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How Many Dogs Are There in the UK? 20 Surprising Statistics: 2024 Update

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Dog in the UK Facts and Statistics

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

In the United Kingdom, dogs are unequivocally a part of our families with around 13 million dogs currently in homes across the country. We take them on holidays with us, send them to doggy playschool, and even give them their Instagram account; it’s safe to say that the UK loves man’s best friend. But exactly how many dogs live on the island? We collated the statistics and grouped them into categories, including five facts about dog numbers, seven stats about dog owners, and eight statistics about dog acquisition. Read on to quickly find everything you’d want to know about dogs and their lives in the United Kingdom.

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Top 20 Statistics About Dogs in the UK

  1. There are 13 million dogs currently owned in the UK.
  2. 33% of UK households owned a dog in 2022.
  3. 27% of UK adults own a dog.
  4. There were 49,292 stray dogs handled by local authorities across the UK between 2020 and 2021.
  5. Of all the dogs taken in as strays by local authorities, 75% were Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and 46% were crossbreeds.
  6. 4% of dog owners acquire their dogs for companionship.
  7. The UK’s favorite dog breed is the Labrador Retriever, with 31,234 votes.
  8. 85% of dog owners in the UK regularly tell their dogs they love them.
  9. 46% of dog owners in the UK let their dogs sleep on their beds.
  10. 62% of dog owners celebrate their dog’s birthday.
  11. 25% of dog owners have acquired their dog since the coronavirus pandemic.
  12. 38% of dogs live in a 3–4-person household.
  13. 32% of dogs in the UK were purchased from a breeder.
  14. 14% of dogs were rehomed from a shelter.
  15. 640,000 dogs were imported into the UK from abroad in 2022.
  16. 4% of the dogs imported into the UK were done so because owners wanted dogs with cropped ears.
  17. 64% of dogs in the UK get time off the lead on walks.
  18. 39% of dogs in the UK are fed exclusively dry food.
  19. 1 million dogs in the UK regularly show signs of stress.
  20. 79% of dogs in the UK are vaccinated.
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Dogs in the UK

1. There are 13 million dogs currently owned in the UK.

(Statista)

close up two fawn great dane dogs
Image Credit: Jesus Souto, Shutterstock

The UK is a nation of dog lovers, which is reflected in the number of dogs living in homes across the country. In total, including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, there are 13 million dogs.


2. 33% of UK households owned a dog in 2022.

(Braemar Foundation)

According to the Braemar Foundation, 33% of homes have at least one dog living in them, which includes England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.


3. 27% of UK adults own a dog.

(PDSA PAW report 1)

jack russell terrier at the dog park
Image Credit: Jumpstory

The PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals) PAW report 2022 detailed that 27% of all adults living in the UK owned at least one dog, reflecting the previous statistics.


4. There were 49,292 stray dogs handled by local authorities across the UK between 2020 and 2021.

(Dogs Trust stray dog survey)

Dogs Trust (a dog-focused charity in the UK) carries out surveys of certain areas in the UK to find out more about the stray dog population. Their most recent report revealed that almost 49,292 stray dogs were handled and passed to local authorities (such as dog wardens) across the UK between 2020 and 2021.


5. Of all the dogs taken in as strays by local authorities, 75% were Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and 46% were crossbreeds.

(Dogs Trust stray dog survey)

staffordshire bull terrier stretching
Image Credit: Melounix, Shutterstock

The same survey taken in 2021 by Dogs Trust shared details of the types of stray dogs captured by authorities. The data collected shows that of all strays handed over,  75% were Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Crossbreeds were the second most common dog handed over.

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Dog Owners

6. 79.4% of dog owners acquire their dogs for companionship.

(Frontiersin)

Research conducted and published by the Dogs Trust London reveals that the most common reason people want a dog in the UK is for companionship. Almost 80% of owners sought companionship when acquiring their dogs, with 48.2% of people wanting help with exercise.


8. The UK’s favorite dog breed is the Labrador Retriever, with 31,234 votes out of 439,846.

(Dogs Trust national dog survey)

Labrador-Retriever
Image Credit: Angel Luciano, Unsplash

The Dogs Trust’s most recent national survey found that the UK’s most favored dog breed is the Labrador Retriever, earning 31,234 votes out of 439,846, or 7.1%.


9. 85% of dog owners in the UK regularly tell their dogs they love them.

(Dogs Trust national dog survey)

The Dogs Trust Survey also detailed how affectionate the UK is with their dogs: 85% of all dog owners in the UK regularly let their dogs know that they love them and have no problem showing affection towards them.


10. 46% of dog owners in the UK let their dogs sleep on their beds.

(Dogs Trust national dog survey)

Image Credit: Best dog photo, Shutterstock

Just under 50% of dog owners will allow their dogs to sleep on their beds. The statistics didn’t detail if this was all the time, some of the time, or on special occasions.


11. 62% of dog owners celebrate their dog’s birthday.

(Dogs Trust national dog survey)

Surprisingly, over half of the UK’s dog-owning population (62%) celebrate their dog’s birthdays, but the data doesn’t go into detail about how they are celebrated.


