Despite economic downturns in many markets, pet owners indicate they will continue to spend as much or more on their furry companions. This appears especially true in the natural foods category, as many owners learn more about maintaining their dog’s health. Dog food contamination scares, such as the recent melamine incident, are also driving more people to wholesome, high-quality alternatives.
- 39% of the US population owns a dog. 1
- 45.6 million US households own a dog, the highest number ever recorded in the Pet Owners Survey. 1
- The total number of dogs owned in the US is 77.5 million. 1
- The average number of dogs per US household is 1.70. 1
- In 2008 dog owners spent an average of $587 to purchase pet products. 1
- In 2008 dog owners spent an average of $229 on food and $64 on food treats. 1
- 33% of dog owners claim to feed their dogs premium dog food the most often. 1
- 88% of all dog owners buy treats for their dogs, with roughly 50% buying up to 5 packages of treats in 12 months. 1
- 80% of dog owners reported purchasing a gift for their dog in 2008 with the most popular occasions being anytime, Christmas, and the dog's birthday. 1
- Pet store shoppers are unwilling to compromise their pets’ diets with a move to grocery or mass-market brands, proving the pet food category is recession-resistant 2
- 44.8 million (40%) of all U.S. households own a dog 4
- 89% of women 18-49 will spend as much or more on their pets during 2009 3
- 2009 estimates show $45.4 billion will be spent on pets, a 6% increase 4
º Includes pet food sales of $17.4 billion, a 4% increase
1 2009 – 2010 APPA National Pet Owners Survey
2 Pet Business
3 Lifetime Networks December 2008 ‘FemiNation’ Survey
4 American Pet Products Association 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey