REVEALED: The UK’s Most Pampered Pooches This Christmas

• Dog owners across the UK are collectively looking to spend, on average, £213,743,179 on gifts for their dogs this Christmas
• Nearly a third (30%) of dog owners have said they are likely to spend more on their pooch than their partner this Christmas, with men more likely to do so than women
• Dog owners aged 25-34 are most likely to spend more on their pooch than on their partner this Christmas with more than 2 in 5 (43%) stating this
• Almost two thirds (62%) dog owners will give their dogs some cooked Christmas dinner, with a fifth (20%) cooking their pooch their own Christmas meal

 

November 2018: Christmas is a festive, fun and giving time of year not just for us humans but four our furry little friends too. Brits are getting their pooches involved in the holiday season from gift giving to sharing that all important Christmas roast dinner. As a nation of dog lovers, are we favouring spoiling our dogs over our partners this holiday season?

 

With the dog population being at a staggering 8.9 billion and 24% of UK adults owning a dog, according to the PDSA, there is no surprise that being a part of the family has owners barking mad on treating and pampering their beloved pets, and with Christmas just around the corner it makes the perfect excuse to spoil your pooch.

 

In a recent poll of more than 1,000 dog owners, Protectivity have analysed how much people across the UK are willing to spend on their dog and subsequently the most pampered dogs this festive season.

 

Buying presents for relatives and friends around Christmas can sometimes be a tiresome task, with busy shopping centres or out of stock items online, getting the perfect gift can be a labour of love. When it comes to our dogs, how many of us our factoring them into our Christmas shopping? Who is pacing the pet store for the perfect Christmas toy or treat for their little (or big) pooch?

Research has shown that dog owners across the UK are collectively looking to spend a staggering £213,743,179 on gifts for their dog this Christmas, with 30% stating they are likely to spend more on their pooch than their partner this Christmas, with men more likely to do so than women. Londoners and dog owners aged 25-34 could be in the dog-house this Christmas, as 36% and 43% of 25-34 year olds stated they would be spending more on their dog than their partner this Christmas.

 

The saying ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ is a familiar one among many, but just how many people have done exactly that and bought a dog as a gift for Christmas? Protectivity’s research shows that 56% of dog owners have previously bought a dog as a gift for someone else for Christmas, or would consider doing so. Sheffield came out on top with 47% of dog owners from Sheffield having bought a dog as a Christmas present for someone else.

 

The study also reveals a huge amount of money across the UK is being spent on pooches this Christmas, but when it comes to cities Brighton takes the crown with dog owners looking to spend, on average £24 on gifts for their pooch this Christmas. That’s more than most may spend on a sibling!

 

The top ten cities spending the most on gifts for their pooch this Christmas can be found below:

Position	City	Average Spend £
1	Brighton	£24.30
2	Sheffield	£20.09
3	London	£17.80
4 =	Manchester & Nottingham	£17.09
5	Edinburgh	£16.70
6	Liverpool	£16.64
7	Leeds	£16.38
8	Cardiff	£16.30
9	Belfast	£16.29
10	Glasgow	£16.24

 

We all like to spoil our pets with treats now and again, but some dog owners are taking it that extra step further and even getting their pooch involved in their traditional Christmas dinner. 62% of dog owners claimed they will be giving a portion of their own Christmas dinner to their dog this year with a further 20% stating they will be making their pooch their own special dinner this Christmas. Dog owners from Brighton are the most keen to share their Christmas dinner with their pooch this year as 63% stated they would be giving their dog a portion of their festive dinner.