The study by Ozcan et al. (2019) investigated the factors behind Turkish dog owners’ breed choices. By analyzing responses from 581 owners through principal component analysis (PCA), the researchers identified four main influences: adaptation ability, social influence, working expectation, and breed characteristics. Together, these explained over half of the variation in owner decisions.
Interestingly, while demographics such as gender, education, housing type, number of children, and pet ownership were associated with breed choice, dog-related traits proved stronger predictors. This indicates that owners focus primarily on what the dog can bring into their lives—temperament, function, and adaptability—rather than on their own background factors.
For example, the study highlighted that working expectations and adaptability were major considerations for some owners, while others were more influenced by social perceptions of specific breeds. Breed selection, therefore, emerges as a complex interaction between human lifestyle and dog traits, but with a clear emphasis on the dog’s inherent qualities.
This research emphasizes that understanding dog-related characteristics—such as size, temperament, and function—may be more important than focusing on demographic predictors when studying or advising on breed choice. It also provides valuable insights for breeders, trainers, and welfare organizations seeking to match dogs with suitable owners.
Source: Ozcan, M., Ekiz, B., Ozturk, N., & Berk, H. (2019). Factors Affecting Turkish Dog Owners’ Breed Choices, and Their Associations with Socio-demographic and Dog-Related Variables. Anthrozoös, 32, 647–664. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1645506
