Americans lavish their dogs with additional attention in a variety of ways, including dressing them in clothes, spritzing them with perfume, painting their nails, and feeding them home-cooked meals. These spoilt animals may be found all around the country, but according to a recent Forbes Advisor poll, some states have more spoiled dogs than others.
In order to determine the states where dog owners indulge their pets the most, we looked at nine important variables from a poll of 5,002 dog owners. The most common methods people treat their dogs like VIPs (Very Important Puppies) were also revealed by our poll.
Official: These Are The States With The Most Spoiled Dogs
1. New York
The state with the most spoilt dogs is New York. More than half (55%) of all New York respondents stated they spend more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own. 40% of New Yorkers claimed to have spent more money treating their dog than their significant other. 42% of New Yorkers often celebrate their dogs’ birthdays, and 25% stated they have strolled their dog. New Yorkers are second in the nation for purchasing dog clothes and accessories, showing how seriously they take their canine companions’ wardrobes. Additionally, New Yorkers came in second on our list for frequently making homemade dog food (38%), and 51% of New Yorkers reported ordering a special treat for their four-legged companion at a restaurant.
2. California
On our list of the states with the most spoilt dogs, California comes in second. State residents who treated their dogs to a special restaurant order, such as a Starbucks Puppuccino (56%), were Californians more often than inhabitants of any other state. In addition, Californians tied Georgians for second place when it comes to carrying their dog when the dog doesn’t want to walk (51%), spending more money on their dog’s health and grooming than they do on their own (53%), and carrying their dog when the dog doesn’t want to walk (51%). Californians were in third place nationally for both frequently celebrating their dog’s birthday (38%) and strolling their canine buddy in a stroller (19%).
3. Washington
Our research revealed that Washingtonians dislike leaving their canine companions behind when they travel. Over half (52%) of respondents claimed they had taken their dog on vacation.
Washingtonians were also the second-most likely people in the country (54%) to request a special treat for their dogs at a restaurant. Washingtonians are second in the nation for regularly preparing homemade food for their pets, tied with New Yorkers (38%).
4. Pennsylvania
With 64% of Pennsylvanians reporting they have purchased clothes and accessories for their dogs, the state came in fourth on our list of the states with the most spoilt pets. Pennsylvanians are the third most likely in the US (tied with residents of Virginia and Georgia) to spend more money treating their dog than their significant other (35%).
Check out the three worst though…
48. Wyoming
Only 31% of Wyoming residents believe their dog has a wardrobe, making them the least likely people in the nation to buy their dogs clothes and accessories. In addition, Wyoming residents tied with residents of North Carolina and Rhode Island for having the third-lowest likelihood of giving their dog a special treat in a restaurant (26%) and having the third-lowest likelihood of pushing their dog in a stroller (4%). Additionally, Wyoming dog owners received the second-lowest score (16%) for frequently organizing dog birthday parties (tied with Kansas, Nevada, and West Virginia).
49. Arkansas
The state of Arkansas scored second lowest for dog spoiling, with only 30% of Arkansans reporting having taken their dog on vacation. Only 25% of Arkansans reported ordering a special treat for their dog at a restaurant, placing Arkansas second lowest in the country in this category.
50. South Dakota
According to our data, South Dakotans have the least-spoiled dogs in the nation. Doggie birthday parties and spending more money treating their dog than their significant other were the two behaviors that residents of the country were least likely to engage in (10% and 17%). Only 13% of South Dakotans stated they make homemade dog food, indicating that the majority of them think conventional kibble is fine for their canine friends. The second-lowest percentage of Americans (33%) who treat their dogs with clothes and accessories are residents of South Dakota.
Treating and spoiling your dog is always a good thing, but find a balance!
