Dog owners are happier than cat owners, according to pet selfies

The benefits of having a pet are backed by academia, with a myriad of studies proving how having a furry friend can make us not only happier but fitter and healthier too. But does where you live in the world and the type of pet you own have any bearing on just how happy you appear?

Using AI tools, we analysed more than 250k images of pet owners on Instagram and Google Images to find out where in the world the happiest dog, cat, and rabbit owners can be found online, and where owning a pet makes you happier than the average person. 

Petplan has also provided a list of the top physical and psychological benefits of having a pet which can be found at the bottom of this email.

Which pet has the happiest owners?

While everyone might have a personal preference for either dogs or cats; we've discovered that one pet, in particular, takes the crown for making their owners appear the happiest online. 

To find out which pet owner is the happiest, we analysed captions of Instagram posts using the Al tool SentiStrength, which analyses pieces of text and assesses the level of positivity present. Sentistrength gives a score between 1 and 5 on the positivity scale, with a caption that scores 2 or above suggesting a high level of positivity.

Our analysis found that 67.9% of the time, Insta posts made by dog owners were registered as positive - higher than the percentage of positive cat owners (64.7%) - suggesting dogs make you happier than cats.

The countries with the happiest dog owners

Looking at images with the hashtag #dogowner on Instagram and for the key phrase 'dog owner' on Google Images, the analysis showed that, on average, dog owners in Brazil are happier than dog owners in any other OECD country, registering an average happiness score of 94.2. Dog owners in the Netherlands are the next happiest, with an average happiness score of 91.4. 

Country	Average happiness score
Brazil	94.2
Netherlands	91.4
New Zealand	89.4
South Africa	85.4
Australia	84.3
Chile	83.8
Argentina	81.8
Poland	80.4
Norway	75.6
UAE	75.1

The countries with the happiest cat owners

The search of cat owner photos found that cat owners in New Zealand generate an average happiness score of 89.4 – higher than any other country in our analysis. Sweden's cat owners are the second happiest on Instagram, with an average happiness score of 88.1.

Country	Average happiness score
New Zealand	89.4
Sweden	88.1
Italy	87.8
Slovakia	87.3
Canada	78.2
Belgium	77.0
Australia	74.6
Ireland	71.7
South Africa	71.0
UAE	70.7

The countries with the happiest rabbit owners

The happiest rabbit owners in the world can be found in the Netherlands: the rabbit owner images we found there generated an average happiness score of 78.7, based on AI emotional analysis of the faces featured. Sweden takes the second spot, with an average happiness score of 72.3, followed by the Czech Republic (65). 

Country	Average happiness score
Netherlands	78.7
Sweden	72.3
Czech Republic	65.0
Ireland	62.2
Norway	58.3
Argentina	56.4
Slovakia	48.5
India	46.7
Indonesia	41.5
Poland	32.5

The benefits of having a pet

Petplan has put together a list of the top physical and psychological benefits of having a pet. Of course, you shouldn't rush into getting a pet if it won't suit your lifestyle. You should always seriously consider the time, money, and commitment involved in getting a pet before you begin your search for a furry friend.

1. You'll get fitter and healthier

Whether it's taking your dog for a daily walk, playing with your cat, or running after a rabbit, having a pet naturally requires you to become more active. Most dogs, for example, will require one or two moderate walks a day, with exercise requirements varying depending on the breed of the dog, its age, and its health.

Walking is not only necessary to keep your dog physically healthy and mentally stimulated, but it will help you to meet your daily exercise requirements, too. Dog owners are also more likely to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels than non-dog owners, and there's research to suggest that being around animals can help build a stronger immune system too. 

2. You'll meet new people

If you're someone who finds it hard to meet new people, getting a pet can widen your friendship circle. Owning a dog, for example, offers lots of opportunities to connect with other people, from meeting other dog owners on walks, mingling at puppy training classes, or simply stopping to chat with friendly admirers of your pooch. Socialising with other dogs and humans increases your dog's happiness and confidence too and is key for a puppy's healthy development.

3. Companionship

One of the most obvious benefits of having a pet is the companionship they offer. A 2019 study found that the top reason that people get pets is for their company and that nearly 9 in 10 people see their pets as part of the family. Particularly for people that live alone and the elderly, it's the companionship of a pet that can make all the difference to mental and physical wellbeing.

Having evolved for millennia alongside us, dogs, in particular, thrive on human companionship, with the dog-human bond proving similar to how human children bond with their parents.

4. Your mental health may improve

You don't even need to take your pet for a walk to feel the physical and mental health benefits of having a pet. We've all felt the urge to cuddle a particularly fluffy dog – and it turns out that just stroking your pet is enough to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and release oxytocin, the feel-good hormone that helps you bond with your pet.

Cuddling with your pet is comforting for them, as well. Lapdogs, for example, are so-named because of their love of cuddling up on a nice, warm lap. Do keep in mind your pet's personality, though – some animals aren't comfortable with being cuddled and stroked too much or at all. If you're a cuddler and in the market for a new furry friend, make sure you consider an animal's temperament before making a commitment.

5. It builds a routine

Part of having a pet is having a solid routine built around tasks like feeding, trips to the toilet, walking, or cleaning out cages, hutches, and litter boxes. Not only are routines particularly helpful for people with autism, stress, or anxiety, but pets thrive on routine and will feel more relaxed knowing when to expect food, walks, and toilet breaks.

6. You can find a new hobby

Getting a pet can open up a new world of hobbies that will make both of you feel accomplished, bonded, and more confident. If you have a dog (or even rats), you can teach them new tricks and show them off to your friends and family. Tricks help to instil confidence and obedience in your pet while also improving their cognitive skills and memory.