What Truly Impacts Dog Ownership Satisfaction?

In a large-scale study published in PLoS ONE, Herwijnen et al. (2018) explored what makes dog ownership satisfying or frustrating. Analyzing responses from 977 Dutch dog owners, the researchers discovered that unwanted behaviors—such as aggression and disobedience—along with perceived ownership costs, were the most influential factors in lowering satisfaction levels, even among generally content owners.

Using the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale, the team evaluated three dimensions: emotional closeness, shared activities, and perceived costs. Surprisingly, emotional closeness played a lesser role in ownership satisfaction compared to financial and behavioral stressors. Shared activities also had a weaker association than expected.

Furthermore, attendance at obedience classes showed no significant link to satisfaction. This finding raises concerns about the effectiveness of typical dog training programs. Notably, the use of choke chains during training was associated with higher perceived costs and greater dissatisfaction.

The results suggest that even content dog owners may experience strain from their dog’s behavior or the burden of care, implying that targeted support in managing difficult behaviors and practical costs may be more beneficial than focusing solely on emotional bonding activities.