Special Report

States Where People Love Dogs the Most and Least

Cheyenne Buckingham

Published: July 7, 2017 8:45 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 10:23 am

Whether you’re a canine lover or feline fanatic, one thing’s for certain: Dogs and cats are the most popular pets in America. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 36.5% of households have a dog, and 30.4% of households have a cat.

Notice that only 48 states were included in the AVMA survey as Alaska and Hawaii were excluded. Even without those two states, a whopping 43.3 million U.S. households are home to the nation’s nearly 70 million pups.

The region where the most dog-owning households reside is East South Central — which consists of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee — with nearly 6 million doggie-loving households. That’s close to half of all households in the region. New England, on the other hand, only has 2.2 million, or less than a third of households.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the data and ranked the states beginning with Massachusetts, the state with the fewest dog-owning households. Can you guess which state has the most?

Click here to see the states where people love dogs the most and least.

Methodology:

To identify the states where people love dogs the most and least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percentage of households that own dogs in each of the 48 contiguous U.S. states from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographic Sourcebook, the 2012 edition. The book contains the latest data available. The top five most popular dog breeds in each state was provided by purebred dog registry The American Kennel Club.

Source: Thinkstock

48. Massachusetts
> Dog-owning households: 23.6%
> Dog population: 850,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Boxers, Poodles

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Source: Thinkstock

47. Connecticut
> Dog-owning households: 28.3%
> Dog population: 507,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bulldogs, Poodles

Source: Thinkstock

46. New York
> Dog-owning households: 29.0%
> Dog population: 3.05 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

45. Rhode Island
> Dog-owning households: 29.3%
> Dog population: 161,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, Boxers

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Source: Thinkstock

44. Utah
> Dog-owning households: 29.4%
> Dog population: 410,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, French Bulldogs

Source: Ken Lund / Flickr

43. New Hampshire
> Dog-owning households: 30.3%
> Dog population: 212,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Siberian Huskies

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Source: Thinkstock

42. Maryland
> Dog-owning households: 30.8%
> Dog population: 915,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

41. Minnesota
> Dog-owning households: 31.9%
> Dog population: 934,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, English Springer Spaniels

Source: Thinkstock

40. Illinois
> Dog-owning households: 32.4%
> Dog population: 2.37 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, Beagles

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Source: Thinkstock

39. New Jersey
> Dog-owning households: 32.4%
> Dog population: 1.34 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

38. California
> Dog-owning households: 32.8%
> Dog population: 6.69 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers

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Source: Thinkstock

37. Pennsylvania
> Dog-owning households: 32.9%
> Dog population: 2.49 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

36. Iowa
> Dog-owning households: 33.4%
> Dog population: 610,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

35. Delaware
> Dog-owning households: 33.7%
> Dog population: 163,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Poodles

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Source: Thinkstock

34. Nebraska
> Dog-owning households: 33.8%
> Dog population: 374,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

33. Wisconsin
> Dog-owning households: 33.9%
> Dog population: 1.14 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, Beagles

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Source: Thinkstock

32. Michigan
> Dog-owning households: 34.6%
> Dog population: 2.04 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Siberian Huskies

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Source: Thinkstock

31. Maine
> Dog-owning households: 34.6%
> Dog population: 300,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, German Shorthaired Pointers

Source: Cecouchman / Wikimedia Commons

30. Virginia
> Dog-owning households: 35.4%
> Dog population: 1.7 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

29. Florida
> Dog-owning households: 35.7%
> Dog population: 4.21 million
> 5 most popular breeds: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

28. North Dakota
> Dog-owning households: 36.1%
> Dog population: 139,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies

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Source: Thinkstock

27. Washington
> Dog-owning households: 36.3%
> Dog population: 1.61 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Poodles

Source: Thinkstock

26. Louisiana
> Dog-owning households: 36.4%
> Dog population: 1.12 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Poodles

Source: Thinkstock

25. Ohio
> Dog-owning households: 36.6%
> Dog population: 2.73 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

24. Nevada
> Dog-owning households: 37.1%
> Dog population: 578,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

23. Vermont
> Dog-owning households: 37.7%
> Dog population: 142,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

22. South Carolina
> Dog-owning households: 38.6%
> Dog population: 1.19 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds

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Source: Thinkstock

21. Oregon
> Dog-owning households: 38.8%
> Dog population: 917,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs, Poodles

Source: Thinkstock

20. Wyoming
> Dog-owning households: 38.8%
> Dog population: 125,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

19. Indiana
> Dog-owning households: 39.9%
> Dog population: 1.62 million
> 5 most popular breeds: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Siberian Huskies

Source: Thinkstock

18. Arizona
> Dog-owning households: 40.1%
> Dog population: 1.8 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

17. Georgia
> Dog-owning households: 40.1%
> Dog population: 2.48 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

16. North Carolina
> Dog-owning households: 40.3%
> Dog population: 2.52 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers

Source: Wikimedia Commons

15. Montana
> Dog-owning households: 41.2%
> Dog population: 282,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, Poodles

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Source: Thinkstock

14. Kansas
> Dog-owning households: 42.3%
> Dog population: 774,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers

Source: Eleaf / Wikimedia Commons

13. Colorado
> Dog-owning households: 42.5%
> Dog population: 1.35 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

12. Idaho
> Dog-owning households: 42.7%
> Dog population: 357,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, Poodles

Source: Thinkstock

11. South Dakota
> Dog-owning households: 42.8%
> Dog population: 220,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Source: Thinkstock

10. Oklahoma
> Dog-owning households: 43.2%
> Dog population: 1.33 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers

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Source: Thinkstock

9. Texas
> Dog-owning households: 44.0%
> Dog population: 7.16 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

8. Tennessee
> Dog-owning households: 44.1%
> Dog population: 2.16 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

7. Alabama
> Dog-owning households: 44.1%
> Dog population: 1.41 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers

Source: Thinkstock

6. Mississippi
> Dog-owning households: 45.2%
> Dog population: 846,000
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Boxers

Source: Thinkstock

5. West Virginia
> Dog-owning households: 45.8%
> Dog population: 648,000
> 5 most popular breeds: German Shepherds, Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

4. Kentucky
> Dog-owning households: 45.9%
> Dog population: 1.53 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Beagles, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs

Source: Thinkstock

3. Missouri
> Dog-owning households: 45.9%
> Dog population: 1.98 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, French Bulldogs, Beagles, Bulldogs

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Source: Thinkstock

2. New Mexico
> Dog-owning households: 46.0%
> Dog population: 703,000
> 5 most popular breeds: German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Bulldogs, Poodles, Golden Retrievers

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Source: Thinkstock

1. Arkansas
> Dog-owning households: 47.9%
> Dog population: 1.1 million
> 5 most popular breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs