Three Things to Know
A self-reported survey by a group of over 900 dog owners revealed that a dog’s personality is the sole factor significantly influencing owner satisfaction. Age, size, and breed had no impact on satisfaction levels.
Dog owners reported that they would prioritize behavioral factors like personality, compatibility, and trainability for selecting their future dog. Physical attributes were less important in their decision-making.
Interestingly, quick decisions (less than a week) often led to higher satisfaction rates. Conversely, adopting for reasons beyond companionship, such as exercise or family requests, decreased satisfaction levels.
The Full Picture
People acquire pet dogs from breeders, pet stores, shelters, or rescues for different reasons: companionship, looks, personality, or special needs. While breeders and pet stores often cater to those seeking particular breeds, rescue dogs are frequently adopted for humanitarian motives. However, a mismatch between the dog’s characteristics and the owner’s expectations can adversely impact the animal’s well-being.
High expectations, especially based on limited knowledge, can contribute to higher return rates. Returns are also often influenced by the severity of behaviors and the commitment required to address them, which may be underestimated by adopters.
The study, “Selection Factors Influencing Eventual Owner Satisfaction about Pet Dog Adoption”, aimed to identify the factors that influence adoption outcomes, particularly the relationship between selection criteria and the success of the human-canine bond.
Study Methods
Data for this study was collected through a year-long online survey conducted from February 2020. The survey, distributed via social media and email, targeted self-identified dog owners who were willing to share their experiences and motivations. The questionnaire comprised three sections: owner demographics, information about the acquired dog, and future acquisition considerations. Participants also indicated whether their expectations were met and, if the dog was no longer in their care, the reason for separation.
Participants were asked to rank their selection criteria for past and future dogs, including age, appearance, breed, social compatibility, temperament, size, and trainability.
Study Results
Demographics
The final sample consisted of 1,537 owner-dog pairs from 933 respondents. The majority of participants were female (92%), with an average age of 51. In contrast, male participants averaged 58 years old. Most households (53%) had a single dog, and 91% of respondents expressed a desire to get another dog in the future.
Of the dogs, 88% were still living with their owners. Among those who were no longer with their owners, 75% had passed away, 18% were euthanized, and smaller percentages were rehomed or lost. Most of the dogs that were no longer with their owners had been in their care for over six years.
Acquisition Sources
The primary source of dogs for the participants was rescue or shelter organizations (55%), followed by breeders (31%). Smaller percentages were acquired from friends or family (8%), local or online pet shops (4%), found (3%), or obtained from foreign countries (less than 1%).
Owner Satisfaction
Overall, owner satisfaction was high, with 83% of adopted dogs fully meeting their owners’ expectations, 16% partially meeting them, and less than 1% failing to do so. Among owners, 90% were satisfied with at least one dog, and 76% were satisfied with all their dogs.
The majority of owners (91%) expressed interest in acquiring another dog in the future. 91% of owners satisfied with all their dogs and 96% of those satisfied with some of their dogs open to future adoptions. Notably, even 84% of owners dissatisfied with all their dogs considered getting another dog.
Relationship between Dog Selection Criteria and Satisfaction
The study found that a dog’s personality was the only factor that significantly predicted owner satisfaction among various selection criteria. This is noteworthy, given the difficulty of accurately assessing a dog’s personality, especially in shelters and rescues where stress can influence behavior. Other factors like age, appearance, breed, compatibility, size, and trainability did not significantly impact owner satisfaction.
When considering future acquisitions, the dog owners prioritized behavioral factors like personality, compatibility, and trainability. Physical attributes such as age, appearance, and breed were less important in their decisions.
Relationship between Time Spent Thinking and Satisfaction
The researchers also investigated if how long people took to adopt a dog affected their satisfaction levels. Forty-nine percent adopted within six months, 34% took six months to six years, 13% decided quickly (less than a week), and 4% took over six years.
Interestingly, owners who spent six months or more thinking about adoption were less satisfied than those who made quicker decisions. This might be because longer contemplation can lead to more rigid expectations, making it harder for the dog to meet them. In contrast, quick decisions may be based on clearer criteria, leading to greater satisfaction.
Relationship between Primary Motivation for Acquisition and Satisfaction
The main reason people adopted dogs varied. Most (55%) wanted a companion. Fifteen percent wanted a companion for their other pet, and 12% didn’t specify a reason. Other reasons included work or sports (7%), exercise (5%), family requests (5%), social interaction (1%), and protection (less than 1%).
People who adopted for reasons other than companionship, like exercise or family requests, were less likely to be satisfied with their choice. This suggests that companionship is a key factor in owner satisfaction.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter Dogs > Post-Adoption Management > Reducing Adoption Returns
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Dinwoodie, Ian R., Vivian Zottola, Karla Kubitz, and Nicholas H. Dodman. 2022. “Selection Factors Influencing Eventual Owner Satisfaction about Pet Dog Adoption” Animals 12, no. 17: 2264. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12172264