2022’s Best Cities for Dog Lovers

Our dogs love us unconditionally, but how well do our local communities reciprocate that love to our BFFs (Best Furry Friends)?

To mark National Dog Day on Aug. 26, LawnStarter sniffed out 2022’s Best Cities for Dog Lovers. 

We measured the puppy love in nearly 175 of the biggest U.S. cities based on 24 key indicators of dog-friendliness, such as housing, services, and care. We also looked at pawlicy favorability, access to pup-welcoming businesses, and affordability.

Check out the leaders of the pack (and the runts of the litter) in our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.

Contents

1. City Rankings
2. Highlights and Lowlights
3. Surprising Findings
4. Behind the Ranking
5. Final Thoughts: How to Give Back to Your Pup

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Overall Score	Housing Rank	Community Rank	Care Rank	Services Rank	Businesses Rank	Affordability Rank
1	Orlando, FL	53.908	12	60	13	1	16	65
2	Miami, FL	51.209	91	33	1	3	3	113
3	Las Vegas, NV	50.341	152	11	3	2	30	86
4	San Diego, CA	49.175	119	3	22	36	5	39
5	Austin, TX	48.552	6	15	78	27	1	32
6	Los Angeles, CA	46.997	147	1	29	86	32	83
7	Tampa, FL	46.885	17	29	43	7	20	34
8	Seattle, WA	46.386	84	6	62	38	4	13
9	Fort Collins, CO	46.109	53	58	4	5	65	42
10	Portland, OR	45.452	82	8	36	18	29	40
11	Colorado Springs, CO	45.233	41	30	12	10	46	64
12	Denver, CO	44.855	67	17	9	32	22	36
13	Fort Lauderdale, FL	44.81	49	96	27	4	6	27
14	Tucson, AZ	44.217	52	22	11	11	23	160
15	Knoxville, TN	43.731	5	87	8	6	59	158
16	Alexandria, VA	43.624	44	48	26	26	11	7
17	Chicago, IL	43.553	127	4	39	57	9	43
18	New York, NY	43.163	173	2	52	71	10	78
19	Scottsdale, AZ	42.285	143	21	35	31	2	9
20	Atlanta, GA	42.174	31	57	63	16	14	20
21	Tallahassee, FL	41.597	22	100	10	12	48	93
22	Nashville, TN	41.304	38	10	106	118	13	49
23	Lexington, KY	40.529	26	45	5	123	83	41
24	San Francisco, CA	40.459	171	5	23	74	18	14
25	Salt Lake City, UT	40.441	61	37	32	23	84	35
26	Birmingham, AL	40.364	13	103	2	24	64	168
27	Phoenix, AZ	40.173	114	9	91	45	15	94
28	Cincinnati, OH	39.485	59	62	16	17	42	121
29	Houston, TX	39.08	62	55	80	14	17	68
30	Minneapolis, MN	37.772	83	20	96	65	26	50
31	Rochester, NY	37.65	87	18	7	48	73	172
32	Pittsburgh, PA	37.56	145	13	41	46	37	117
33	Grand Rapids, MI	37.4	39	43	37	62	86	134
34	Raleigh, NC	37.349	30	72	74	63	39	22
35	Escondido, CA	37.263	15	51	58	75	127	101
36	Virginia Beach, VA	37.218	80	71	17	51	52	24
37	Sacramento, CA	37.153	97	28	54	34	57	125
38	Indianapolis, IN	37.051	43	61	75	61	7	114
39	Springfield, MO	37.034	48	102	25	8	72	155
40	Greensboro, NC	36.709	27	105	42	21	111	89
41	Reno, NV	36.583	107	70	15	30	121	67
42	Baton Rouge, LA	36.409	85	107	24	9	63	96
43	Spokane, WA	36.401	102	64	20	29	40	123
44	Louisville, KY	36.092	74	49	48	76	24	102
45	Cary, NC	35.613	34	101	47	128	69	2
46	Eugene, OR	35.564	120	54	28	20	70	138
47	Arlington, VA	35.385	66	23	158	157	28	5
