The Fall of the Dog
By Jakub Ciolkosz
Sweden Shuts Doors on a Man’s Best Friend as Living Costs Go Up.
Since the time that dogs became domesticated and hailed as “man’s best friends” they have served as companions and protectors through acts of undivided loyalty. Walking through the streets of Gothenburg, one can easily spot residents taking their dogs out for a walk. However, recent statistics show the falling trend in dog ownership, which might make these behaviors less observable.
The latest Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) report from November this year notified that dog ownership in households has been declining annually, with last month recording the lowest number of new dog registrations in the past three years. This paints a grim picture for these four-legged creatures, as fewer homes are willing to accommodate them, shutting them out as their bond with humans subsides.
As of today, there are 1.15 million registered dogs and 832 thousand owners across the country.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture collects this data on a monthly basis, making it easy to identify a continuing decline of interest in dog ownership among Swedes. Despite this, the figures related to ownership changes—such as returning dogs to animal shelters or transferring them to new owners—have remained steady within consistent figures.
Research on the effects of dog walking on health promotion and disease prevention shows that such endeavor has multiple health benefits, encourages regular physical activity and increases chances of more frequent socialization.
Dog walking in Gothenburg’s neighborhood. Photo: Alexander Khan
Simply owning a dog does not guarantee a more prominent interpersonal trust though. That was discovered in the 2019 “dog effect” report on social trust and dog ownership in Sweden (the authors dare to state it might have more negative effects on our image). On the contrary, dog walking or spending time with your dog in nature rebuilds the trust damage.
So, what prompts Swedes to say no to the dog?
As beautiful as the benefits of having a furry companion might sound, owning a dog comes with financial responsibility, which includes food, veterinary visits, insurance, and other expenses. Nowadays, more and more people in Sweden are exposed to financial vulnerability and with the high inflation that affected food prices over the last three years, monthly expenses for 2025 are now estimated to reach 3,400 SEK, as reported by the Swedish Consumer Agency (Konsumentverket). Simultaneously, in the first year the spendings on a dog might hit up to 30,000 SEK a year (so, around 2,500 SEK a month).
Johnny, Communications and Fundraising Manager at Hundstallet Hundskyddsföreningen, with his dog. Photo: private
At the Swedish Canine Welfare Association (Hundstallet Hundskyddsföreningen) the staff’s aim is to rehabilitate the dogs who experienced mistreatment or neglect and relocate them to new good homes. “With us, we continue to see a marked increase in dogs that need care and rehabilitation” – adds Johnny Kroneld. He confirms that due to financial challenges, dog owners are facing challenges. They struggle to afford veterinary costs, insurance and so on – which might explain why the authorities get involved. About 80 percent of the dogs come to the association via authorities that take care of the dogs that get sick, while about 20 percent are private relocations.
Perhaps after all, it is not the dog’s fault, it is likely that the country’s economic state might stand behind these patterns. The rising prices might affect not only giving up on getting a dog but also forcing people out of keeping the dog they already have, all due to financial pressures.
Feature Image: Gothenburg’s residents take their dogs out for the Christmas tree hunt. Photo: Matthijs Touw