A question as old as time—are you a cat or dog person—has pitted the two preferences against each other, but now, a recent survey has found something that owners of each can agree on: getting a canine companion does make people happier
The research revealed that a majority of people that believe life is better with a dog—with cat owners agreeing.
Based on an online national survey of 2,250 adults, the polling found that 70 percent of Americans believe that those who own a dog seem happier than others.
The survey, conducted in June 2025, was completed by YouGov for Canine Companions, to celebrate the latter's 50th anniversary.
Canine Companions is a company that provides service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities, as well as facility dogs in professional work settings.
Forty-three percent of those surveyed own a dog, followed by 34 percent with a cat. The remaining participants stated they either owned another pet or none at all.
Dog owners overwhelmingly agreed that caring for a canine makes them happier, fills them with a sense of purpose and helps bring joy to others. But those on the feline side gave credit where credit is due: dogs make people smile.
About 72 percent of cat owners agreed that those who own a dog seem happier than others—perhaps giving credence to the claim that a dog is man's best friend.
Dogs provide their humans with unconditional love. Their companionship makes people feel less alone. Owning a dog often leads to improved health due to their encouraging movement, lowers blood pressure and raises your level of oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, an article from the American Kennel Club stated.
Owning a canine often gives people a sense of purpose and fulfillment, with 92 percent of cat owners and 94 percent of dog owners agreeing.
Those with canines might also notice a stress reduction. Newsweek previously reported that humans showed drastically lower stress levels after interacting with dogs.
However, owning a dog comes with responsibility. You need to feed and exercise them. They must receive enough mental and physical stimulation, including taking dogs on walks, playtime, hiking, swimming, trick training or enrichment toys.
But this added responsibility can positively impact their humans. Eighty-one percent of cat owners agreed that owning a dog helps people get out and engage in more social activities.
Pet parents also learn to place another living being's needs above their own, with 76 percent of cat owners agreeing that having a dog helps teach people how to be better humans.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.