Yesterday’s dog celebration got us thinking about the perfect pup for busy families—and science has answers!

Hope you spoiled your furry friends yesterday for National Dog Day, Froggy family! 🐕 If you’re one of those parents who spent yesterday scrolling through adorable dog photos while juggling work meetings and helping with homework, AND secretly wondering if your family should finally get that dog the kids have been begging for, we’ve got some fascinating research that might help you decide.

Yesterday’s National Dog Day celebration (August 26th) had us digging into some eye-opening research about what size dogs American families actually prefer. Spoiler alert: we’re a nation that likes our four-legged friends right in the middle!

Dogs Are Definitely Winning the Pet Wars

Let’s start with the big picture—if you feel like everyone you know has a dog, you’re not wrong! Nearly half of American households (45%) have a dog, compared to just 32% who own cats. For those keeping score in the eternal cats vs. dogs debate, dogs are clearly having their day (pun totally intended).

But here’s what’s really interesting for us busy parents: when you look at just pet owners, 74% have a dog and 51% have a cat. That overlap means plenty of families are going full-on pet parent mode with both!

The “Goldilocks Zone” of Dogs: Not Too Big, Not Too Small

Here’s where it gets really relevant for families like ours. A new poll by pet food brand Hill’s found that medium dogs (26 to 54 pounds) are America’s favorite size. Think golden retrievers, beagles, or cocker spaniels—dogs that are big enough to keep up with active kids but not so massive they’ll knock over your toddler or eat you out of house and home.

Only 25% of Americans say they’d want a big dog, and honestly, the reasons make perfect sense for our crazy-busy lives:

• Not enough room (hello, suburban reality!)
• Harder to travel with (because family vacations are complicated enough)
• Costs more to feed (our grocery bills are already through the roof)

The age factor is telling too—34% of people under 45 would get a big dog, compared to just 18% of people older than that. Translation: once you hit a certain age and realize your back isn’t what it used to be, wrestling a Great Dane on walks loses its appeal!

How We’re Actually Getting Our Dogs Might Surprise You

Here’s something that caught our attention: the most common way people get dogs isn’t from shelters or pet stores—it’s from friends and family members! A whopping 33% of dog owners got their last dog that way.

Shelters and breeders tie for second place at 24% each, followed by pet stores at 18%. About 10% found their dog as a stray—because sometimes love just walks up to your front door, right?

The cat situation is totally different, though. We’re more than twice as likely to adopt a stray cat (22%) when it “just strolled into their life off the street”. Classic cat behavior, honestly.

What This Means for Your Family

If you’ve been on the fence about adding a furry family member, the medium dog preference makes a lot of sense for our demographic. These dogs are:

• Perfect size for kids to handle without being overwhelming
• Manageable for busy parents who don’t have time for marathon walks
• Easier on the budget than their giant counterparts
• Great family companions without taking over your entire living space

Yesterday’s Dog Day: A Perfect Time to Reflect (Or Consider)

Yesterday’s National Dog Day celebration reminded us why this holiday is so special. Founded in 2004 by Colleen Paige, who chose August 26th because it was the day her family adopted their first dog when she was 10 years old, the day encourages people to recognize dogs in animal shelters, celebrate what dogs do for humans, and consider donating to local shelters.

Whether you spent yesterday celebrating your current four-legged family member with extra belly rubs or you’re seriously considering taking the plunge after seeing all those adorable social media posts, remember that 88.8% of dog owners view their pet as a member of the family.

So Froggy listeners, are you team big dog, small dog, or perfectly-in-the-middle dog? Let us know on our Facebook page—we love hearing about your fur babies!

Happy National Dog Day from all of us at Froggy 102.7! 🎵

Sources: Hill’s Pet Nutrition survey, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), National Dog Day Foundation