As more households in the United States include pets than children, the role of pet parenting has become a central aspect of family life. In this study, Heather Dye (2024) surveyed 332 U.S. dog owners using multiple instruments, including the CENSHARE pet attachment scale, guilt about dog-parenting scale, work-dog conflict scale, make-up behavior scale, and revised adult attachment scale.
Findings showed that stronger pet attachment was associated with increased dog-parent guilt, greater work-dog conflict, and more frequent make-up behaviors such as pampering pets after absences. Importantly, individuals with an anxious attachment style were more likely to experience this guilt, a form of disenfranchised guilt often observed in human parents who feel work or life demands limit their caregiving role.
The study found no correlation between demographic factors (age, sex, race, income, education, or parental status) and dog-parent guilt, indicating that the phenomenon is tied more to emotional style than to social background. These insights align with earlier findings that highly attached pet parents are more prone to guilt and work-related conflict regarding pet care.
Dye suggests that a multi-system support approach—involving mental health professionals, veterinarians, educators, and pet advocacy groups—could help validate and support owners’ experiences. Building networks for pet parents to share experiences may also reduce isolation and normalize these emotions, ultimately strengthening the human–dog bond.
Source: Dye, H. (2024). Exploring dog-parent guilt: Do human attachment styles play a role? Human-Animal Interactions. Published October 21, 2024.
