Urban Dog Owners

Urban Dog Owners - Demographics
There was not much information specific to urban dog owners, but there was still some useful and exciting data found. The typical urban dog owner ranges between 15 to 44 years old, makes an average of $70,000 annually, and they are usually located in urban states like New York or Illinois. More demographics related to urban dog owners can be found below.

GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS
  • People who live in Washington, DC are noted to spend more on their dogs ($270/month) than dog owners in any other area in any other state.
  • There are more dog owners than parents with children in San Francisco, CA.
  • The age range for urban dog owners is from 15 to 44 years of age.
  • The audience demographics for Unleash Magazine, an urban magazine for dog owners, are 64% of females and 36% for males.
  • The median income for urban dog owners is around $70,000.
  • According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), pet ownership is usually lower in urban states. (e.g., New York, Illinois, and Georgia).
  • At 63.8%, most of Urban Magazine’s audience had at least attended college.
  • 73% of pet owners in the Northeast region own a dog.
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MILLENNIALS
  • Millennials represent 35% of all pet owners in the US (they recently surpassed baby boomers n ownership).
  • Millennials spend approximately $141.50/month on their pets.
  • Millennials—and assuming the millennial pet owners—"tend to be more diverse racially, with the largest number identifying as multiracial."
  • While not exactly specific to urban pet owners—though it is likely related to them given the high levels of home rentorship assumed by younger pet owners—there are more smaller dogs as pets that are under 25 pounds (52%) than any other weight class.
  • "Independent households that are headed-up by Millennials also experience more poverty (5.3 million households in poverty versus 4.2 million households headed by Gen X), so not everyone has the luxury of being spend-crazy for pets."

  • Urban Dog Owners - Sentiments, Concerns, and Issues
  • Urban U.S. dog owners are more interactive, share increased closeness, and are more active in their dog’s life. More information is provided below.

SENTIMENTS OF A TYPICAL U.S. URBAN DOG OWNER
  • Statistically, more than 70% of dog or cat owners living in urban areas agree of having a dog or cat that sometimes has anxiety/stress issues, whereas 55% of dog owners living in different areas "say their pet has these problems".
  • Urban dog owners are more interactive and share increased closeness with their dogs. According to Dr. Stephanie Liff, rural dog-owners may not see their dogs every day, whereas urban dog owners share "500 square feet with their dogs".
  • According to Dr. Liff, since it’s considered to be a lot riskier to have a dog in the city, urban dog owners are more active in their dog’s life and visit the vets more often than their suburban counterparts.
  • Urban pet owners, which can be reasonably assumed to include dog owners too, tend to spoil their pets and spend more money on them, even though they feel the stress of the economy.
  • Statistically, more than 90% of dog owners agree that their dog has a positive impact on their mental or physical health, which leads to almost 75% of them to pamper their pets.

CONCERNS OF A TYPICAL U.S. URBAN DOG OWNER
It has been noted that urban dogs that share their owner’s bed might present separation anxiety, which implies that co-sleeping may end up as a concern for urban dog owners.
Urban owners are found to be more concerned than their rural counterparts about the kind of food they provide to their dogs and agree that natural/organic brand pet products are often better than standard national brand products, as fear of pet food contamination/product safety is a key consideration in the dog foods they buy.
Infectious diseases can be spread through trash on the sidewalk or an improperly cleaned pile of dog poo, which is a concern for urban dog owners.
Also, in an urban set-up, dogs interact with each other more frequently at dog parks and daycares, increasing the risk of a dog scuffle or contagious illness (like kennel cough).
Urban dog owners are found to be concerned about tying up their dogs when they go into a store, as they fear their dog will become anxious or someone might abduct their beloved pet.

ISSUES OF US URBAN DOG OWNERS
  • Urban dogs grow anxiety issues by constantly seeing other dogs, which may require owners to take their puppies to vets who offer behavioral therapy.
  • Also, urban dog owners are more frequent keeping their dogs in daycare, where things may often go wrong for the pet while the owners are away.
  • Some issues that impact urban dog owners are factors like walkability, the number of parks, and the availability of pet sitters. 
Urban Dog Owners - Most Popular Dogs
  • The dog breeds that are most popular in urban areas are mostly smalls dog breeds like the French Bulldog, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier. Meanwhile, Great Pyrenees and German Short-haired Pointers head the list of popular dog breeds in rural areas.
  • Popularity of small dog breeds in urban and rural areas
  • The risks that small dogs are facing in a rural area primarily comes from predators. For instance, a Yorkshire Terrier is slightly heavier than a rabbit and a few are lighter than a cottontail. These are sizes that a hungry hawk or owl sees as food, and the probability of being attacked is rather high.
  • Small-sized dog breeds are preferred in a city environment, where people live in small apartments and lack sufficient space to properly care for a large dog. This fact is another reason they prefer small breeds like the French Bulldog, because they do not necessitate much exercise.
  • The trend of carrying a very small dog like Chihuahuas or Yorkshires within one's handbag was a determinant to the popularization of small dog breeds in urban environments. It was observed commonly in urban individuals with higher incomes. Though the trend has faded, the concept of having small breeds in urban environments continues in the larger cities.
  • The popularity of mid-large and large dog breeds in urban and rural areas
  • Owning mid-large and large dogs like the Great Pyrenees breed decreases the likelihood of predators attacking in rural areas as they seek to avoid injury from animals that can put up a fight. Most predators (e.g., coyotes) are not willing to risk injury. Certainly, such dog breeds will not seem like the dinner to an owl or a hawk.
  • People residing in rural areas usually prefer large-sized dog breeds, like the German Shorthaired Pointer, because they are capable of walking willingly without the use of a leash and have higher energy than smaller breeds. A country dog enjoys a natural environment, which means that they do not have to feel confined. They also require extensive areas to progress their abilities.
  • Some individuals in urban environments chose large sized dog breeds that can adapt to live in such areas. However, such dog breeds are only recommended to very active owners that care for their pets at every moment. For instance, the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever must roam about outside frequently, however, they are intelligent and can be trained to live in an urban environment.
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Top list of dog breeds most popular in urban areas
  1. According to NBC New York and the American Kennel Club, the following are the top dog breeds in urban areas:
  2. French Bulldog
  3. Bulldog
  4. Poodle
  5. Yorkshire Terrier
  6. German Shepherd
  7. Labrador Retriever
  8. Golden Retriever
  9. Rottweiler
  10. Cavalier
  11. Havanese
Top list of most popular dogs in rural areas.
As listed by Baxter Boo and the American Kennel Club, the following are the top dogs in rural areas:
  1. Australian Shepherd
  2. Great Pyrenees
  3. Labrador Retriever
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Australian Cattle Dog
  6. Border Collie
  7. Border Terrier
  8. The Jack Russel Terrier
  9. English Springer Spaniel
  10. Coonhound


Urban Dog Owners - Motivations
The motivations of an urban dog owner for pet ownership include Prior Dog Ownership, Health Benefits, Companionship and Children & Family.

PRIOR DOG OWNERSHIP
According to a 2019 research study in the Journal, Animals, 43% of dog owners in a US study reported that their decision to acquire a dog was "mostly influenced" by previous positive experiences with dogs.
Similarly, a 2018 research study published in the US-based Public Library of Science highlighted that dog "ownership history" increased the motivation for dog ownership in the future, potentially because prior dog owners have a bias in "selectively recalling positive experiences" from memories with previous dogs.

HEALTH BENEFITS
According to a 2018 research study published in the US-based Public Library of Science, expected health benefits represented a significant motivation for potential dog owners, with those surveyed anticipating increased "walking, happiness, and companionship," as well as "decreased stress and loeliness" with the adoption of a dog.

COMPANIONSHIP
According to a 2018 research study published in the US-based Public Library of Science, "over half" of those surveyed expected the adoption of a dog to offer companionship, both with the dog itself, and with dog ownership creating "opportunities to meet new friends."

CHILDREN & FAMILY
Children and family are a key decision factor in dog ownership among US households, with a 2019 research study in the Journal, Animals, reporting that the likelihood of dog ownership "increased" with the "number of people" in a household, as well as in "households containing children."

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