
Dogs have more pals than we do - and have much better social lives
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AND A WHOPPING 59% OF GEN ZERS ALSO SAID THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO “HAVE A CHAT” WITH THEIR PET THAN A FELLOW HUMAN, COMPARED TO JUST OVER 42% FOR ALL OTHER AGE GROUPS 21:17, 26 May
2025Updated 21:17, 26 May 2025 Brits reckon their pet dog has more friends than they do. Some 39% think their pet has a “better social life” than them, a poll of 1,650 owners found. The
average human has three to five close friends, while the average dog has between six and nine “buddies” they meet regularly on walks. Gen Zers are most likely to think their dogs have more
pals than them. A total of 51% of those aged 18-26 said they felt their pooch was more likely to meet “new friends” than they were, compared with 38% of those over the age of 26. A whopping
59% of Gen Zers also said they were more likely to “have a chat” with their pet than a fellow human, compared to just over 42% for all other age groups. A spokesman for Wisdom Panel, which
carried out the poll, said: “It’s Gen Zers who are most likely to say their dogs have more social interaction than they do, with 51% saying that’s the case. A total of 59% in this age group
even say they will speak to their pet more than anyone else on a typical day.” Article continues below Alison Goodman, 23, of Maidstone, Kent, said her pooch Bruce had “far more friends”
than she did. She said: “I can count the number of friends I have on one hand, but Bruce has a bunch of pals, maybe 15 or 20 he regularly bumps into and plays with.”