National Dog Survey

As a nation, our dogs are a big part of our lives. They bring joy to our best days and comfort to our hardest moments. This year’s National Dog Survey is all about that incredible bond and exploring what they truly mean to us.

The National Dog Survey is now closed!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the National Dog Survey 2025 - you're pawsome!

We received more than 335,000 survey responses over eight weeks, an incredible result. Our team of experts are now busy analysing the data to understand what you thinks makes dogs so special, and how we can better support you and the dogs in your life in the future.

Be the first to hear the results

To stay up to date on the results of this survey be sure to sign up to receive updates on our work, products, services, ways to support us, and pupdates about our pooches.

What we've achieved so far

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:

Post-pandemic: Our surveys have tracked the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on the nation’s dogs. Many ‘pandemic puppies’ missed out on crucial socialisation and as they’ve reached adulthood their humans have struggled to cope. We listened to these concerns and responded with a range of free help and advice to support owners.
Cost-of-living: In 2023, around a fifth of survey takers were considering cheaper dog food. And 31% of owners who’d been to training classes were thinking of cutting back due to costs. Since then, we’ve donated one million doggy dinners through our foodbank partners, and offered discounted training classes for over 500 dogs.
Dog behaviour: Our surveys have shown that many owners face behaviour issues with their pooches. Sadly, these issues can sometimes lead to the dog being given up. 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. In September 2024, the government announced the Renter’s Rights Bill. Currently in the process of becoming law in England, the bill will mean that landlords won’t be able to unreasonably refuse a private tenant's request to have a pet.

Want to know more?

Take a look at the results from the National Dog Survey 2024

People's Postcode Lottery

Sponsors the National Dog Survey

Postcode Lottery players have raised over £26m for Dogs Trust.

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 …

Who is sponsoring the survey?

In 2025, for the first time, People’s Postcode Lottery is happy to be the exclusive sponsor of our annual National Dog …

In 2025, for the first time, People’s Postcode Lottery is happy to be the exclusive sponsor of our annual National Dog Survey.

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £26 million for Dogs Trust since 2013. This has allowed us to find forever homes for over 100,000 dogs. Players have also helped pay for vital roles at rehoming centres nationwide. These include vet nurses, canine carers and even maintenance teams. New rehoming centres have been built and older centres have been refurbished — all thanks to Postcode Lottery players.

Funding is awarded by Postcode Animal Trust.

Discover how players of People's Postcode Lottery support Dogs Trust.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …