Dogs are man's best friend. There is no doubt about it and that is why World Dog Day is celebrated on July 21, because they are undeniably much more than just a pet. Whether it's a bichon maltese, a golden retriever or a great dane, these furry friends have won the hearts of many humans and they are becoming more popular to have at home. According to data from Statista, in 2022 there were more than 900 million dogs worldwide and about 471 million of them were pets.

Quite a few of them are here in the U.S. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the estimated population of pet dogs in the United States is expected to increase from 85 million to more than 100 million after a decade of steady increase. Approximately 65.1 million U.S. households currently own a dog.

French bulldogs are the country's most beloved dog breed

Americans have a clear favorite. As revealed by NBC, French bulldogs are the United States' current favorite breed. This was not the case until last year. The network pointed out that for more than three decades Americans' favorite breed was the labrador retriever, which now ranks second. They are followed by golden retrievers, German shepherds, poodles, bulldogs, rottweilers, beagles, basset hounds and German shorthaired pointers.

The number of pets in each state is also striking. According to Statista, 70% of households in Vermont have a pet (whether it is a dog, cat, fish, etc...). Indiana follows with 69% of households claiming to have a pet for companionship. Just behind are Oklahoma (65%), Ohio (62%), Tennessee (62%), Pennsylvania (61%), Oregon (50%) and Texas (43%). All of them spent a total of more than $136 billion on expenses, products and services to ensure that their pets were always well cared for. After all, man's best friend and all other pets deserve it.