Irish dog owners have ranked companionship as the thing they love most about their pets in a Dogs Trust survey for International Dog Day.
Results from the charity’s 2025 Dog Census found that companionship is the number one thing people love about their dogs, with 92 per cent of respondents choosing this.
Unconditional love followed closely behind at 90 per cent, while the positive impact dogs have on our mental health (70 per cent) and physical health (50 per cent) also featured highly.
While most people agree dogs are adorable, their appearance ranked much lower, with just 29 per cent of respondents choosing it as one of the things they love most about their furry friend.
The findings suggest that for dog lovers across Ireland, it’s not simply how their dogs look that makes them special, but the companionship, connection and joy they bring to their lives.
Dogs Trust also took to social media to find out how owners most enjoy...