12. 25% of dog owners have acquired their dog since the coronavirus pandemic.

(PDSA PAW report 1)

woman adopting a dog from shelter
Image Credit: hedgehog94, Shutterstock

A quarter of all dog owners acquired their dog since the coronavirus pandemic began, showing that isolation and the pandemic may have affected the number of dogs adopted across the country.


13. 38% of dogs live in a 3–4-person household.

(PDSA PAW report 1)

According to the PDSA’s PAW report, 38% of dogs in the UK live in a 3–4-person household, along with 12% living in a one-person home and 40% living in a two-person household.

Divider 1Dog Acquisition in the UK

14. 32% of dogs in the UK were purchased from a breeder.

(PDSA PAW report 2)

family adopting dog
Image Credit: hedgehog94, Shutterstock

Although adoptions increased during the pandemic, several UK pet owners chose breeders over rescue centers. 32% of dogs were acquired through a breeder, with reasons such as wanting a specific breed being given.


15. 14% of dogs were rehomed from a shelter.

(PDSA PAW report 2)

There was a decrease in the number of owners sourcing their dogs from shelters, with a 4% drop from 2020 (from 18% to 14%), according to the PDSA’s PAW report. The PDSA didn’t elaborate on why this might be.


16. 640,000 dogs were imported into the UK from abroad in 2022.

(PDSA PAW report 2)

a beagle dog detection handler working at the airport
Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

An increase in dogs imported into the UK from abroad was reported, with 640,000 dogs imported in 2022. This represents 6% of the total owned dog population, an increase of 3% since 2020.


17. 4% of the dogs imported into the UK were brought over because owners wanted dogs with cropped ears.

(PDSA PAW report 2)

The PAW report released by the PDSA revealed that a shocking number of dogs (4%)  were imported into the UK because their owners wanted dogs with cropped ears. Ear cropping is an illegal mutilation procedure in the United Kingdom, and the practice is banned.


5. 64% of dogs in the UK get time off the lead on walks.

(PDSA PAW report 3)

holiday vacation jack russell dog waiting in airport terminal_javier brosch_shutterstock
Image Credit: javier brosch, shutterstock

When researching enrichment opportunities for dogs in the UK, it was revealed that 64% of dogs get time to roam freely during walks, although the report did not elaborate on whether this was on every walk or only on occasional walks.


18. 39% of dogs in the UK are fed exclusively dry food.

(PDSA PAW report 4)

The PAW report also explored what dogs in the UK are fed. Most dogs are fed exclusively dry food, with 39% never eating wet food or any other type.


19. 1.1 million dogs in the UK regularly show signs of stress.

(PDSA PAW report 5)

Portrait of Sad Red Dachshund Dog
Image Credit: Seregraff, Shutterstock

The PDSA looked at canine behavior, and they discovered that 1.1 million dogs in the UK regularly showed signs of stress. The signs they looked out for included growling, snapping, and biting, among others.


20. 79% of dogs in the UK are vaccinated.

(PDSA PAW report 6)

In the last portion of the PDSA’s PAW report 2022, the stats show that only 70% of dogs in the UK are vaccinated. This also correlates with the number of dogs that don’t receive their regular booster vaccinations, which is currently at 2.2 million dogs in 2022.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs in the UK

Are Many Dogs Fixed in the UK?

Neutering and spaying are common in the UK, and 70% of all dogs in the country have undergone the procedure. A higher percentage of female dogs get fixed than males, with 75% of females compared to 65% of male dogs. When asked, owners’ reasons for not fixing their dogs included that it would have no benefit (male dog owners at 23%, 10 % for females) and that they were worried it would change their dog’s personality. (PDSA PAW report 6)

Is It the Law That Dogs in the UK Are Microchipped?

In the UK, it has been a legal requirement that all dogs are microchipped from a certain age since 2016. Sadly, while 90% of all dogs in the UK are microchipped, 1.4 million dogs are not. Of the unchipped dogs, 15% of their owners stated they weren’t chipped because they’d never heard of a microchip before. (PDSA PAW report 6)

belgian malinois dog lying on the concrete outdoors
Image Credit: Olga Ovcharenko, Shutterstock

How Do Owners in the UK Really Feel About Their Dogs?

The UK loves its dogs and isn’t afraid to show it. 95% of all dog owners in the UK said that their dogs make them happy, and 87% of owners said that their dogs improved their mental health. This may be partly due to the huge role dogs played in helping people cope with the pandemic and the stressful period between 2020 and 2022. That’s not to say that owners didn’t feel the strain, and 35% admitted that owning a dog was hard work. (PDSA PAW report 6)

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Conclusion

The statistics in the UK about dogs and their owners show that more dogs are being adopted, purchased from breeders, and imported from abroad each year. 2022 saw the highest rise in the number of dogs, with many being brought into homes within the last 12 months. Other statistics clarified the preventative healthcare number and uptake of dogs in the UK and highlighted the demographic of dog owners in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

These numbers are very useful when looking for a general overview of dog ownership in the United Kingdom; we hope you gathered some interesting information and statistics from our facts and figures.


Featured Image Credit: Irina Kozorog, Shutterstock

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