Britain's Going to the Dogs!

Britain is well known to being a nation of dog lovers, but in recent years our love affair with dogs has reached unprecedented levels.

Obviously people love their dogs, they are often regarded as members of the family, and so it should be no surprise that the dog industry in the UK is worth BILLIONS annually.

How Many Dogs Are There in Britain?

Nobody really knows how many dogs there are in the UK, but it stands at an estimated 12.7 million living in over 31% of households. And this is up from 8 million in 2011.

The pandemic significantly impacted this boom. "Pandemic puppies" became the rage, and first-time buyers wanted to keep them as companions during the lockdown. Puppies' registrations rose to more than 350,000 in 2021, and prices doubled. The cost of the average pup now stands at close to £2,000.

Why So Many Dogs?

People living with dogs is nothing new. Archaeological finds show we've done this for thousands of years. They have worked as sheepdogs, watchdogs, and loyal companions at least since the Bronze Age.

But dogs today as a general rule don't work, they are more of a psychological boost to the owners, with dogs playing a crucial role in providing companionship.

I guess they are easier to get along with than those pesky humans, after all.

The Costs of Canine Companionship

Keeping a dog is pricey. attersea Dogs Home estimates the cost at a little over £2,000 for each animal a year, including food, insurance, and vet bills. For big dogs, this can be nears £4000 annually. Private equity companies have spotted this, sinking large sums of money into pet business enterprises, ranging from doggy day care to pet insurance.

But the financial cost is not the only concern. Dogs also have a significant environmental footprint. An average medium-sized dog consumes about 80kg of food annually, which translates to pressure on the world's demand for meat and fish.

Dogs also eject 1,200 litres of urine and 500kg of stools in a 13-year lifetime and this also has public health and environmental consequences.

Final Thoughts...

Britain's love affair with dogs is not likely to disappear, but one has to question the cost... both financial but also environmental.

I guess as long as canine companionship isn't used as a crutch that prevents human to human connection then that's OK!