48	Huntington Beach, CA	35.288	164	25	45	72	45	17
49	Riverside, CA	35.252	78	26	95	50	151	109
50	Tempe, AZ	35.151	103	47	93	19	65	141
51	Charlotte, NC	34.861	35	112	109	40	27	29
52	Hollywood, FL	34.765	142	88	34	13	35	90
53	Chattanooga, TN	34.58	20	128	19	49	55	131
54	Oakland, CA	34.525	165	7	119	107	77	47
55	Santa Rosa, CA	34.469	130	81	6	56	96	87
56	Vancouver, WA	34.448	55	114	72	15	100	112
57	Madison, WI	34.444	86	65	44	104	31	46
58	Albuquerque, NM	34.358	101	39	67	82	51	103
59	San Jose, CA	34.327	162	16	82	124	43	18
60	Clarksville, TN	34.186	14	136	59	25	140	118
61	Boise City, ID	34.07	99	46	98	66	74	44
62	McKinney, TX	33.989	1	141	118	119	103	10
63	Durham, NC	33.827	28	99	53	98	89	52
64	Overland Park, KS	33.784	2	149	70	138	81	6
65	Huntsville, AL	33.685	10	127	61	67	122	56
66	Washington, DC	33.512	125	35	99	144	8	12
67	Lincoln, NE	33.441	68	98	33	77	106	45
68	Frisco, TX	33.071	3	147	110	122	117	1
69	San Antonio, TX	33.055	46	119	85	33	34	136
70	Jacksonville, FL	32.979	8	157	56	41	67	104
71	Boston, MA	32.875	166	14	134	137	21	30
72	Tacoma, WA	32.843	69	94	92	37	114	85
73	Gilbert, AZ	32.698	94	80	66	88	88	15
74	Bakersfield, CA	32.607	146	52	50	47	85	119
75	Long Beach, CA	32.6	168	24	68	43	38	120
76	Salem, OR	32.588	95	111	46	28	109	110
77	Plano, TX	32.581	4	151	116	100	87	4
78	Corona, CA	31.991	104	75	90	55	132	55
79	Dallas, TX	31.961	19	137	86	85	36	77
80	Henderson, NV	31.661	148	53	139	39	124	31
81	Fremont, CA	31.659	141	42	81	161	135	8
82	Chandler, AZ	31.387	136	56	127	73	104	19
83	Providence, RI	31.002	118	32	164	79	33	137
84	Tulsa, OK	30.995	50	162	21	53	91	70
85	Mesa, AZ	30.84	93	68	124	70	78	115
86	Philadelphia, PA	30.82	172	12	131	116	12	133
87	Glendale, AZ	30.817	60	74	145	60	92	147
88	Peoria, AZ	30.76	81	91	132	58	142	51
89	Oceanside, CA	30.751	128	89	135	22	62	88
90	St. Petersburg, FL	30.748	64	95	103	114	47	92
91	Irvine, CA	30.723	167	31	128	94	94	11
92	Wichita, KS	30.685	11	165	40	92	130	91
93	Chula Vista, CA	30.607	116	44	154	111	138	28
94	Modesto, CA	30.465	138	97	49	42	126	97
95	Jersey City, NJ	30.404	161	19	166	134	53	23
96	Mobile, AL	30.355	33	150	14	84	101	156
97	Kansas City, MO	30.316	24	125	104	95	58	105
98	Little Rock, AR	30.271	23	159	57	109	49	62
99	Santa Clarita, CA	30.225	47	90	114	168	152	16
100	Chesapeake, VA	30.138	76	104	89	132	137	25
101	Anaheim, CA	30.088	133	40	130	141	98	53
102	Buffalo, NY	29.938	156	41	37	90	76	167
103	Augusta, GA	29.824	58	93	88	87	118	151
104	Sioux Falls, SD	29.805	29	133	113	105	102	54
105	Anchorage, AK	29.605	117	113	51	102	146	26
106	Winston-Salem, NC	29.598	9	115	162	151	56	84
107	El Paso, TX	29.578	75	76	133	117	93	116
108	Norfolk, VA	29.493	144	50	126	80	82	126
109	Elk Grove, CA	29.344	90	120	69	136	147	21
110	Lakewood, CO	29.314	57	146	31	112	119	72
111	Omaha, NE	29.304	72	145	55	78	71	58
112	Fort Worth, TX	29.303	18	161	117	81	50	61
113	Amarillo, TX	29.213	54	160	60	64	99	82
