Three Things to Know
Using data from a large-scale UK study, researchers investigated the relationships between dog owners’ pre-purchase behaviors, their knowledge, ownership practices, and their dog’s welfare.
Unexpectedly, strong relationships between these variables were not found, and researchers were unable to identify distinct groups of owners suitable for targeted training or intervention.
Only minor findings emerged, such as longer weekly walks were linked to fewer problem behaviors while longer periods of solitude were associated with more problem behaviors, potentially linked to separation-related issues.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners:
Dog welfare professionals might be surprised by the lack of a strong relationship between pre-purchase behaviors, owner knowledge, and dog welfare. Yet, this finding has provided more evidence for some shelters to shift away from traditional, judgmental adoption assessments towards a more open and collaborative approach.
Instead of solely assessing an adopter’s readiness, these shelters prioritize open discussions that help the potential owner learn about the realities of dog ownership and find the right dog-owner match. This “open adoption” approach enhances accessibility by removing barriers for individuals who may struggle to access crucial information, such as those with limited access to veterinary resources.
The Full Picture
UK’s Animal Welfare Act mandates that pet owners fulfill five essential needs for their animals: suitable living conditions, a nutritious diet, opportunities for natural behaviors, good health, and protection from harm. However, research reveals that a significant number of dog owners are ill-prepared. Only 14% of surveyed owners were aware of these crucial needs, and a concerning 14-40% acquired dogs without adequate research or preparation.
Limited studies have explored the connection between pre-purchase preparation, owner knowledge, owner practices, and subsequent dog welfare outcomes. This study, titled “What Do We Know about Dog Owners? Exploring Associations between Pre-Purchase Behaviours, Knowledge and Understanding, Ownership Practices, and Dog Welfare”, aims to address this gap.
Study Methods
Survey
The study analyzed anonymized data from UK dog owners collected for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)’s 2017 PAW Report. The survey targeted a sample of UK adults aged 18 and above who own pets. In total ,1814 anonymized dog owner responses were gathered and analyzed.
Analysis
Researchers utilized the collected data to identify connections between pre-purchase behaviours, such as research, with owner knowledge, practices, and dog welfare. In particular, the study:
- Analyzes how pre-purchase behaviors vary by owner demographics.
- Explores relationships between pre-purchase behaviors and owner knowledge
- Explores relationships between pre-purchase behaviors and owner practices
- Explores if dog welfare is affected by pre-purchase behaviors, owner knowledge, and owner practices.
Study Results
While the study uncovered several novel relationships, researchers did not find strong connections between the examined variables, including owner demographics, pre-purchase behaviors, owner knowledge, and dog welfare.
1. How Pre-Purchase Behaviors Vary By Owner Demographics
The study analyzed how pre-purchase behaviors varied across different owner demographics. In total, the majority of respondents (81.9%) sought advice from at least one source, consulting an average of 1.56 sources.
Key findings regarding the influence of demographics on pre-purchase behavior include:
- Employment Status: Full-time students sought the most advice, while unemployed individuals sought the least.
- Socioeconomic Status: Individuals in higher socioeconomic groups (ABC1) consulted more sources than those in lower groups (C2DE).
- Education and Income: Higher education levels and household incomes consulted more sources.
- Age: Older respondents tended to conduct less pre-purchase research, potentially due to prior dog ownership experience or limited access to online resources.
The study revealed that only 6.2% of respondents sought advice from veterinary professionals, while 33.6% relied on the internet, highlighting a potential reliance on unreliable online information. Establishing a pre-acquisition relationship with a veterinarian could significantly improve future dog care.
These findings suggest that pre-purchase behaviors are associated with specific owner demographic profiles. This information is valuable for animal welfare organizations in developing targeted campaigns. By focusing on groups less likely to seek pre-purchase advice, such as older or less-educated individuals, these organizations can effectively promote more informed and responsible dog ownership practices.
