Data: Australian dog owners split over daycare use

Over half (50.4%) of Australian pet owners use daycare for their dogs, according to the Dog Socialisation Survey and Statistics 2025 report by insurance firm Budget Direct.

Almost a third (32.3%) do so occasionally or when required, with those aged between 38 and 47 leading at 36.8%.

Those who do so most frequently, i.e., a few times a week, make up only 5.1%, with owners aged 18 to 27 especially likely to do so. And only 8.2% do so once a week, a frequency that is also dominated by pet owners in the same age range.

In addition, almost 1 in 20 owners (4.8%) do so once a month, a share led by owners aged 28 to 37.

Almost 5 out of 10 respondents (49.6%) in the Budget Direct survey do not use daycare for their dogs. Among this group, the proportion increases with age, suggesting that older owners may rely less on daycare services.

The survey, conducted online in May 2025, involved 1,002 participants aged 18 and over.

The importance of socialization

Necessity is the biggest driver of demand: over a third (34%) of respondents say they put their dogs in daycare when they need someone to look after them when they are away.

Then come social needs: 13.6% do so specifically to socialize their dogs. Only 5.3% do so to train their dogs, and 3.9% say their dogs have a best friend at the daycare.

Nearly 3 in 10 Australian pet owners (29.7%) say they prioritize socialization activities for their dogs to improve their mental health. This is most common among younger pet owners (18-27), at 40.7%.

A matter of priorities

On the other hand, 41% of those surveyed aged 68-75 prioritize socialization activities for their dogs because they feel very comfortable around other people and animals (41%).

Across all ages, over a quarter (25.5%) share the same sentiment.

Meanwhile, about 2 in 10 (19.4%) say socialization is important because they can’t leave their pets isolated all the time, while 14.7% say their dog is an extension of themselves, reflecting their own identity and lifestyle.

Attitudes toward pet leave

The Dog Socialisation Survey and Statistics 2025 also found that nearly 4 in 10 (36.8%) Australians have taken sick leave from work because of their pets. This is most common among pet owners aged between 28 and 37.

However, the majority (66.3%) work at companies that do not allow pet-related leave, most often observed in South Australia and Queensland. Only 8.6% are entitled to pet leave at the workplace, but over a quarter (25.1%) would like to have such a benefit.

When asked whether, given the option of pet leave at work, 52% say they would use it when necessary, while 17.4% would do so without hesitation. However, over 3 in 10 (30.6%) say they would not use it, reflecting a lower perceived importance of pet leave.