114	Aurora, CO	29.107	56	123	108	93	145	81
115	Corpus Christi, TX	28.996	121	106	142	52	44	69
116	Glendale, CA	28.97	135	36	144	149	128	63
117	St. Louis, MO	28.952	79	78	120	140	41	145
118	Fayetteville, NC	28.922	51	164	64	35	131	146
119	Oklahoma City, OK	28.862	25	153	105	103	61	48
120	Salinas, CA	28.855	109	77	65	143	158	106
121	Des Moines, IA	28.234	77	108	77	131	113	135
122	Sunnyvale, CA	28.21	155	67	125	166	90	3
123	Santa Ana, CA	28.108	132	38	151	155	120	99
124	Lubbock, TX	28.07	115	140	76	54	60	56
125	Fresno, CA	27.951	129	59	102	106	112	152
126	Arlington, TX	27.715	21	156	122	120	95	80
127	Worcester, MA	27.691	110	34	165	129	141	157
128	Newport News, VA	27.54	70	130	97	121	148	75
129	Akron, OH	27.472	111	84	94	89	150	153
130	Pembroke Pines, FL	27.329	32	144	115	139	110	76
131	Baltimore, MD	27.262	140	92	73	130	68	142
132	Irving, TX	27.177	16	143	150	153	115	38
133	Columbus, OH	26.979	73	132	129	83	75	140
134	Honolulu, HI	26.918	174	66	30	101	54	59
135	Fort Wayne, IN	26.831	65	152	71	96	125	108
136	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	26.712	123	118	123	110	116	37
137	New Orleans, LA	26.47	126	124	107	91	25	139
138	Oxnard, CA	26.414	134	82	156	108	107	79
139	Aurora, IL	26.2	63	122	152	167	134	33
140	Macon, GA	25.845	7	174	136	113	159	122
141	Hayward, CA	25.604	122	86	146	152	162	71
142	Stockton, CA	25.352	153	83	79	156	149	132
143	Cape Coral, FL	25.297	150	163	112	44	19	107
144	Yonkers, NY	25.275	169	27	160	154	144	129
145	Palmdale, CA	25.198	88	138	153	69	168	143
146	Lancaster, CA	25.139	108	121	141	68	173	154
147	Shreveport, LA	25.067	42	158	84	127	155	159
148	Pasadena, TX	24.851	92	134	140	150	164	60
149	Cleveland, OH	24.807	139	79	101	99	97	171
150	Montgomery, AL	24.535	100	170	18	145	139	128
151	Garden Grove, CA	24.527	157	69	138	163	165	111
152	Killeen, TX	24.208	96	155	149	59	160	127
153	Garland, TX	24.096	40	169	157	135	105	66
154	Hialeah, FL	24.064	112	110	83	146	133	166
155	St. Paul, MN	23.747	106	73	148	172	108	165
156	Memphis, TN	23.646	89	139	121	125	79	162
157	Moreno Valley, CA	23.48	105	131	168	115	166	100
158	Columbus, GA	23.263	98	171	87	97	143	124
159	Ontario, CA	23.132	158	109	147	142	153	98
160	Fontana, CA	22.812	137	116	159	159	171	73
161	Grand Prairie, TX	22.433	36	166	167	162	156	95
162	Springfield, MA	22.023	163	63	161	147	174	163
163	Toledo, OH	21.71	124	129	100	148	161	164
164	Port St. Lucie, FL	21.478	45	172	155	174	129	74
165	Milwaukee, WI	21.391	149	142	137	126	80	150
166	North Las Vegas, NV	21.279	113	117	171	160	163	149
167	Kansas City, KS	20.112	37	167	163	164	123	169
168	San Bernardino, CA	20.027	131	126	143	165	172	161
169	Jackson, MS	19.88	71	173	111	133	157	170
170	Pomona, CA	19.706	154	135	172	158	169	130
171	Newark, NJ	17.056	159	85	174	169	154	174
172	Brownsville, TX	16.821	151	154	170	170	167	148
173	Laredo, TX	14.468	160	168	173	173	170	144
174	Detroit, MI	11.959	170	148	169	171	136	173

