As demographic trends shift toward declining birth rates and shrinking kinship networks, many urbanized societies are experiencing a rise in pet ownership. Gillet and Kubinyi (2025) examined how dogs, particularly in Western contexts, are increasingly viewed and treated as child-like family members. This redefinition of the human–dog bond aligns with broader cultural and evolutionary hypotheses suggesting that humans redirect caregiving instincts toward pets.
The review identifies morphological, behavioral, and physiological features that make dogs well-suited to occupy this role, such as their expressive faces, dependency on human support, and responsiveness to nurturing behaviors. Owners often interpret these traits as parallels to child-rearing, leading to caregiving styles that resemble parenting practices.
Importantly, the authors stress that dog parenting is not uniform. Some owners may treat dogs as child surrogates, while others consciously choose dogs over children, appreciating their companionship while recognizing species-specific needs. In some families, dog parenting coexists with child parenting, reinforcing the idea that humans may have evolved a flexible caregiving system that extends beyond species boundaries.
This cultural shift highlights not only the deepening of human–dog relationships but also the ways in which modern family structures are being reshaped. As pets continue to fulfill emotional and social roles once reserved for kin, dogs are increasingly central to how humans define family, responsibility, and care.
Source: Gillet, L., & Kubinyi, E. (2025). Redefining Parenting and Family – The Child-Like Role of Dogs in Western Societies. European Psychologist. Published May 22, 2025.
