In April 2011 there were approximately 10.5 million owned dogs in the UK and 39% of UK households own at least one dog.
There are an estimated 400 million dogs in the world
39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite living in the UK’s highest populated city.
60% of single people in the UK buy a pet for companionship – 39% of whom have replaced their partner with a pet
21% of pet owners have wanted a pet since childhood, and almost of half of people living in the North East have wanted a pet since their early years
The East Midlands has the most pet lovers, with 14% of the pet population living in the heart of the UK, compared to only 4% of the population residing in Wales.
39% of London pet owners feel the need for companionship despite having over 7.5 million neighbors across the city
21% of owners bought their pet for companionship, compared to only 5% who have their pet for security
Over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s pets were bought or acquired from an animal welfare or rescue centre compared to 20% from a pet shop
Domestication of the dog began around 15,000 years ago and during this process, humans selected for particularly desirable traits such as coat color and leg length
Dogs are capable of understanding up to 250 words and gestures, can count up to five and can perform simple mathematical calculations. The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child
Dogs have had roles in movies for112 years. The first exhibited to a paying audience featuring 2 dogs in 1895
