Dogs Really are Man’s Best Friend: Celebrating Dog Dads on Father’s Day

They offer companionship, provide cuddles and wagging tails, and bring us lots of smiles—just a few of the reasons we love our four-legged friends. In fact, nearly 7 out of 10 Americans own a pet, and the vast majority of pet owners consider their pets family members.

Did you know that one of the top groups of these pet owners in the US are men aged 18 to 44? More than half of this group owns dogs—that’s a lot of dog dads. With Father’s Day coming up, we’re bringing you some bark-worthy facts about man’s best friend in honor of all the dog dads out there.

The Majority of US Dog Owners are Young Men

Pet ownership has spiked since the start of the millennium, and dogs continue to rise as one of the most popular household pets in the country, especially among men. In the US, over 70% of Millennial men own a dog, and Gen Z shows no signs of dropping this trend any time soon. However, dog lovers are hardly limited to younger generations—adding men over 45 into the mix, recent statistics reveal that 8 out of every 10 men in the US owns a pup.

These numbers may be partially explained by the fact that 91% of male pet owners had at least one dog growing up—meaning that the past two decades of dogs may have men’s childhood nostalgia to thank for rapidly increasing adoption numbers.

Over Half of All Americans Own a Dog

Approximately 66% of Americans own at least one pet, and over half of the population owns a dog. That’s about 63 million households. Pet ownership has been on a significant rise since the start of the millennium, and COVID-19 has only boosted these increasing numbers—about 15% of Americans adopted a dog during the pandemic. In fact, the Washington Post reports that so many dogs have been adopted, some shelters are running out of dogs altogether. Where many people were previously concerned about being away from home too much to own a dog, the new work-from-home lifestyle has made pup parenthood a possibility for thousands of Americans.

Dogs are Scientifically Proven to Be Good for Your Health

If you needed one more reason to adopt a furry friend, dog ownership has been scientifically proven to benefit your health in a variety of ways. For starters, simply petting a dog lowers heart rate and blood pressure, in turn lowering your overall stress. On top of that, dogs require plenty of exercise, which in turn gets you up and moving along with them. These physical benefits add up to improve overall well-being, making dogs an impressive component of happy, healthy living.

The benefits of dog ownership aren’t limited to physical effects—dogs also help promote social interaction, giving many people an easy conversation starter. How many times have you taken your dog for a walk at the dog park and gotten comments on your pup, or stopped to pet someone else’s dog? Studies show that around 40% of dog owners make friends easier than others

The Pet Industry Brings in Billions Annually

Between healthy food and treats, veterinary care, medication, and pet supplies, Americans spent over $100 billion dollars in the pet industry in 2020 alone. This includes everything from dog leashes and collars, dog beds and other pet furniture, dog toys, veterinary bills, doggy daycare, and even pet costumes.

Plus, healthy nutrition trends for pets have become more popular over the past decades, causing a spike in spending on quality foods and age-appropriate nutrition for senior dogs. In fact, almost half of the spending in the pet industry is accounted for by pet food. This comes as no surprise in light of surveys reporting that many pet owners are willing to splurge on quality food for their pets. Our pets are members of our families, and we treat them as such.

Bulldogs are the World’s Favorite Pup

French bulldogs hold the number one spot in popularity worldwide—no surprise, considering their adorably grumpy faces, charming personalities, and loveable natures. Americans have labrador retrievers at the top of our list, but we also adore golden retrievers and German shepherds for their loyalty and laid-back demeanors. Globally, several other breeds made the well-loved list, too, including Siberian huskies, pugs, poodles, and chihuahuas.

Everyone has their favorites, but the worldwide consensus seems to be that we simply love dogs. The best type of dog for you ultimately depends on your lifestyle, preferences, and the particular needs of certain breeds, such as more outdoor space for high-energy dogs to run and play.

Communities Built to Enhance Every Lifestyle

At Christopher Todd Communities, our luxury smart home communities cater to residents of all kinds—even the four-legged ones. Experience A New Way To Live® with all the space and conveniences you and your pup need to stay comfortable and thriving.

But don’t just take our word for it—let one of our very own CTC residents show you around.

Here, you get your own pet-friendly home and maintenance-free backyard alongside luxurious community amenities, convenient in-home features, and frequent resident events for a true neighborhood experience. Our detached, single-story, single-family homes even come with your own pet door into your private backyard, so your pup can enjoy the luxury lifestyle right along with you. You can explore our communities here.