Australian Dog Facts, Statistics and Trends: 2026

Key Dog Statistics in Australia for 2026

If you only want the big headline numbers about dogs in Australia, start here. These are the statistics journalists and researchers cite most often — and they paint a clear picture of just how important dogs are in Australian life.

• 49.3% of Australian households own at least one dog, representing about 5.24 million homes.¹
• Australia is home to approximately 7.3 million pet dogs.²
• 73% of Australian households own at least one pet.³
• Australians spent $21.3 billion on pets in 2025.⁵
• Pet food accounted for $9.8 billion of Australian pet spending.⁵
• Dog-owning households spend an average of $2,520 per year on their dogs.⁷
• 96% of Australian dogs have been vaccinated at least once.⁸
• 87% of Australian dogs are microchipped.⁹
• 74% of Australian dogs are desexed.⁹
• 9,691 Australians were hospitalised due to dog bites in 2023–24.¹²
• 70% of dog owners walk or exercise their dog every day.²¹
• 23,853 dogs were adopted through PetRescue partner organisations in 2023–24.⁴

Dog Ownership in Australia

Australians are famously pet-obsessed, and dogs remain the country’s most popular companion animal. Surveys consistently show that nearly half of all households share their home with at least one dog — which helps explain why dog parks, beaches and walking trails are such a big part of Aussie culture.

• 49.3% of Australian households own at least one dog, representing about 5.24 million homes.¹
• Australia has approximately 7.3 million pet dogs nationwide.²
• 73% of Australian households own at least one pet of any kind.³
• PetRescue estimates about 6.37 million pet dogs live in Australia.⁴
• Dog-owning households have an average of 1.4 dogs each.¹

Why numbers sometimes differ

Dog population estimates vary depending on how the data is collected. Household surveys (like the Pets in Australia report) typically produce higher estimates than rescue-sector or adoption datasets, which only capture a portion of the overall pet population.

Spending on Dogs in Australia

Owning a dog isn’t cheap — and Australians are spending more than ever on their pets. From quality food to veterinary care and parasite prevention, the cost of keeping dogs healthy and happy contributes to a multi-billion-dollar industry.

• Australians spent $21.3 billion on pets in 2025.⁵
• Pet food alone accounted for $9.8 billion of this spending.⁵
• Veterinary services accounted for $1.9 billion of pet spending.⁵
• Australians spent $1.0 billion on flea, worm and tick treatments.⁶
• Pet insurance spending reached $1.0 billion.⁶
• Dog-owning households spend an average of $2,520 per year caring for their dogs.⁷

Dog Health in Australia

Most Australian dog owners take preventive health seriously. Vaccination rates are high, and the majority of dogs are both microchipped and desexed. However, rising veterinary costs are starting to influence how often some owners seek care.

• 96% of Australian dog owners report vaccinating their dog at least once.⁸
• 77% of Australian dogs were vaccinated within the previous year.⁸
• 74% of Australian dogs are desexed.⁹
• 87% of Australian dogs are microchipped.⁹
• 14% of dog owners have deferred veterinary visits because of cost pressures.¹⁰

Owner attitudes toward preventive care

Even though vaccination rates remain high, opinions about ongoing vaccines vary.

• 23% of Australian pet owners believe annual vaccinations are unnecessary once pets have received their initial puppy or kitten shots.²²

Dog obesity

Weight issues are becoming more common among pets worldwide.

• A veterinary survey found 41% of dogs examined in Australian practices were overweight or obese.²³

Veterinary Care & Owner Satisfaction

Despite cost pressures, most Australians trust their vet and rate the quality of care highly. Veterinarians remain one of the most important sources of advice on pet health, nutrition and preventive medicine.

• 87% of Australian pet owners rate their veterinarian’s care at 7 out of 10 or higher.¹¹

Dog Behaviour & Safety

Serious dog attacks are relatively rare compared with the total dog population, but they remain a public health issue tracked by hospitals and local governments.

• 9,691 Australians were hospitalised due to dog bites in 2023–24.¹²
• The national hospitalisation rate from dog bites was 36.1 per 100,000 people in 2023–24.¹²
• In South Australia alone, councils recorded 2,349 dog attacks or harassment incidents in 2022–23.¹³

Dog Registration, Microchipping & Desexing

Local councils across Australia manage dog registration and identification programs. These systems help reunite lost dogs with their owners and support responsible pet ownership.

• 311,653 dogs were registered on South Australia’s Dogs and Cats Online database in 2022–23.¹⁴
• 96% of registered dogs in South Australia were microchipped.¹³
• 73% of registered dogs in South Australia were desexed.¹³

Dog Adoption & Shelter Trends

Every year thousands of dogs enter shelters due to abandonment, straying or owners being unable to care for them. Rescue organisations and shelters work hard to find these dogs new homes.

• RSPCA shelters received 17,468 dogs in 2023–24.¹⁵
• 7,092 of those dogs were rehomed.¹⁵
• 3,940 dogs were reclaimed by their owners.¹⁵
• 2,842 dogs were euthanased in RSPCA shelters in 2023–24.¹⁵
• Rescue organisations using the PetRescue platform rehomed 23,853 dogs in 2023–24.⁴

Dog Ownership Culture in Australia

Dogs are deeply woven into everyday Australian life — from morning beach walks to evening strolls around the neighbourhood.

• 70% of dog owners walk or exercise their dog every day.²¹
• 56% of dog owners say companionship is the main reason they got a dog.¹

Popular Dog Names in Australia

Dog naming trends change every year, but some names keep popping up in parks across the country.

• “Luna” was among the most popular female dog names in Australia in 2025.¹⁶
• “Teddy” was among the most popular male dog names in Australia in 2025.¹⁷

Surprising Pet Facts

Some of the most interesting statistics about dogs come from looking at the bigger picture of pets in Australia overall.

• Australia had approximately 31.6 million pets in 2025.¹⁸
• The country has more pets (31.6 million) than people (about 27.5 million).¹⁹
• 23% of pet owners have surrendered a pet to family, friends or a shelter when they could no longer care for it.²⁰