The 10 Best American Cities For Dog Lovers

Around 54 million households in America have at least one dog, making dogs the most popular pet in the country. (Sorry, cat lovers – only around 43 million households in the United States have at least one cat.) While dogs are popular everywhere, certain parts of the country seem to attract more dog-lovers than other places.  Realtor.com recently came up with a list of the top 10 cities in the United States for dog lovers.

They looked at data from the 150 largest metro ares in the country and considered factors such as the percentage of homes on realtor.com with dog specific features (like doggy doors); pet services per capita (such as boarding, photography, stores, veterinarians, and dog walkers); percentage of restaurants that allow dogs; percentage of realtor.com rental listings that allow dogs; Google searches for “dogs;” and state dog ownership rates. They then included only one city per state for geographic diversity. After sifting through all that data, here’s their list for the top 10 dog-loving cities.

#1 – Austin, TX

According to the report, more than 200 restaurants and 60 hotels allow dogs in the Austin metro area. From places to do dog yoga (Austin Doga) to a place to swim in a lake with your dog (Red Bud Isle), Austin has a plethora of things to do with your dog. It’s also the largest no-kill city in the country.

#2 – Reno, NV

Reno sees plenty of colorful characters as the gateway to both Lake Tahoe and Burning Man, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) says that nearly all breeds are popular there. It also hosts the DogFest Walk ’n Roll, a fundraiser for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI).

#3 – Salinas, CA

More than 1 in 5 restaurants in Salinas allow dogs, and some of the food they offer for dogs sounds good enough for humans to eat! SUR at The Barnyard, for example, offers “Black and Blue” charred rare filet mignon tips with a wedge of Point Reyes blue cheese when you feel like spoiling your furry friend.

#4 – Denver, CO

With hikes in the foothills less than an hour drive from Denver and several greenways and greenbelts around town, Denver is the perfect spot for active dog owners. Larger breeds such as the Bernese Mountain Dog, Siberian Husky, and Great Dane are popular there, and there’s a yearly dog show where you can see more than 150 dog breeds.

#5 – Portland, OR

The Portland area has 33 major off-leash areas, making it a dog lover’s paradise, and the Oregon Humane Society hosts Portland’s Next TopDog Model every year.

Here are the 5 cities that round out the top 10:

#6 – Seattle, WA

#7 – Oklahoma City, OK

#8 – Tucson, AZ

#9 – Ann Arbor, MI

#10 – Raleigh, NC

(H/T: Realtor)