Dogs and Dog Parks On the Rise

J. Kirby Snideman
CDS Community Development Strategies

According to recent data, the number of households with at least one dog is on the rise. As a result, communities around the country are making room for dog parks. In some cases, playgrounds are even being replaced to accommodate for the growing canine demand. This should come as no surprise, given the fact that around 2010, the number of households with a dog surpassed the number of households with children.  

The author and his dog, Parley, a Red and White Irish Setter

​In addition to having more dogs, households are spending more money on them. While the percentage of households owning a dog increased by roughly 6% from 2005 to 2015, total U.S. consumer spending on pets nearly doubled, going from just over 36 billion to a projected 60 billion over the same period. A significant portion of that pet spending is dog related.

Not only are the number of dog owning households increasing, but dog owners have become increasingly vocal. Jurisdictions around the country have been responsive. In the 100 largest cities the number of dog parks have increased from roughly 420 in 2005 to more than 650 in 2015, a 53% rise. 

Where are these dog parks being built? Below are two lists with data from 2015, the first showing the top ten cities by number of dog parks, the second showing the top ten cities by number of dog parks per capita.

What's the future of dog ownership? Should cities continue invest public dollars in dog parks? Should private developers consider dog parks as an attractive neighborhood amenity when building in a competitive market? Well, it really depends on what city you're talking about. But nationally, some new trends will likely take dog ownership in a different direction.

My best guess is that the number of U.S. households that own a dog will continue to increase, but the percentage overall may not increase by much--if any. The last 10-20 years have seen a rise in the percentage of dog owning households due in no small part to the increase in single member and childless households, particularly among the white non-Hispanic population. A national survey conducted in 2011 showed that white non-Hispanic households had the highest percentage of pet ownership at just over 60%. Hispanic households had the next highest pet ownership rate at roughly 40%. Asian and black / African American households were even lower (the results of that survey are shown in the chart below). Dog ownership is closely correlated, although at a lower percentage. The Pew Research Center conducted a separate survey showing dog ownership in 2010 at 45% for white non-Hispanics, 26% for Hispanics, and 20% for black/African Americans. 

According to projections from the U.S. Census, over the next fifty years white non-Hispanic households are expected to grow by only 1%, whereas other groups are projected to grow by much more. If present racial/ethnic preferences persist, dog ownership rates would be expected to stop increasing, and perhaps even decline. Also working against dog ownership is the fact the the U.S. population is becoming older and more urban over time, two characteristics that coincide with the lowest rates of dog ownership.   

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​About the author: Not only is Kirby Snideman a certified Urban Planner, but he is also a dog owner, part time dog trainer, and has been to dozens of dog parks in several states. He has also participated in the design of dog parks in the past. Below is a video of his dog Parley catching a frisbee at the Millie Bush Dog Park in Houston, Texas.