Report Summary

Pet owners and the extensive pet industry that they support (everything from veterinarians to pet food to pet toys to pet supplements) have long been a backbone of the American retail landscape. In the all-new report, Dog Population and Dog Owner Demographics in the U.S., Packaged Facts sheds light on America’s dog owning population using unique data drawn from the Experian Simmons national consumer database. The report offers a present-day and historical analysis of dog owners, examining trends pertaining to the segments’ financial, household, regional, ethnic, and generational composition, as well as trends stemming from dog owner attitudes about advertising, the environment, health, and the internet.

U.S. Dog Population and Dog Owner Demographics

Published:  February 2012
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Table Of Contents

Chapter 2: Dog Ownership by Household Penetration
Overview of Pet Ownership Trends
Table 2-1 Household Penetration Rates for Selected Dog- or Cat-Owning Classifications: 2006 vs. 2011 (percent of U.S. households)
Table 2-2 Change in Pet Market Consumer Base: Number of Dog or Cat Owners, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 2-3 Household Penetration Rates for Selected Pet-Owning Classifications, 2007-2011 (percent of and number of U.S. households in millions)
Trends in Multiple Pet Ownership
XX% of Pet Households Keep Multiple Types
Figure 2-1 Ownership of Multiple Pets, 2011 (percent of pet-owning U.S. households)
Table 2-4 Multiple Pet Ownership in the United States, 2007 vs. 2011 (percent of pet-owning households)
XX% of Pet Households Keep More Than One Pet
Table 2-5 Ownership of Multiple Pets of a Single Type, 2011 (percent and number of U.S. households who keep pets of a given type)
Bucking Trend, Ownership of Multiple Dogs Is on the Rise
Table 2-6 Ownership of Multiple Pets of a Single Type, 2006 vs. 2011 (percent of U.S. households who keep pets of a given type)

Chapter 3: Dog Ownership by Age and Generational Cohort
Table 3-1 Dog Ownership Rates by Age Bracket: 2006-2011 (percent of U.S. households)
Impact of Boomers and Graying Population
Table 3-2 Household Penetration Rates by Generational Cohort: Pets Overall vs. Dogs, 2011 (percent of U.S. households)
Table 3-3 Household Populations by Generational Cohort: Pets Overall vs. Dogs, 2011 (number of U.S. households in millions)
Table 3-4 Indexes by Generational Cohort: Pets Overall vs. Dogs, 2011 (U.S. households)
Table 3-5 Indexes for Dog or Cat Ownership: By Age Cohort, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. households)
Role of Gen Xers and Gen Ys

Chapter 4: Dog Ownership by Household Composition
Households Without Kids
Figure 4-1 Dog Ownership Rates by Household Composition: No-Kids Households vs. Kids Households, 2006-2011 (percent)
Households With Kids
Dog vs. Cat Households
Table 4-1 Dog Ownership Rates by Household Composition, 2006-2011 (percent)
Table 4-2 Share of Total Dog Owners by Household Composition, 2006-2011 (percent)

Chapter 5: Dog Ownership by Race/Ethnicity
Pet Ownership Trends by Minority Group
Table 5-1 Dog Ownership Trends by Race/Ethnicity, 2006-2011 (percent and number of U.S. dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 5-2 Change in Pet Market Consumer Base: White Non-Hispanics vs. Minorities, 2006 vs. 2011 (number and percent of U.S. dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 5-3 Projected Population Growth, Hispanics vs. Other Population Segments, 2010-2015 (in thousands)
Table 5-4 Projected Population Growth, Hispanics vs. Other Population Segments, 2010-2050 (in thousands)

Chapter 6: Dog Ownership by Region and Metro Area
Table 6-1 Dog Ownership Rates by U.S. Region, 2006-2011 (percent)
Table 6-2 Dog Ownership Rates by Ten Most Populous States, 2006-2011 (percent)
Table 6-3 Share of Total Dog Owners by U.S. Region, 2006-2011 (percent)
Table 6-4 Indexes by U.S. Region: Pets Overall vs. Dogs, 2011 (U.S. households)
Table 6-5 Indexes by Ten Most Populous States: Pets Overall vs. Dogs, 2011 (U.S. households)
Table 6-6 Indexes for Dog or Cat Ownership: By Age Cohort, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. households)
Table 6-7 Indexes for Dog or Cat Ownership: By Age Cohort, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. households)

Chapter 7: Dog Ownership by Household Income
Pet Owner Demographics
Higher-Income Households a Crucial Segment
Figure 7-1 Dog Ownership Rates by Household Income Bracket, 2006 versus 2011 (percent of U.S. dog-owning households)
Table 7-1 Change in Pet Market Consumer Base: Household Income $60K or More vs. Household Income Under $60K, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 7-2 Change in Pet Market Consumer Base: Household Income $75K or More vs. Household Income Under $75K, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. dog- or cat-owning households)
Table 7-3 Change in Pet Market Consumer Base: Household Income $100K or More vs. Household Income Under $100K, 2006 vs. 2011 (U.S. dog- or cat-owning households)

Chapter 8: Dog Owner Psychographics
Health and Medical Related Sentiments and Practices
Table 8-1 Selected Health & Medical Psychographics: Adults Overall and Dog Owners vs. non-Dog Owners, 2011 (percent and index)
“Green” Sentiments and Practices
Table 8-2 Selected “Green” Psychographics: Adults Overall vs. Dog Owners and Non-Dog Owners, 2011 (percent and index)
Media and Marketing Related Sentiments and Practices
Table 8-3 Selected Media & Marketing Psychographics: Adults Overall vs. Dog Owners and Non-Dog Owners, 2011 (percent and index)
Internet Related Sentiments and Practices
Table 8-4 Selected Internet-Related Psychographics: Adults Overall vs. Dog Owners and Non-Dog Owners, 2011 (percent and index)

Appendix
Table A-1 Demographics for Dog Ownership, 2011 (percent, number and index of U.S. dog-owning households)