(Depending on how you measure love)
The Global Dog Love Index
Which countries love dogs the most, and why it depends on how you measure it
I had a proper sniff around the global dog data, and one thing became very clear very quickly:
There is no single way to love a dog.
Some countries show their devotion by welcoming dogs into half their homes. Others pour love into care, vet bills and insurance. And some simply live with a lot of dogs.
So instead of arguing over one winner, we built something better.
Welcome to the Global Dog Love Index.
How the Global Dog Love Index works
Each country is scored across five measures of dog devotion, using the most widely reported population, ownership and welfare indicators.
Each category scores 0–10 paws.
Maximum score: 50 paws.
The five metrics:
- Household Commitment
How many households choose to live with a dog. - Scale
Total number of pet dogs in the country. - Dog Density
Dogs per person or per household. - Lifestyle Integration
How embedded dogs are in daily life: housing, cafés, outdoor access, travel. - Care & Welfare Investment
Spending on food quality, vet care, insurance and welfare standards.
The Global Dog Love Index: Results
United States – 42 / 50
Love style: Scale & influence
The US has more dogs than any other country on Earth, with nearly half of households owning at least one. It drives global trends in food, tech, training and services.
This is big-dog-energy love: loud, innovative, and everywhere.
Australia – 41 / 50
Love style: Lifestyle dogs
Dogs in Australia aren’t just pets; they’re part of the rhythm of life. Beaches, cafés, parks and homes are built with dogs in mind, and ownership rates are among the highest globally.
This is live-together love.
Hungary – 40 / 50
Love style: Home-first devotion
Around half of Hungarian households own a dog. That’s one of the highest rates anywhere in the world.
If loving dogs means choosing to share your home with one, Hungary is hard to beat.
Poland – 39 / 50
Love style: Dog-dense living
Poland has one of Europe’s highest dog-to-human ratios, with many multi-dog households and deeply rooted everyday companionship.
Quietly, consistently dog-loving.
United Kingdom – 38 / 50
Love style: Balanced, high-engagement
With around 13 million dogs, the UK combines strong ownership numbers with growing investment in training, enrichment and welfare. Housing limits and access rules hold it back slightly, but emotional attachment is high.
Deeply devoted, increasingly dog-centric.
Canada – 37 / 50
Love style: Care-led love
Canada doesn’t top the charts for numbers, but it shines in how dogs are cared for. High spend per dog, strong veterinary access and widespread insurance uptake push it up the rankings.
Love shown through care, not noise.
So… who really loves dogs the most?
Here’s the honest answer:
Different countries love dogs in different ways.
- Some love dogs by welcoming them into almost every home
- Some love dogs by building life around them
- Some love dogs by investing heavily in their health and wellbeing
And honestly? Dogs benefit from all of it.
Method:
Method:
Each country is scored across five dimensions of dog devotion, using publicly available population and ownership data plus widely accepted cultural indicators.
Each category scores 0–10.
Maximum score: 50 paws 🐾
The Five Dog Love Metrics
- Household Commitment
% of households that own a dog. - Scale
Total number of pet dogs (shows cultural reach). - Dog Density
Dogs per person / per household. - Lifestyle Integration
Dogs included in daily life: housing, cafés, outdoor access, and travel. - Care & Welfare Investment
Spend on food quality, vet care, insurance, and welfare standards.
| Rank | Country | Total Score (50) | Dog Love Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 42 / 50 | Scale & influence |
| 2 | Australia | 41 / 50 | Lifestyle dogs |
| 3 | Hungary | 40 / 50 | Home-first devotion |
| 4 | Poland | 39 / 50 | Dog-dense living |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 38 / 50 | Balanced, high-engagement |
| 6 | Canada | 37 / 50 | Care-led love |
| 7 | Portugal | 36 / 50 | Everyday companionship |
| 8 | Italy | 35 / 50 | Family-centred dogs |
| 9 | Germany | 34 / 50 | Structured & responsible |
| 10 | Spain | 34 / 50 | Social & outdoor dogs |
| 11 | France | 33 / 50 | Cultural but selective |
| 12 | Netherlands | 33 / 50 | Urban-adapted dog life |
| 13 | Czech Republic | 32 / 50 | High household commitment |
| 14 | Romania | 32 / 50 | Traditional dog households |
| 15 | Sweden | 31 / 50 | Welfare-first, low density |