Dogs, Latin America's Favorite Pet

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil are the three countries in the world with the highest population of dogs, followed by Russia and the United States. People in Asia, on the other hand, are far less likely to have pets. However, dogs are Latin America’s favorite pet.

If we analyze the world population, we’ll see that more than half (56%) of the world’s population has at least one pet at home. Dogs are the Latin America’s favorite pet, those in Russia and France prefer cats.

Latin America’s favorite pet

Latin America is also the region that shows the greatest number of pet owners in general (80%). Then comes Russia where almost three-quarters (73%) of the population own pets, and the USA with 70% of the population owning pets.

The Argentinian website Taringa carried out research to find out if people prefer their pets to other people. 67% prefer their pet to their best friend, 37% feel more affection for their pet than for their family and 35% even said they prefer their pet to their partner!

Another research company, Opina América Latina, did a different type of research to find Latin America’s favorite pet. They wanted to find out how much importance Latin Americans give to their pets and the efforts they make for their well-being. Almost 70% choose special food products for their animals. In addition to that, many people said they buy their pets luxury items like clothes, technological devices, insurance, etc.

Some dog breeds in Latin America

Columbian Fino Hound, from Venezuela

This dog is the result of several crosses. Its large size will certainly impress anyone who sees it. However, he also looks quite sweet thanks to his expressive eyes.

This breed is very important in Venezuela’s history. Simón Bolivar, while trying to gain independence for Venezuela, adopted one of these dogs.

Ecuadorian Hairless Dog

This is a hairless dog breed originally from the Santa Elena Peninsula in Ecuador. It’s currently the rarest of the hairless dogs.

Peruvian Hairless Dog

This breed’s body temperature is between three and four degrees Celsius greater than most people’s. This is due to his lack of hair. The increase in body temperature balances out the heat he loses through his skin. This dog has been recognized as a national Peruvian legacy.

Brazilian Mastiff

This animal is admired for its courage, firmness, power and aggressiveness when it deals with strangers. However, he’s also known for his nobility, his ability to defend his family, and the affection he shows towards them.

When people choose a certain breed of dog, it says a lot about their personality. Specialists have carried out research that shows that people who define themselves as ‘dog people’ are extroverted, energetic, and lively people.

Argentina: pet lovers

Argentina also leads the ranking of dog ownership per family with 66%. Therefore, dogs are Argentinians’ favorite pet. In fact, 1 in every 3 of these homes actually have at least two dogs.

Among the Argentine cities with the greatest number of dogs, Mendoza is the leader, with a percentage of dogs per household of almost 70%. On the other hand, Buenos Aires is the city with the lowest number of dogs per household (58%).

As for cats, the average is 26%, with Rosario being the city with the highest percentage (28%). On average, people have 1 feline per household and half of those homes will also have a dog.

The data from the survey confirms that Argentine pets are as much a part of the family as their owners are. 40% of dogs spend most of their time inside the house and the percentage of indoor cats is a bit higher. About 46% of larger cats live exclusively in the home. 

Argentinians love their pets’ company, both dogs and cats. They consider their pets to be members of the family, and in 15% of cases, they’ll refer to them as their ‘child.’