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Dressing dogs in outfits, scenting them with perfume, painting their nails and feeding them home-cooked meals are just some of the ways Americans are lavishing their dogs with extra TLC. These pampered pets can be found nationwide, but some states have more spoiled dogs than others, a new Forbes Advisor survey found.
We analyzed nine key metrics from a survey of 5,002 dog owners to identify the states where people spoil their dogs the most. Our survey also unleashed the most popular ways people give the V.I.P. (Very Important Pooch) treatment to their dogs.
Top 5 States Where People Spoil Their Dogs the Most
Top 5 States Where People Spoil Their Dogs the Most
New York’s score: 44.95 out of 100
- New York tops the list of states with the most spoiled dogs.
- 40% of New Yorkers said they’ve spent more money on spoiling their dog than on spoiling their significant other, and more than half (55%) of all respondents from New York said they spend more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own.
- 42% of New Yorkers regularly throw birthday parties for their dogs, and 25% said they’ve pushed their dog in a stroller.
- New Yorkers also take their dog’s wardrobes seriously: 59% have bought their dog outfits and accessories, ranking second in the nation for this metric.
- New Yorkers also ranked second highest on our list for regularly preparing homemade dog food (38%) and 51% of New Yorkers said they’ve ordered their furry friend a special treat at a restaurant.
No. 2: California
California’s score: 41.25 out of 100
- California ranks second on our list of states with the most spoiled dogs.
- Californians were more likely than any other state’s residents to treat their dogs to a special restaurant order, such as a Starbucks Puppuccino (56%).
- California residents also ranked second in the nation for spending more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own (53%) and tied with Georgians for second when it comes to carrying their pet when the pooch doesn’t want to walk (51%).
- Californians ranked third in the nation for pushing their canine companion in a stroller (19%) and regularly throwing birthday parties for their dog (38%).
No. 3: Washington
Washington’s score: 40.05 out of 100
- Our analysis found that Washingtonians don’t like to leave their four-legged friends behind when they go on a trip. More than half (52%) said they’ve brought their dog on vacation.
- Residents of Washington were also the second most likely in the nation to order a special treat for their pooches at a restaurant (54%).
- Washington residents tied with New Yorkers for being second most likely in the nation to regularly prepare homemade food for their pets (38%).
No. 4: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s score: 39.4 out of 100
- Pennsylvania ranked 4th on our list of states with the most spoiled dogs, with 64% of Pennsylvanians saying they’ve bought their dogs outfits and accessories.
- Pennsylvania residents tied with those in Virginia and Georgia as the third most likely in the nation to spend more money on spoiling their dog than on spoiling their significant other (35%).
No. 5: New Jersey
New Jersey’s score: 39.2 out of 100
- New Jersey residents are more likely than any other state residents (except New Yorkers) to push their dogs in strollers (22%) and to regularly throw doggie birthday parties (40%).
Bottom 3 States Where People Spoil Their Dogs the Least
No. 48: Wyoming
Wyoming’s score: 26.05
- Wyomingites are the least likely in the country to buy their dogs outfits and accessories, with only 31% saying their dog has a wardrobe.
- Wyoming residents were also the third least likely in the nation to order their dogs a special treat at a restaurant (26%) and tie with dog owners in North Carolina and Rhode Island as the third least likely to push their pup in a stroller (4%).
- Wyoming dog owners also scored second lowest (tied with Kansas, Nevada and West Virgina) for regularly hosting birthday parties for their dogs (16%).
No. 49: Arkansas
Arkansas’ score: 24.95
- With only 30% of Arkansans saying that they’ve brought their dog on vacation, the state ranked second lowest for dog spoiling.
- Only 25% of Arkansas residents said that they’ve ordered their dog a special treat at a restaurant, ranking second lowest in the nation for this category.
No. 50: South Dakota
South Dakota’s score: 24.75
- Our analysis found that South Dakotans have the least spoiled dogs in the country. Residents were least likely in the nation to throw doggie birthday parties (10%) and to spend more money spoiling their pooch than on spoiling their significant other (17%).
- South Dakotans also seem to think their canine companions do just fine with regular kibble—only 13% said they prepare homemade dog food.
- Residents of South Dakota were second least likely in the nation to spoil their dogs with outfits and accessories (33%).
Full State Rankings for Spoiled Dogs
Top Ways to Spoil Dogs
Pet parents dig dapper dogs. Buying outfits and accessories for their Fido fashionistas was the most popular form of spoiling dogs (45%).
- Nearly a third (32%) of survey respondents said their dog has one to two outfits.
- 17% said they have three to four get-ups in their dog’s wardrobe.
- Some lucky dogs (12%) have five or more.
- 4% of dog owners said they have 10 or more sets of doggie duds.
