Are you a parent, pal, protector or a mix of them all? A new study examines how dog owners view themselves—and why it matters.
A New Study Reveals There Are 3 Types of Dog Owners in the World. Which Are You?
Published on Nov. 19, 2024
If you let your dog sleep in your bed, include its name when you sign greeting cards or skip out on social functions to get back home to your pup, you’re not alone. In recent decades, there’s been a shift in how we view our relationships with dogs. More often than not, we regard them as much-loved furry family members rather than just pets.
But does whether you see yourself as a pet parent, friend, guardian or colleague affect how you care for your dog? A recent study published in Scientific Reports suggests it does. As a dog owner myself, I was curious. So I reached out to the study’s author to find out more.
Ahead, I’ll draw on my long experience as a journalist covering pets to break down the details. So keep reading to find out what kind of pet owner you are and how it affects your pooch’s well-being.
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What was the study about?
Psychologist Laura Gillet, a PhD student in the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and the lead author of the Scientific Reports study, explains that the inspiration for the research came when one of her colleagues found data confirming many owners regard their dogs as more important to them than any human. “We were really interested in the shifting roles of dogs in Western cultures, especially in regard to low fertility rates and smaller families,” she says. “We also want to understand what dogs mean to us in this world, where we are disconnected and socially alienated from each other.”
To do that, Gillet and her colleagues surveyed 790 Hungarian dog owners. The end goal: examine whether viewing dogs as family members or even children influences the type of care people provide and how this can affect dog behavior.
The researchers assumed the study would reveal that overprotective pet parents could unintentionally create behavioral problems, such as separation anxiety or fear of new things. “We found differences in how different owners take care of their dogs, but not regarding behavior problems,” Gillet says.
In examining the findings, they defined three distinct owner profiles based on the social and practical roles owners perceive their dogs to play in their lives. This allowed the research team to measure how the care these owners provided to their dogs differed.
What kind of dog owner are you?
Perhaps you see yourself as your pet’s parent. Or maybe you’re more of a companion or friend and colleague. Those are the primary owner profiles that Gillet and her team landed on after distilling the study’s data. Check out what the research reveals about each role.
The dog parent
If you classify yourself as a “dog parent” (like 49.5% of the study sample), you might refer to your pooch as a friend, family member or even fur baby. The deep bond you share may be more important to you than your human relationships, and you’re less likely to have a dog for practical reasons—its family-centered role is to offer close companionship. Your pup definitely lives indoors in your home and spends a lot of time with you.
You might also be an overprotective first-time dog owner. Study participants in the “dog parent” profile were the youngest overall, confirming the idea that Millennial and Gen Z pet owners are more likely to view their dogs as children or integral family members than older generations. “Dog parents” also showed inconsistencies in their dog’s education, although the researchers hypothesized this may be because they lack experience. This might also be why dog parents feel less safe with their dogs off-leash.
This group often owns: Border collies, vizslas, boxers, dachshunds and Pumi
The companion
If you classify yourself as a “companion” dog owner (like 19.4% of the study sample), you still see your dog as a friend and family member. However, you are less likely to view your dog as a substitute child, maintaining more emotional distance. You may be older than the typical “dog parent” and might not spend as much time with your pet. Yet you are likely more consistent with dog training and setting boundaries.
This group often owns: Mudi, English cocker spaniels, Labrador retrievers, boxers and German shepherd dogs
The colleague and friend
If you’re a dual-status owner (like 31.1% of the study sample), your dog will be an integral family member while also performing a practical function. You may think of your pup as a child or friend as well as a colleague. Maybe you have an assistance dog, guard dog or pup who competes in dog sports with you. You’re more likely to own a dog breed known for its smarts and working drive.
Gillet explains that the more functions your dog has, the stronger the bond. As a dual-status owner, your dog spends a lot of time in your company, is likely to be well-trained and offers you a sense of security and safety.
This group often owns: Border collies, Belgian shepherd dogs, German shepherd dogs, Labrador retrievers and vizslas
What can we learn from this study?
Through this research, we get a better picture of how humans interact and form relationships with dogs. But what does your dog ownership type actually mean for you and your pooch? Well, that remains to be seen. As Gillet explains, this study is just the initial research. It will act as a stepping stone for further studies to more deeply understand how these roles can influence your dog’s well-being—and yours.
“I think it will be necessary in future studies to include anthropomorphism,” Gillet says. This will allow a clearer understanding of whether attributing human characteristics to your dog can negatively or positively impact welfare and behavior.
She also wants to create a larger cross-cultural study examining age, parental status and the role of the dog, rather than one limited to Hungary. “We know that societal trends are usually observed first in the U.S. and Western Europe,” she says.
Don’t focus too much on labels
While this study helps inform how we view and treat our pets, dog trainer and behavior consultant Mary Angilly cautions against reading too much into your owner type. “Labels are not inherently negative, but they can affect how we interact with our dogs based on often unfounded generalizations and expectations,” she says.
It’s important to look at our dog’s well-being holistically, providing the right care, training and appropriate outlets for its natural drives, regardless of how you see its role within your household. According to Angilly, this includes focusing on good health and nutrition, the right type and amount of dog-appropriate exercise and mental stimulation, quality sleep, social interactions, management and training.
About the experts
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Gemma Johnstone tapped her experience as a writer who covers pets to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Laura Gillet, lead author of the study and PhD student in the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary; video interview, Nov. 15, 2024
- Mary Angilly, CTC, CPDT-KA, CSAP-BC, force-free dog trainer and behavior consultant based in Boulder, Colorado; email interview, Nov. 15. 2024
- Scientific Reports: “The role of dogs is associated with owner management practices and characteristics, but not with perceived canine behaviour problems”
