TOP ‘PET’ PEEVES OF DOG OWNERS IN US

While dogs bring great happiness to their owners, the canine-human bond presents its fair share of challenges. If you don’t have friends or family to help with dog sitting, your travel plans can become complicated and expensive once you add in professional pet services. Plus, some undesirable canine behaviors—such as excessive drooling or shedding—can become a nuisance for some owners.

To explore nationwide pet peeves among dog owners, Forbes Advisor surveyed 10,000 owners with 200 participants from each state. By analyzing responses to 18 common annoyances, the survey unveils the unique—and inconvenient—challenges faced by dog owners across the United States.

Nationally, dog owners’ primary pet peeve is having to find a dog sitter when heading out of town, topping the list for dog owners in 43 states.

The second most common pet peeve is also travel-related, focusing on the difficulty of finding pet-friendly hotels while on the road. A study from Forbes Advisor highlighted that a mere five percent of hotels in the 100 most-populated U.S. cities are pet-friendly.

Securing the third spot is America’s frustration with the obligation to walk or exercise their furry companions. This annoyance extends its impact to the state level, where it emerges as the primary concern in six states.

The fourth most common peeve is the cost of being a dog owner, with 23% of owners citing it as an annoyance. The survey also finds that dog owners spend the most money on dog food and veterinary care.

Only five percent of dog parents identified “when my dog jumps up on/lays on furniture or beds” as a pet peeve, making it the least selected concern.

“Pet” peeves by state

While the overwhelming majority of U.S. states (43) reported that finding a sitter when going out of town was their top annoyance, it was most popular among dog owners in California (63% of dog owners in the state selected this option).

Georgia was the only state where finding dog-friendly hotels ranked as the top pet peeve, with 39% of dog owners selecting it as their top annoyance. However, a higher number of respondents in Florida (59%), California (45%) and Alaska (40%) identified finding dog-friendly hotels as a pet peeve.

Tennessee dog owners seem to be the most resilient when it comes to pet peeves regarding their dogs, as the state’s top annoyance was having to find a sitter for their dog when traveling (20%), compared to the high of 60% in Iowa for this top pet peeve.

Although checking a dog for ticks was the fourth least popular pet peeve (selected by just eight percent of respondents nationwide), dog owners in Delaware selected this option as an annoyance more than respondents in any other state (21%). Ticks are common across the state and are active year-round, not just during prime tick seasons. The state’s travel website warns ticks will readily bite dogs.

Top ten “pet” peeves of dog owners nationwide

1. Having to find a sitter when I go out of town and can’t bring my dog with me (37%)
2. Having to find dog-friendly hotels when on vacation (24%)
3. Having to walk/exercise my dog (including playing fetch, going to a dog park, going on hikes with my dog, etc.) (23%)
4. The cost of owning a dog (23%)
5. Excessive barking (20%)
6. Excessive shedding (17%)
7. Having to pick up my dog’s waste (15%)
8. Having to take my dog to the veterinarian (13%)
9. When my dog dirties the house/furniture (11%)
10. When my dog jumps on me or others (10%)