Millennials (50%) were most likely to say they’ve bought their dog outfits and accessories, followed by Gen Z (46%) and Gen X (41%).
No one likes to be all dressed up with nowhere to go, so perhaps it’s not surprising that 43% of dog owners embarked on a vacation with their four-legged friends.
But living the “top dog” life can be exhausting—43% of respondents said they’ve carried their dog when they didn’t want to walk.
Buying special dog treats at restaurants—such as a Starbucks Puppuccino—is another favorite way to spoil dogs (37%).
Other spoiling activities include:
- Dog birthday parties. More than one in four dog owners (26%) regularly throw birthday parties for their dogs.
- Doggie social media. Parties for pups likely provide great photo ops for the 12% who created a social media account for their dog. Gen Z respondents were most likely to create a social media account for their dog (15%), followed by millennials (14%) and Gen X (8%).
Nearly one in three dogs are spoiled more than the owner’s partner
Some dog owners (28%) said they spend more money spoiling their dog than they spend spoiling their significant other. Women (30%) were more likely than men (22%) to say that they shell out more to spoil their pooch than their partner.
Which of the following have you done? (select all that apply)
Rover Royalty: Dog Owners Often Put a Dog’s Needs First
For some dog owners, spoiling their mutts means giving them the alpha dog treatment when it comes to hygiene and nutrition.
More than a third of respondents (39%) said they spend more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own.
This level of care extends to meals, too:
- 19% pay more attention to what’s in their dog’s food than they do to the ingredients in their own food.
- More than half (55%) said they watch what their dogs eat just as much as they oversee their own diets.
- Nearly a quarter (24%) regularly prepare homemade dog food.
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Wave a Paw to the Camera
Including their dogs in video meet-and-greets, providing spa services and checking on them with nanny cams are some of the popular ways respondents treat their dogs like part of the family.
- Dogs on video calls: More than half (51%) of dog owners have had people greet their dog on video calls and 68% have taken family photos with their dog. Gen Z (63%) was most likely to include their dogs in video calls, followed by millennials (55%).
- Pet cams: Another way pet parents baby their dogs is by keeping a watchful eye on them from afar. 19% bought a pet camera or nanny cam so they could check on their dog while away from home. Millennials were most likely to buy a pet camera or nanny cam to check on their dog (24%), followed closely by Gen Z (23%).
- Spa treatment: Some dog owners pamper their pets by painting their dog’s nails (19%) and putting perfume or cologne (18%) on them.
Which of the following have you done?
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Dog?
While the love of a dog is priceless, the cost of owning one is not. Dog owners surveyed reported spending an average of about $730 a year on their dogs. But 41% said they spend between $500 and $1,999 a year on their dogs and 8% said they spend more than $2,000. Over a third (36%) said they spend $200 to $499 yearly on their dogs.
How much do you spend on your dog each year?
Top Dog Costs: Food, Vets and Toys
Dog owners said they spend the most money on:
- Dog food (47%)
- Vet bills/vaccinations (28%)
- Treats or toys (10%)
What do you spend the most money on when it comes to your dog? (Choose the answer that applies most to you.)
Taming Veterinarian Bills
Vet bills and vaccinations ranked second among dog-related expenditures. Regretfully, no amount of pampering can prevent a dog from getting sick or injured. If you don’t want a surprise vet bill to take a bite out of your budget, consider pet insurance as a financial safeguard.
Pet insurance can cover accidents and illnesses, such as a torn ligament, ingestion of an object or a serious condition like cancer. It can also help defray expenses for annual physicals and vaccinations for your dog if you add a routine wellness plan to a pet insurance policy.
A Forbes Advisor analysis found that pet insurance for a dog costs an average of $35 a month. That may be a worthwhile expenditure if you couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket for a big vet bill.
Related: Is pet insurance worth it?
Methodology
This online survey of 5,002 U.S. adults (at least 100 in each state) who own dogs was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected July 29 to Aug. 5, 2022. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 points with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by the OnePoll research team, which is a member of the MRS and has a corporate membership with the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). For a complete survey methodology, including geographic and demographic sample sizes, contact pr@forbesadvisor.com
We scored each state based on these factors:
- Spent more money on my dog’s health and grooming than I do on my own: 20% of score
- Spent more money on spoiling my dog than on spoiling my significant other: 20% of score
- Brought my dog on vacation: 15% of score
- Regularly prepared homemade dog food: 15% of score
- Regularly thrown birthday parties for my dog: 10% of score
- Bought my dog outfits and accessories: 5% of score
- Carried my dog when they didn’t want to walk: 5% of score
- Ordered my dog a special treat at a restaurant such as a Puppuccino from Starbucks: 5% of score
- Pushed my dog in a stroller: 5% of score
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