Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia Among Top 20 Dog Loving Cities
14,000 Cities Considered and Ranked
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Alexandria and Arlington rank in the top twenty in the nation for dog lovers, according to a new ranking from Redfin, the tech-powered real estate brokerage, and Rover, the largest network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers in the country.
Rover ran the numbers on over 14,000 cities across the country, compiling a list with the highest counts of walks, dog walkers and sitters, along with total hours, minutes and distance per walk by each dog walker or sitter on Rover. Because each top city needs a top dog, Rover also uncovered the most popular breed in each area.
It was only two years ago that the Alexandria, Virginia Mayor and City Council declared the first Alexandria Love Your Pet Day, but you’d think this annual block party had been going on for decades. Imagine a few blocks sectioned off for just families, dogs and incredible vendors and entertainment, along with free parking, and you have your dream pet-loving celebration.
This year it is all happening again Sunday, April 28 from 11 am to 3 pm at Roth and Colvin Streets (right off of Duke) with over 45 vendors, food trucks, and nonprofits hoping to break last year’s record 600 attendees.
Redfin coupled Rover’s insights with data on homes for sale to take a closer look at what life as a dog is like in each city. Redfin analyzed how often the keyword ‘dog’ appeared in the online listing descriptions of homes for sale, often to note that a property was dog-friendly or close to dog parks. The company also included each dog-friendly city’s Walk Score® to highlight how easy it is to treat your dog to his or her favorite activity.
“Dogs are part of the family, so it’s important to factor in our furry friends when choosing a place to live,” said Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist and a Seattle dog owner. “Highlighting dog-friendly amenities like a spacious yard or a mudroom for dirty paws in your listing can make it easier for buyers to find the home of their dog’s dreams.”
Here’s Redfin and Rover’s definitive ranking for the most dog-friendly cities of 2019:
| City | Rover Rank | Share of Homes for Sale that mention “Dog” | Walk Score | Top Dog |
| Seattle, WA | 1 | 2% | 73 | Labrador Retriever |
| Chicago, IL | 2 | 4% | 78 | Mixed Breed |
| Denver, CO | 3 | 4% | 61 | Labrador Retriever |
| Manhattan, NY | 4 | 4% | 89 | French Bulldog |
| Washington, DC | 5 | 1% | 77 | Mixed Breed |
| Portland, OR | 6 | 2% | 65 | Mixed Breed |
| Los Angeles, CA | 7 | 2% | 67 | Chihuahua |
| Brooklyn, NY | 8 | 4% | 89 | Pit Bull Mix |
| San Francisco, CA | 9 | 4% | 86 | Mixed Breed |
| San Diego, CA | 10 | 2% | 51 | Mixed Breed |
| Philadelphia, PA | 11 | 2% | 79 | Pit Bull Mix |
| Houston, TX | 12 | 2% | 49 | Mixed Breed |
| Austin, TX | 13 | 3% | 40 | Mixed Breed |
| Arlington, VA | 14 | 3% | 37 | Mixed Breed |
| Minneapolis, MN | 15 | 1% | 69 | Labrador Retriever |
| Alexandria, VA | 16 | 3% | 60 | Mixed Breed |
| Dallas, TX | 17 | 2% | 46 | Labrador Retriever |
| Atlanta, GA | 18 | 5% | 49 | Mixed Breed |
| San Jose, CA | 19 | 2% | 51 | Labrador Retriever |
| Nashville, TN | 20 | 1% | 28 | Mixed Breed |
