UK dog owners to spend £213 million on their pets this Christmas

How much are we spending and giving to our pooches around 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? And just how far are people willing to pamper their dogs this holiday?

Protectivity have done some research with dog owners across the UK and the results can be found here.

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. So if you want to know the most high maintenance pooch during Christmas and whether Northern or Southern regions spend the most, take a look at the results here.

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?

Our 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:

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.

Clare Hamilton Vet and Managing Director at Hamilton Specialist Referrals comments: “However hard it may be to resist those big brown eyes staring up at you from under the Christmas table, it is really important to understand that our dogs really shouldn’t be sharing our festive foods.

“Anything that may contain raisins, grapes, chocolate, macadamias, onions, alcohol or bones could lead to a very upset tummy or even worse pancreatitis. Remember to keep your dog away from any foods their stomach is not used to digesting and save yourself a trip to the vet this Christmas”

Sean Walsh, spokesperson at Protectivity Insurance comments: “Whilst we all know that over time a dog becomes an integral part of the family, with many seeing their dog as more than just a pet, the amount of money we are spending as a nation on our dogs, particularly around Christmas, is astounding.

“With many claiming they would spend more on their dog than their partner (a risky move!), and admitting they will be letting their dog indulge on their own Christmas dinner, it’s safe to say we will certainly have some very happy pooches across the country this Christmas!”

How much will you be pampering your beloved pooch this Christmas?

For more information take a look here:

https://www.protectivity.com/spoilt-dogs-christmas/