Wednesday Wag: It’s the dog’s house, we’re just living in it

A new survey is giving a whole new meaning to the term “dog house.” More millenials are now listing their dogs as the biggest factor when buying a new home.

Our dogs deserve the best. And why shouldn’t that include the house they live in?

A new survey from SunTrust Mortgages says that the biggest factor for more and more millennials when they’re buying a new home is, you guessed it, their dogs. Yes, our dogs are our number one priority, even beating out marriages and children.

This may be shocking to some. But it makes complete sense to me. While I’m not a homeowner yet, I am an obsessed dog parent. And the only thing on my mind when I was looking for my apartment was “Are there things for my dog to do here?” I made sure there were parks and dog runs nearby and that we lived in a dog-friendly neighborhood so Ruby could make lots of furry friends. Come on, Ruby comes first.

And this is an even bigger factor when purchasing a home. According to the survey, 33 percent of millennials bought their first home because it had a yard and more space for their dog. And 42 percent of millennials who haven’t purchased a home yet want to buy something in the future for their pets. So yes, our four-legged family members could help drive up home buying.

This is far more than the 25 percent of millennials who bought their first home with marriage as the biggest factor and the 19 percent who were thinking about kids. The only things that were more important than the owners’ dogs were the amount of living space and the opportunity to build equity.

“Millennials have strong bonds with their dogs, so it makes sense that their furry family members are driving home-buying decisions,” SunTrust Mortgage President and CEO Dorinda Smith said in a statement.

“For those with dogs, renting can be more expensive and a hassle; homeownership takes some of the stress off by providing a better living situation.”

There is a lot to consider when you’re buying a house and have a dog. How much space does your dog need? Is there a fenced-in backyard or a park nearby so they can run around? And it could be hard to rent a place with a dog since many places don’t allow pets or have weight policies.

Next: Adult dogs will step out onto the field in the Dog Bowl

At the end of the day, it’s their house. We’re just living in it. Right?