expanded despite mounting competition from supermarkets, mass merchandisers and online retailers. These competitors offer similar products at greater convenience and competitive prices. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores have successfully positioned themselves as pioneers and exclusive providers of high-quality food and additional service offerings, like grooming or day care. Pet store revenue is expected to climb at a CAGR of 0.3% to $31.6 billion through the end of 2025, including growth of 1.4% in 2025 alone. The revenue growth rate was suppressed because revenue jumped 18.6% to begin the period, as pet ownership skyrocketed in response to the pandemic. Since pets are widely viewed as family members, pet owners have shifted their preferences to higher-quality organic, gluten-free and grain-free pet foods to keep their pets happy and healthy. These premium products and services are high-margin, enabling profit gains for pet stores. Sales of designer dog breeds have also jumped in recent years, contributing to recent growth. While stores have capitalized on growing pet ownership trends, pet store sales growth was constrained by online retailers' surging popularity. Moving forward, pet stores will continue to exhibit revenue growth, albeit slower than before. While positive consumer trends will benefit pet stores, competition from online retailers, mass merchandisers and discount department stores will be more vigorous, limiting the expansion. An aging population will contribute to higher sales of pets and pet-related products as older consumers adopt pets to fulfill their needs for companionship. Younger consumers will continue to buy pets as companions and to round out their budding families. Stores will push premium products and pets to cater to growing appetites for luxury among many consumers. Pet store revenue is expected to swell at a CAGR of 2.4% to $35.6 billion through the end of 2030.

Comprehensive dataset of 5,715 Dog parks in United States as of June, 2025. Includes verified contact information (email, phone), geocoded addresses, customer ratings, reviews, business categories, and operational details. Perfect for market research, lead generation, competitive analysis, and business intelligence. Download a complimentary sample to evaluate data quality and completeness.

Summary data for dogs denied entry to the United States by year, January 1, 2018—December 31,2020.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many industries in significant ways, including the pet industry. During a survey carried out in February 2022, 14 percent of respondents in the United States reported acquiring a new pet. This is an increase of four percent compared to December 2020, when 10 percent of respondents reported getting a new pet.

Pet ownership during the pandemic With nationwide lockdowns forcing people to spend most of their time confined at home, approximately 70 percent of Americans from all generations surveyed in 2020 reported spending more time with their pets as a result of social distancing regulations. Additionally, the pandemic had its impact on the economic situation of millions of people who may have struggled with precarious work or part-time employment that was discontinued due to lockdowns, which made many pet owners concerned about the affordability of pet food and products. In fact, younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials in the United States were more likely than Baby Boomers to be worried about pet expenses during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Pet industry in the United States Pet industry expenditure in the United States has witnessed remarkable growth over the years and was forecast to reach nearly 110 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, up from less than half that figure only ten years prior when it was approximately 51 billion U.S. dollars in 2011. Among the most prominent players in the U.S. pet industry are pet food companies Mars Petcare Inc. and Nestlé Purina Petcare, generating 18 billion and 14 billion U.S. dollars in revenues, respectively.

The United States Pet Food Market report segments the industry into Pet Food Product (Food, Pet Nutraceuticals/Supplements, Pet Treats, Pet Veterinary Diets), Pets (Cats, Dogs, Other Pets), and Distribution Channel (Convenience Stores, Online Channel, Specialty Stores, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Other Channels). Get five years of historical data alongside five-year market forecasts.

The dog training services industry has experienced low growth over the past five years, largely due to pandemic-related disruptions to demand. Fluctuations in pet ownership and disposable income have also impacted growth. The industry, which caters to domestic pets and dogs trained for specific tasks, suffered in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the economy and the implementation of stay-at-home orders. Revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 0.8% to $406.8 million over the five years to 2024 and is forecast to increase 0.7% by 2023. The industry has seen consolidation with national chains such as Petco Animal Supplies Inc. and PetSmart LLC, extending their training services at affordable rates. This strategic move has led to a decline in industry operators and employees. Nevertheless, the wages' share of revenue has increased due to the increasing specialization of training services. Meanwhile, the industry has managed to maintain high profits even with modest revenue growth, with profits expected to remain fairly steady. The industry is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 1.8% to $445.1 million over the next five years. This growth is expected to largely follow rising pet ownership and less volatile economic conditions. This optimistic outlook points to the potential return of smaller operators into the industry, leading to an expected increase in industry participation and employment increases. Consequently, wage growth is also anticipated to rise as companies compete for qualified staff.

IntroductionLarge scale data on the prevalence of diverse medical conditions among dog breeds in the United States are sparse. This cross-sectional study sought to estimate the lifetime prevalence of medical conditions among US dogs and to determine whether purebred dogs have higher lifetime prevalence of specific medical conditions compared to mixed-breed dogs.MethodsUsing owner-reported survey data collected through the Dog Aging Project (DAP) Health and Life Experience Survey for 27,541 companion dogs, we identified the 10 most commonly reported medical conditions in each of the 25 most common dog breeds within the DAP cohort. Lifetime prevalence estimates of these medical conditions were compared between mixed-breed and purebred populations. The frequency of dogs for whom no medical conditions were reported was also assessed within each breed and the overall mixed-breed and purebred populations.ResultsA total of 53 medical conditions comprised the top 10 conditions for the 25 most popular breeds. The number of dogs for whom no medical conditions were reported was significantly different (p = 0.002) between purebred (22.3%) and mixed-breed dogs (20.7%). The medical conditions most frequently reported within the top 10 conditions across breeds were dental calculus (in 24 out of 25 breeds), dog bite (23/25), extracted teeth (21/25), osteoarthritis (15/25), and Giardia (15/25).DiscussionPurebred dogs in the DAP did not show higher lifetime prevalence of medical conditions compared to mixed-breed dogs, and a higher proportion of purebred dogs than mixed-breed dogs had no owner-reported medical conditions. Individual breeds may still show higher lifetime prevalence for specific conditions.

The Report Covers Pet Care and Grooming Service Statistics in the United States. It is Segmented by Pet Type (cat, Dog, Horse, and Other Animals), Product Type (pet Food, Grooming Products, and Pet Care), and Service Type (grooming, Pet Transportation, Pet Boarding, Pet Sitting, Pet Walking, and Other Services). The Report Offers the Value (in USD) for the Above Segments.