Wagging tails, smiley faces and adorable eyes—it is little surprise that dogs find it easy to make friends. But a new survey has revealed that American dog owners believe their pets have better social lives than they do.
A survey by Talker Research on behalf of Camp Bow Wow asked 2,000 dog owners aged 25 and over about their pets’ lives.
When asked whether they agree with the statement, “My dog hangs out with their dog friends more than I hang out with my friends,” more than six in 10 (63 percent) U.S. dog owners said they agreed, including 34 percent who strongly agree and 29 percent who somewhat agree.
According to the same survey, most dogs aren’t just social—they have full-on friend groups. Nearly three in four dog owners (73 percent) said their dog has at least one dog friend, with 27 percent saying their pet has three or more.
These aren’t occasional encounters either, 37 percent of owners say their dog hangs out with their canine companions at least once a week, and 14 percent report multiple weekly meetups. Whether it’s at the dog park, on walks, or at pet-friendly events, it seems our four-legged friends are living active, connected social lives.
“Dogs are just like us, being able to see other dogs and interact with them on a regular basis does so much good for their mental and emotional wellbeing, and it makes their parents happier, too,” said Camp Bow Wow’s animal health and behavioral expert Erin Askeland.
How Many Americans Are Lonely?
For the humans though, there is a serious undertone. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Connection, nearly half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, with particularly high rates among young and older populations. The advisory highlights that social disconnection increases the risk of premature death by 26 percent to 29 percent, a health impact comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
This so-called epidemic of loneliness is fueled by long-term trends such as shrinking social networks, declining in-person interactions, and the rise of single-person households, which now make up nearly 30 percent of U.S. households, up from just 13 percent in 1960. Time spent with friends has dropped dramatically—down 20 hours per month since 2003—while time spent alone has climbed steadily.
The survey also revealed a clear generational divide in how dog owner’s rated their own social lives. Younger generations were far more likely to agree that their dogs are the more socially active ones in the household. Among Gen Z dog owners, a striking 81 percent said their dogs spend more time with friends than they do. Millennials weren’t far behind, with 71 percent agreeing with the statement.
By contrast, only 45 percent of Baby Boomers and just 23 percent of the Silent Generation felt the same way.
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American dog owners aged 25 and older who own fewer than four dogs; the survey was commissioned by Camp Bow Wow and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Apr. 21 and Apr. 28, 2025.
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