National Dog Survey

The nation's dogs need you! We're calling on all dog lovers in the UK to help us take a nose-count of the nation and make the world a better place for our four-legged friends.

Dog featured on National Dog Survey TV ad

As dog lovers, we're all part of one big club where the membership fee is love and pats. But behind the pats is the hard graft and commitment to giving our dogs the best life possible.

That's where our National Dog Survey comes in.

This year's survey is pulling together our proud, muddy-trousered community of dog enthusiasts to share and compare experiences of canine companionship– the joys and the sacrifices. We'll use this information to continue being there for the nation's dogs in better, smarter ways.

The National Dog Survey is now closed

Thanks to everyone who took part this year. We're busy analysing the results and hope to learn a great deal about the nation's dogs, and where our help is needed most.

Want to get the results?

If you haven't already done so, be sure to sign up to our emails - we'll let you know as soon as the results are ready.

Sign up today

What we've learnt from previous surveys

Thanks to you, we've learnt a lot about the nation's dogs and where our help is needed most. Here's what we've done so far: 

  • Dog behaviour: Our surveys have shown that many owners face behaviour issues with their pooches. Sadly, these issues can sometimes lead to relinquishment. So, we created our free Behaviour Support Line to help. Since it began, we've given free advice and support to over 16,000 people and counting.
  • Housing: In 2023, 25% of renting owners said they were denied housing because they had a dog. We listened and campaigned for change. From 1st May 2026, the Renter's Rights Act will become law in England, meaning that landlords won't be able to unreasonably refuse a private tenant's request to have a pet.
  • Fireworks: Regional data from our surveys, detailing the distressing impact of fireworks on dogs, contributed to the successful application for a Fireworks Control Zone around Glasgow Rehoming Centre.
  • Responsible dog ownership:  Thanks in part to the thousands of responses we received highlighting strong public concern around out-of-control dogs, in 2026, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA led a public consultation on a new Responsible Dog Ownership framework to set out what it means to be a responsible dog owner.

About the survey

Who is running the study?

Dogs Trust is the UK’s leading dog welfare and rehoming charity (Registered Charity Numbers: 1167663 & SC053144). This survey has been approved by an independent research ethics committee (reference: ERB077).

Who can complete the survey?

The National Dog Survey is open to anyone aged 18 or over who lives in the UK and wants to participate in Dogs Trust’s research. You don’t have to have a dog to take part, we want to hear from dog lovers as well as owners. 

What’s in the survey?

The National Dog Survey asks all about what matters most to dog lovers and owners. The data we gather will help us shape our services to meet the needs of dogs and their owners across the UK.  

For those with dogs, we ask about what your dog is like, your relationship with your dog, and the things you do together.

For those who don’t have a dog, we want to hear your views on dogs and whether you may get a dog in the future.

What will happen to the information I give you?

The information you provide in the survey will be used for research purposes, including market research. Data used for research purposes will be anonymous and kept separate from any personal data. Personally identifiable information will always remain strictly confidential. 

Data analysis will be done by the Research Team at Dogs Trust. We may share anonymous data from this survey with universities and/or research institutions for further analysis where this would provide additional benefits for dog welfare, and to achieve our charitable aims. Likewise, we aim for anonymised data to be made publicly available in open access repositories for the same purposes.

If you choose to provide your email address, relevant data may be used to tailor communications that align with your interests. For more information on this, please visit the privacy section of our website. If you are unsure about giving your consent, you can discuss your choice with a trusted adult or relative before making any decision. 

How can I withdraw from this research?

You may stop answering questions at any time. Anonymous answers cannot be withdrawn as they cannot be identified. If you wish to provide your email address for future contact, you may request for your responses to be withdrawn from the study by emailing us.