Highlights and Lowlights

Good Dog, Bad Dog

Turns out dogs and cats can happily coexist — as long as they live in the right city. Our Best and Worst Cities for Dog Lovers (Orlando, Florida, and Detroit, respectively) are also this year’s furrendliest and least friendly toward Cat Lovers. 

Despite dog- and cat-specific factors making up each study, it’s clear The City Beautiful has a thriving service industry for both types of pets, while The D — sadly not an acronym for “dog-friendly” — is sorely lacking for either. 

Orlando leads the pack in pet caretakers, boarding options, and pet stores. That’s expected of a city frequented by tourist families toting their four-legged relatives. Ironically, these families visit to meet Disney’s most famous dogs, Goofy and Pluto — and drop off their own with the sitters.

On the other paw, Detroit missed the mark across all categories, landing near the bottom of almost every indicator. While Motown has plenty to offer your visiting BFF, it’s perhaps not the best city for a furmanent address.

Last year’s No. 1 was Hollywoo(f), Florida, and in last place was New York. Orlando displaced 2021’s winner by significantly improving its dog-friendly housing and care stats. Detroit unseated the Big Apple due to dismal performance in new Affordability metrics.

Homeward (South)bound

The overwhelming majority of our top 50 cities for dog-friendly housing is located in the American South.

Texas has the edge, claiming four of the top 10 spots. Zooming in, Frisco is most generous with indoor space at an average of over 3,000 square feet, while Macon, Georgia, boasts the biggest yards, averaging nearly 20,000 square feet of roving room for Bailey. 

If you’re not ready to buy a home, competition for pup-welcoming rentals will be minimal in Tampa, Florida.

Steer clear of cities like Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston if you and your pooch are claustrophobic. San Francisco also counts among those to avoid for housing, which is ironic for a city with more dogs than children.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

When you have a furry best pal who loves your company, you want to do everything together — even shopping, eating out, traveling, and getting your hair done.

It’s easy to give your pooch the royal treatment in cities like Austin, Miami, and Seattle. Here, dogs are considered part of the population, so opportunities to kick it with your four-legged companion come aplenty. These cities spoil both pups and their parents with abundant dog-friendly restaurants, shopping centers, and hotels.

Don’t stray into Los Angeles suburbs, though. Let your dog out in the fringes of this metro, and Clifford might just run off to dog haven LA (No. 6 overall). Lancaster, San Bernardino, and Pomona, for example, make up a big chunk of the Businesses category’s worst end due to a lack of woof-worthy options.

Surprising Findings

Small-Dog Cities, Top-Dog Costs

Believe it or not, the most expensive cities to live in general are not the least affordable for dog ownership. 

Washington, Seattle, and San Francisco, for example, are three of the spendiest U.S. cities yet rank 12th, 13th, and 14th, respectively, in the Affordability category. By contrast, Detroit, Cleveland, and Jackson, Mississippi, cities with far lower cost of living, number among the worst for Affordability.

Inflation feels like a tight financial collar around everyone’s neck right now but especially lower-income earners’ in cities like Detroit. 

To be fair, the wealthiest families in cities like Seattle skew the local average income data, giving the illusion that more people can afford higher costs, including those for dog services. Even well-paid earners are turning to Walmart for cheaper supplies these days.

Western Medicine

If your pup is constantly sick, you’d be in luck living in the Western half of the country. 

In Las Vegas, Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Collins, Colorado, for example, canine health is top of mind. Each of these cities boasts the best access to dog health services, including vets, emergency animal hospitals, and general animal clinics.

If Spot is in good health, however, Miami and Santa Rosa, California, are ideal cities for your pup. These cities offer some of the most pet stores within easy reach for everyday needs, as well as plenty of vets and emergency animal hospitals.

Behind the Ranking

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below. 

We then grouped those factors into six categories: Housing, Community, Care, Services, Businesses, and Affordability.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category. 

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories. We eliminated 26 cities lacking sufficient data in a single category, resulting in a total sample size of 174 cities.

The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” overall (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” overall (No. 174). (Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be 174 due to ties.)

Sources: American Animal Hospital Association, Animal Legal & Historical Center, BringFido, Emergency Vets USA, Homes.com, Meetup, other LawnStarter studies, Pawlicy.com, PetSitter.com, Petswelcome.com, Realtor.com, Sittercity, TripAdvisor, VCA Hospitals, Yellow Pages, and Yelp

Final Thoughts: How to Give Back to Your Pup

Dogs love attention, and they earn it. This Aug. 26, the spotlight turns to our furry friends: National Dog Day recognizes the number of dogs that need to be rescued, as well as dogs’ many contributions to our lives.

One way to give back to our canine companions is to treat them to a clean, safe green space. Yards are invaluable to dogs: It gives them a chance to exercise, keeps them safe, and provides a place to do their business.

That’s why it’s important to understand how your dog uses your lawn and to create a dog-friendly landscape. Keeping your pup healthy minimizes their stress and maximizes the fun you can have together.

Hire a local LawnStarter pro to help you take care of the maintenance so you can spend more quality time with Rex or Bella.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock