With the rise of direct-to-consumer pet genetic services, many dog owners are turning to DNA tests to learn more about their companions. These services, marketed as tools to reveal breed ancestry, health predispositions, and biological relatives, may also influence how guardians perceive their relationships with their dogs.
Bennett et al. (2023) surveyed 253 Wisdom Panel™ customers in the United States to assess the impact of genetic testing on the human–animal bond (HAB). Respondents provided both Likert-scale ratings and open-ended responses, offering qualitative insights into their experiences.
Findings showed that genetic test results allowed guardians to better interpret their dog’s breed composition and ancestry, often sharing these insights with others. Some also reflected on the perceived accuracy of results or contextualized them within their dog’s acquisition history. However, despite this additional knowledge, owners’ emotional sentiments and attachment toward their dogs remained unchanged. The bond was neither weakened nor strengthened by the genetic insights.
The authors conclude that while dog genetic testing is valued for the information it provides, its impact on the HAB appears limited. Future research should further investigate whether growing genomic technologies may eventually influence how people emotionally connect with their pets.
Source: Bennett, N. E., Soto, S., Nicolas-Serrano, J., & Gray, P. (2023). Dog guardians and genetic testing: Survey textbox responses & human-animal bond influences. Human-Animal Interactions. Published February 17, 2023.
