More than half of the 12,000 dog owners across Australia let their furry friends sleep in the sheets – and Katie Anderson is one of them.
Subiaco’s mum of two cute children – and beloved dachshunds Watson and Matilda – said her dogs were treated like any other family member.
“Our dogs sleep in our bed, on the sofa, under the sheets,” Ms. Anderson said.
The 2022 Great Australian Dog survey, conducted by dog food company Scratch, found that 65% of dogs sleep in their owners’ bedrooms.
Of these, 73% are allowed on the bed and 56% sleep in the sheets.
He also revealed that three-quarters of Australians think it’s time for dogs to be allowed on planes – and Ms.Anderson agrees.
“We had Watson when we were living overseas in Canada, we took him on the plane with us in our hand luggage,” he said.
“We went to New York for a weekend and they have dog friendly hotels there.
“He came to everything with us. We took him to the pubs, he walked around the hotel, at the airport there was a dog toilet with fake grass and a fire hydrant your dog could urinate on.
“It was very well organized for people traveling with dogs, very different from here.”
While the survey found that dog owners were less interested in having children, Ms. Anderson said having dogs is a “stepping stone” for children.
Most dog owners spend between $ 1,000 and $ 4,000 on their pet each year, and 73% buy their dog a new toy at least every two months.
Pet owners said the biggest challenge was finding a dog sitter when they leave.