This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

07

Feb

Last Updated: 07/02/2025
Community
Community

Harrogate named as one of the UK's biggest dog hotspots

by Robert Caulfield

| 07 Feb, 2025
Comment

0

new-research-reveals-uk-dog-hotspots
Credit: Dogs Trust

Harrogate has been named as one of the biggest dog hotspots in the UK.

New "groundbreaking" research by two universities and the charity Dogs Trust revealed Harrogate ranks joint third in a table of dog density, with 7.4 dogs per 20 people in the town.

Telford topped the list, with 8.2 dogs per 20 people, followed by Darlington at 8.0. Harrogate and Swansea were next, with scores of 7.4.

The lowest densities of dog ownership were found in six areas of London, where for every 20 people there was approximately one dog.

dogs-per-20-people

The number of dogs per 20 people per area. Credit: Dogs Trust

The research found the national dog population to be around 13 million.

Previous estimates in 2019 put the population between 9 million and 11.5 million, up to 4 million lower than the latest figure.

Of the 13 million dogs, 83% of them live in England; the south-east and north-west are the most heavily populated canine areas.

A total of 9.1% of the UK's dogs live in Scotland, 5.8% in Wales and 2.1% in Northern Ireland.

figure_1-dog-density-per-region-uk-2019_2024-12-16

Dog count per region in the UK. Credit: Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust described the research as a “game-changer” for understanding dogs and ensuring they receive the correct individual care.

It allows researchers to monitor shifts in breed popularity over time and consider the welfare implications of any changes.

Dr Kirsten McMillan, deputy head of research at Dogs Trust, said:

The UK is well known for being a nation of dog lovers, but it turns out we may have significantly underestimated how many dogs are out there by over four million! 

This inaccuracy can have serious implications as it affects important statistics, like how many dogs of different breeds or sizes live in certain regions, how the dog population grows each year, and the overall trends in dog ownership.

This new study is the most comprehensive analysis of the dog population in the UK to date. It's packed with valuable insights for everyone involved in dog welfare and our friends within the welfare sector, veterinary care, epidemiological, and business fields. 

StarPure Gym to open in Knaresborough tomorrowStarMajor new backer to fight 'dictatorial' council over Harrogate Station Gateway scheme