Nearly half of Americans don’t want pets in public places

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

YOUR DOG MAY BE YOUR BEST FRIEND, BUT AMERICANS SAY THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY BELONG EVERYWHERE.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICANS FROM TALKER RESEARCH FOUND NEARLY HALF WOULD BE IRRITATED TO SEE A DOG IN A RESTAURANT, AND 45 PERCENT DON'T WANT PETS IN GROCERY STORES.

COFFEE SHOPS, OFFICES AND AIRPLANES ALSO RANK HIGH ON THE LIST OF PLACES PEOPLE WOULD RATHER NOT SEE THEM.

AND OLDER AMERICANS DRAW A HARDER LINE – BABY BOOMERS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY AS GEN Z TO SAY PETS DON'T BELONG ON AIRPLANES.

SO... WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? WHAT'S ONE PLACE PEOPLE SHOULD LEAVE THEIR PETS AT HOME?

TOP 10 PLACES YOU SHOULDN’T BRING YOUR PET

1. Restaurants 48%
2. Grocery stores 45%
3. Doctor offices/hospitals 39%
4. Coffee shops 32%
5. Workplaces/office spaces 29%
6. Airplanes 27%
7. Arenas/stadiums 26%
8. Public transit 22%
9. Hotels 18%
10. Public beaches 18%

AMERICA’S TOP 10 FAVORITE DOG BREEDS

1. Golden retriever 21%
2. German shepherd 15%
3. Labrador retriever 15%
4. Chihuahua 10%
5. Siberian husky 10%
6. Beagle 8%
7. Shih tzu 8%
8. Yorkshire terrier 8%
9. Border collie 8%
10. Poodle 7%

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Aug. 13 and Aug. 19, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.