Positive experiences with dog ownership : does the dog's size have any significance for the owner's and the dog's experiences?
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The human–dog relationship is widely recognized for its potential to promote physical and psychological well-being in owners. However, research has traditionally focused on the benefits to humans, while the dog’s perspective has been less studied. This study aims to explore positive experiences of dog ownership from both the owner's and the dog's point of view, with attention to how these may relate to the dog's body size, measured by weight. A total of 141 dog owners completed a web-based questionnaire distributed via social media and university channels. Dogs were categorized into four weight groups: <10 kg, 10–<20 kg, 20–<30 kg, and ≥30 kg. The questionnaire included both quantitative and qualitative items addressing quality of life, emotional support, preferred activities, and perceptions of the dog’s behavior and emotional expressions. Results showed that 82% of owners reported that dog ownership greatly improved their quality of life, and 84% stated that their dogs often or always provide emotional comfort. Love and joy were the most frequently reported emotions experienced by owners when spending time with their dogs. Owners of larger dogs more often reported a sense of security, which may indicate a perceived connection between physical size and emotional stability. These results are descriptive and not based on inferential statistics. From the dog's perspective, behaviors associated with happiness, such as tail wagging, physical activity, and social contact, were commonly reported across all weight classes. Some activity preferences appeared to vary with size; for example, owners of larger dogs more frequently described their dogs as enjoying swimming, tug-of-war, and search games. While this may partly reflect breed-specific traits, it is also possible that such differences are shaped by owner behavior. While owners described both themselves and their dogs as enjoying physical activities, they more often emphasized their own preference for calm, quality time, whereas their dogs were perceived as preferring play. This may illustrate interspecies differences in social interaction and communication. This study underlines the importance of considering both human and animal perspectives when assessing welfare and satisfaction in pet ownership. It also contributes to the understanding of how dog characteristics, such as size, may influence the dynamics of the human–dog relationship.
Author: Sohlin, Isabel
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7077675125