Dogs in THIS UK city are the happiest, study reveals
Dog lovers at OnBuy Pet Supplies have created an index of six factors which can determine the level of happiness of our furry friends in different cities in the UK. The six factors analyse the number of parks, pet-friendly accommodations, pet shops, dog grooming places and dog vs cat population! These factors were added together in order to achieve an overall score for each city.
The cities with the happiest dogs:
The top five cities with the happiest dogs are Swansea (333), Plymouth (318), Manchester (318), Blackpool (304) and Belfast (286).
If you are a dog, you might want to convince your owners to move to Swansea! Whilst the city has a rather large population of cats (which has significantly lowered the overall score), the city has earned the highest score for the number of parks. Simultaneously, Swansea receives a great number of points for its plentiful dog-friendly accommodation and pet shops in the area.
In joint second place we find Plymouth and Manchester with a score of 318 points each. If your dog has a toxic relationship with cats we recommend Manchester where you can find a lower population of felines, however if your pet is partial to his monthly grooming, Plymouth is a great place for them.
Blackpool comes next with a score of 304 points. Whilst it might be hard to find dog-friendly accommodation there, there are a decent number of parks, pet shops and dog grooming places to make your pup feel fancy.
Lastly, in the top five we find Belfast with 286 points. Scoring the highest number of points for dog population, this city is great for social butterfly pets who will be able to make loads of four-legged friends.
The cities with the unhappiest dogs:
At the other end of the scale, the cities with the fewest pet-friendly facilities and scoring the lowest number of points are Oxford (39) Cambridge (45), Southend-on-Sea (69), Milton Keynes (71) and Bradford (84).
“It’s a dog’s life!” – some dogs in Oxford might say. The city scores the lowest number for pet shops, and it’s not doing great for the number of dog groomers and parks either.
In second place is Cambridge. While many visit the famous city for the prestigious university and historical value, few people know that the high number of cats is making the city a battle ground between the species. And with such a small population of dogs in the area it seems like the cats are winning!
Southend-on-Sea comes third, scoring only 69 points overall. Whilst dogs can be happy about the small number of cats in the area, the dog population is much lower and so are the number of pet shops and pet grooming places.
Milton Keynes (71 points) and Bradford (84 points) come fourth and fifth respectively, with rather low scores for the number of parks, pet shops, and grooming places, and a high score for the population of cats in the area.
How do we know our dog is unhappy and what to do about it, expert reveals!
To help us understand our pets and their needs more, OnBuy Pet Supplies got in contact with Natalia Ashton, author of Perfect Cocker Spaniel Guide.
“A happy dog has a dreamy soft gaze and relaxed eyelids, lips are loose, the forehead is wrinkle-free. The body is completely relaxed, the ears are floppy, and the tail is raised to the mid-level and wagging.
A happy dog will seek engagement with you by greeting you with great enthusiasm, initiating fun time, play bowing or bringing a toy. They will also blissfully snooze for hours often stretching out on their backs to take most of your sofa.”
And what about a stressed dog? “Surprisingly, one of the first signs is an exaggerated yawn. A stressed pooch will have tension in his body, try to avoid eye contact, have enlarged pupils, raised eyebrows or tension in his forehead and ears, which he is likely to keep pulled back or erected and pointy (depending on a breed and situation). Stressed dogs may start to destroy the furniture or rip out carpets as their way to relieve stress through chewing.
How to keep your pooch happy?
“Choose activities that suit your dog’s age to avoid overstimulation. Have at least one walk a day and allow your pooch to run and exercise depending on his age and physical abilities. Visit new places, especially if your dog is an adventurer and enjoys these activities. Let your pooch enjoy a safe chew or a stuffed toy - licking and chewing are really relaxing. Learn your dog’s habits - not every dog likes to be touched by strangers, some would rather share their time with people than dogs, others would prefer to avoid certain pooches or places.”
