Expectations Versus Reality: Long-Term Research on the Dog–Owner Relationship

Abstract

In the framework of the early prevention of problems in the owner–dog relationship, it is important to have a broad perspective on the development of this relationship over time, starting before people actually acquire a dog. People who currently (or previously) own(ed) a dog can rely on their experiences when considering a new dog, while this knowledge is unavailable to first time dog-owners. In this study, we explore how self-efficacy, social comparison, perceptions about the (dis)advantages of ownership and commitment to the dog (so-called social cognitive factors), problematic canine behaviors, perceived costs, and satisfaction with the dog change over time. We examine changes from the motivational phase of relationship development (before acquisition of the dog) into the experience phase (six and twelve months after acquisition of the dog). We explore if patterns are different in experienced (previous (n = 73) and current (n = 80)) versus unexperienced (first time (n = 30) dog owners. The respondents filled in three online questionnaires—once before and twice after acquisition of their dog. From T0 (before acquisition of the dog) to T1 (having the dog for six months) participants (especially those with no ownership experience) had to adjust their perceptions about dogs and dog ownership. Experiencing the relationship for an additional year (from T1 to T2) barely changed the social cognitive factors, satisfaction, and perceived costs. A small decline in problematic canine behaviors was present among the experienced dog owners between T1 and T2. To conclude, perceptions about dogs and dog ownership change over time, but after testing these perceptions with reality, they become stable after about six months.

Interaction and Emotional Connection with Pets: A Descriptive Analysis from Puerto Rico

“…Conclusive results were obtained regarding the feeling generated from their interactions with their pet(s) and the benefits they provided to the participants’ well-being from a biopsychosocial perspective, which is in line with previous research [ 58 , 84 ]. Additionally, the applied models showed that living with an animal provided important benefits for the humans, in agreement with the evidence found in recent research [ 28 , 85 , 86 , 87 ].…”

“…The sociodemographic variable of sex was only shown to be predictive regarding happiness, where a woman had twice as much chance of developing happiness because of interacting with a pet than a man, which is in line with other studies [ 87 , 92 ], where women showed higher scores than men regarding emotional aspects [ 93 ]. The other sociodemographic variable par excellence, namely, age, was not found to be significant in any of the logistic regression models.…”

Investigation into owner-reported differences between dogs born in versus imported into Canada

“…Researchers suggest owner expectations to have a significant influence on the owner-dog relationship [ 34 , 47 , 48 ]. Owners often have expectations prior to acquiring a dog, but these expectations are not always accurate [ 65 ]. Prospective owners, especially those that have never previously owned a dog, may greatly benefit from educational efforts designed to provide a more realistic expectation of the potential challenges and behaviours they may encounter.…”

“…It may also be meaningful to explore owner expectations and their effect on the owner-dog relationship as the current study did not allow for a thorough investigation. Owner expectations are not always accurate, and the owner-dog relationship may be heavily influenced as a result [ 46 – 48 , 65 ]. Finally, investigation of the motives of owners that chose to acquire dogs from non-Canadian sources may reveal interesting sociopolitical factors influencing dog importation.…”

Reducing Dog Relinquishment to Rescue Centres Due to Behaviour Problems: Identifying Cases to Target with an Advice Intervention at the Point of Relinquishment Request

“…Weiss et al [55] reported that 27.3% of participants stated appearance was the single most important reason for choosing a dog, however after a few months of ownership the value of appearance dramatically reduces and behaviour and temperament are seen as much more important [18]. New owners often have to adjust their perception of dog ownership within the first few months of ownership [56] and a major theme amongst relinquishing dog owners is that they would devote more time, thought and planning to considering getting another dog in the future [57]. Care should be taken on providing advice for previous or current dog owners who consistently have greater odds of expecting benefits and reduced odds of expecting challenges with a new dog [58] and who may consider themselves experienced enough not to need to research further [52].…”