2. What Are The Relationships Between Pre-Purchase Behaviours And Owner Knowledge?
Owner knowledge was assessed through various indicators. A majority (82.4%) felt informed about the five welfare needs. Over 70% used objective methods, such as consulting a vet, to assess their dog’s weight. However, only 30.8% accurately estimated the lifetime costs of dog ownership. Furthermore, only 37.2% reported they would seek behavioral advice from appropriate sources like veterinarians.
The relationship between pre-purchase behavior and owner knowledge presented a mixed picture. Owners who consulted more advice sources before acquiring their dogs demonstrated a higher awareness of the five welfare needs, were more likely to seek professional help for behavioral issues, and were more likely to use objective methods for assessing their dog’s weight. However, paradoxically, these owners were also more likely to underestimate the cost of dog ownership.
3. What Are The Relationships between Pre-Purchase Behaviours and Owner Practices?
In terms of ownership practices, respondents reported leaving their dogs alone for an average of 2.28 hours daily and walking them for an average of 9.97 hours weekly. Participants engaged in an average of 6.4 responsible ownership practices, though concerning gaps remain. Notably, 5.8% of dogs were not microchipped, 7.1% were not registered with a veterinarian, and 45.1% were not insured. Only 30.7% of dogs received formal training, while 11.2% received no training at all.
The study found a correlation between pre-purchase advice-seeking behavior and positive ownership practices. Owners who consulted more sources before acquiring their dogs were more likely to report longer weekly walking times and participation in formal dog training. This suggests that thorough pre-purchase research may better prepare owners for the practicalities of dog ownership or that individuals inclined to seek advice are generally more likely to engage in responsible ownership practices. However, no significant correlation was found between pre-purchase advice sources and the duration dogs were left alone.
4. Dog Welfare
Researchers assessed dog welfare by tallying reported problem behaviors and evaluating owners’ self-assessed dog body shape. Respondents reported an average of 1.11 problem behaviors, with jumping up at people being the most common (22.3%). Regarding body condition, 37.1% described their dogs as having the perfect shape, while 17.8% reported their dogs as fat or very fat, and 45.1% described them as thin or very thin.
Does Pre-Purchase Behaviour Affect Dog Welfare?
Those who used more pre-purchase advice sources reported a higher number of problem behaviors with their dogs, which may reflect increased awareness of behavioral issues among more informed owners. On the other hand, no link was found between advice sources and the dog’s perceived body shape.
Does Owner Knowledge Affect Dog Welfare?
No association was found between owner knowledge, such as awareness of the five welfare needs or accurate cost estimation, and the accurate assessment of their dog’s body condition. However, owners who felt informed about the five welfare needs reported fewer problem behaviors. This suggests that knowledge might play a role in preventing or addressing behavioral issues. Further research is needed to determine whether this reflects a causal relationship or simply a correlation.
Relationship between Ownership Practices and Dog Welfare Indicators
Ownership practices exhibited varied associations with dog welfare. Longer weekly walks were linked to fewer problem behaviors, likely due to increased physical and mental stimulation. Conversely, longer periods of solitude were associated with more problem behaviors, potentially linked to separation-related issues.
Interestingly, dogs of owners who attended formalized training were said to have exhibited more problem behaviors. This unexpected finding might reflect a higher likelihood of owners seeking training for dogs with existing behavioral challenges. Alternatively, it could be attributed to inconsistent or outdated training practices within the industry or increased awareness of behavioral issues during training.
These complex relationships highlight the nuanced and context-dependent nature of the link between ownership practices and dog welfare, warranting further in-depth investigation.
Conclusion
This study aimed to explore key dog ownership variables and identify distinct ownership styles. However, the researchers found no strong relationships between variables and were unable to identify specific ownership styles that required targeted intervention.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Owned Dogs > Acquisition > Research
Year of Publication:
2024
External Link:
Philpotts I, Blackwell EJ, Dillon J, Tipton E, Rooney NJ. What Do We Know about Dog Owners? Exploring Associations between Pre-Purchase Behaviours, Knowledge and Understanding, Ownership Practices, and Dog Welfare. Animals (Basel). 2024;14(3):396. Published 2024 Jan 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030396