Surprising thing 1 in 10 Aussies won't allow their dog to do - and it's not what you think

You may have noticed that Aussies really love their dogs. Particularly since Covid where thousands of us, myself included, welcomed a furry friend into our homes, we've become a nation that is increasingly dog-obsessed. Many of us have Instagram or TikTok accounts dedicated to our loyal canines, some of us (24%) are lucky enough to be able to take them to work with us and every single one of us thinks that our oodle, staffy, boxer, greyhound, dachshund or foxy is "the goodest."

If you were to ask anyone who knows me, they would tell you that my dog is my entire personality. I hate being away from him, even for short periods. I sing him songs that I have made up about him and speak to him in a very specific voice - one that, for some reason, resembles a vaguely panicked and very posh 1940s broadcaster. I have several sappy nicknames for him (Memphy Doodle Boi, Memphy Moo Moo Man et al) and, even though my partner begs me not to, I throw a birthday party for him every year complete with party hats, cakes and more singing.

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Yep, I am officially batsh*t crazy about my beloved best friend but before you cart me off the looney bin (preferably a dog-friendly one), you should know I am not the only one.

Does your dog sleep on your bed?

As it turns out, according to a recent survey by Scratch Pet Food, 69% of Aussies love their dogs SO much, that they would be willing to pay 5%+ more rent or buy somewhere that was perfect for their pooch. Considering how cooked the rental market already is and the fact we are in a cost-of-living crisis, that's some pretty deep-seated devotion!

And I completely understand it. Dogs provide us with the purest love going around. They make us the centre of their world so the very least we can do is return the favour.

But do some of us go too far in this regard? My partner once bravely suggested that I was guilty of this - a mistake he made only once. To add context, he had walked into our bedroom to find me already in bed...and Memphis (our Groodle) all tucked in under the covers and fast asleep...on his own pillow. While my significant other may think that was a bridge too far, Memphy is part of the 28% of dogs who are allowed to sleep IN their owner's bed instead of just on it. 47% of people surveyed said that their dogs were fine to sleep on the bed while the remaining 25% were big old meanies who said their dog wasn't allowed on the bed at all.

1 in 10 Aussies don't allow this

Fascinatingly, the survey revealed that one in ten Aussies won't let their dogs see them naked and my question for them is HOW? In my house, between my three-year-old fur child and my two-year-old human child (and my 45-year-old man child), I couldn't conceal my naked body if I tried.

Memphy is absolutely one of those dogs who will follow me into the bathroom in the middle of the night rather than be alone for a single second (healthy attachment? Or could he possibly be part of the 52% of Aussie dogs who suffer from occasional anxiety?) As for trying to enjoy some 'adult connection' with my other half? You try moving a dog who immediately plays dead when you try to shove him off the bed because you've got 30 minutes until your kid wakes up. So, yeah, if my dog could talk...he'd probably ask for the number of a reputable therapist.

Speaking of kids, 32% of people surveyed said their desire to have kids was less because they had a dog. To be fair, if their dogs are stage five clingers like mine, they'd probably find it tricky to find the privacy necessary to make a kiddo anyway.

The great dog debate

Now, if you're a dog owner - or even if you're not - you may have noticed that there has been an increasing debate around whether pups should be allowed in more places, such as the beach, bars and cafes. It's a pretty hot topic and a complicated one too. As someone who is "ridiculously attached" to their dog (other people's words, not mine) I'd love to take him everywhere I go, but I also recognise that other people deserve to feel comfortable in public spaces and sometimes, that doesn't include the presence of dogs.

While it's unlikely there will be a resolution to this clash anytime soon, it turns out 71% of Aussies are in favour of dogs being allowed inside cafes and pubs, and 64% take their dogs with them when meeting friends and socialising. 44% of people also believe that dogs should be allowed on planes.

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Having owned a dog in the United States - a place where being a dog psychic is a legitimate career choice - and now one in Australia, it's really interesting to see how attitudes towards dogs and dog parenting are evolving. With loneliness and social isolation at an all-time high and with people having children later, or not at all, it makes sense that more and more Aussies are turning to fur besties to fill the void and bring some much-needed joy into a world that often feels messy and frightening.

Of course, we still have a way to go to get to the level of dog worship found in the US. Over there, you can (in some states) have your dog be your legal witness at your wedding.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get Memphy fitted for his tux.

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