Australia's Pet Industry by the Numbers
Australia is one of the highest pet-owning nations on earth. According to the 2025 Pets in Australia survey by Animal Medicines Australia (AMA), 73% of Australian households now own at least one pet, up from 69% in 2022 and 61% in 2019.
That's 7.7 million households and an estimated 31.6 million pets across the country.
The Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) reports that 800,000 more households started keeping pets and 2.9 million more animals joined Australian families in just three years. This isn't a trend. It's a structural shift in how Australians live.
What Australians Are Spending
Total pet spending in Australia has reached $21.3 billion annually, a 35% increase from the 2022 figure of $15.7 billion (AMA 2025 report).
Where the money goes:
| Category | Annual Spend |
|---|---|
| Pet food | ~$9.8 billion |
| Pet services (grooming, boarding, training, daycare) | ~$2.2 billion |
| Veterinary services | ~$1.9 billion |
| Products and accessories | ~$1.4 billion |
| Pet insurance | ~$1.0 billion |
Per-pet spending:
- Dogs: ~$3,300 per year (PIAA)
- Cats: ~$2,100 per year
These figures make Australia one of the highest per-pet spenders globally.
The Pet Services Boom
The most relevant number for pet service businesses: $2.2 billion is now spent annually on pet services including grooming, boarding, training, and daycare. That's a 30% increase since 2021 (PIAA).
The pet grooming services market alone is growing at a compound annual growth rate of ~9.1%, with the broader services sector following a similar trajectory.
What's driving this growth:
Humanisation. Australians increasingly treat pets as family members. Premium grooming, structured daycare, and professional training are the norm, not the exception.
Dual-income households. When both partners work, structured pet care (daycare, dog walking) becomes essential, not optional.
Millennial and Gen Z ownership. According to PIAA, millennials and Gen Z are choosing pets before parenthood. A 2025 Wahl survey found that millennial pet owners spend an average of $3,420 per year on their dogs, and 72% book professional groomers every 2-3 months.
Regional growth. One in three regional households owns a dog, compared to one in four in metro areas. Cat ownership is stronger in metro areas (AMA 2025).
The Dog Dominance
Dogs remain Australia's most popular companion, owned by 49% of households (approximately 7.4 million dogs). That's a 15.5% increase since 2022 (PIAA).
Cats follow at 34% of households (~5.8 million cats), up 9.4% over the same period.
For pet service businesses, this matters because dogs drive the overwhelming majority of grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, and training revenue. More dogs means more demand across every service category.
The Workforce Challenge
Growth brings challenges. The PIAA Pet Grooming Survey 2025 reveals the industry's biggest pain point:
- 79% of businesses report finding skilled groomers is "extremely difficult"
- There are approximately 5,700 employed pet groomers in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The workforce is 87% female with a median age of 38
- 65% work part-time
- 76% of businesses support mandatory animal care qualifications for new entrants
The boarding sector faces similar pressures, with approximately 500 boarding kennel and cattery operators nationally (Jobs and Skills Australia), many operating at or near capacity during peak periods.
What This Means for Pet Service Businesses
If you run a pet grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, or training business in Australia, the macro picture is overwhelmingly positive:
The demand is real and growing. $2.2 billion in annual services spending, growing at 30% over three years, with no signs of slowing.
Pet owners are willing to pay. Per-pet spending is at record levels, and the premium end of the market is growing fastest. Pet parents want quality care and are willing to pay for it.
The supply side is constrained. With 79% of businesses struggling to hire, the businesses that can attract and retain good staff will have a significant competitive advantage.
Systems matter more than ever. As demand grows, manual operations become the bottleneck. The businesses that invest in reliable systems for bookings, payments, and operations will be the ones that can scale to meet demand.
Key Takeaways
- 73% of Australian households own a pet, with 31.6 million pets nationally
- $21.3 billion spent on pet care annually, up 35% since 2022
- $2.2 billion spent on pet services (grooming, boarding, training, daycare), up 30% since 2021
- Pet grooming market growing at ~9.1% CAGR
- 79% of businesses report it's extremely difficult to find skilled groomers
- Millennials are the top pet spenders, investing $3,420 per year on their dogs
- Dog ownership up 15.5% since 2022, now in 49% of households
The data tells a clear story: Australia's pet services industry is thriving, and the opportunities for well-run businesses are enormous.
Sources: Animal Medicines Australia 2025 Pet Report, PIAA Industry Statistics, PIAA Grooming Survey 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia, Grand View Research
