Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The relationships formed between dogs and their owners are not only moulded by a large number of factors, but they also have the potential to significantly impact the physical and mental well-being of both dog and human. In the present study, the effects that the amount of formal activity and training may have on the dog-human relationship were investigated and compared to dyads who self-reported having had no previous experience and/or currently not undergoing any form of formal activity or training.
Data were collected by inviting owners of dogs in Sweden to complete an online questionnaire, which included details of their experiences with the type of formal activity and training undertaken with their dog. The questionnaire also included questions related to the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS).
A total of 1775 respondents completed the questionnaire, on which further analysis could be undertaken. Of the three MDORS subscales, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found to occur in the Emotional Closeness subscale between dogs defined as undertaking <5 hours/week activity (N=288) and dogs defined as undertaking >5 hours/week activity (N=1333), with the group reporting an activity level of <5 hours/week scoring higher. A difference (p < 0.05) was also found to occur in the Perceived Costs subscale between dogs defined as companion-only (N=154) compared to dogs defined as undertaking >5 hours/week activity, with the group reporting an activity level of >5 hours/week scoring higher.
Thereafter, based on the reported activities, two small categories were selected from the initial group of respondents in order to complete two further online questionnaires (the Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Experiences in Close Relationships-revised (ECR-R)), as well as to participate in an attachment test, the Separation- and reunion test (SRT) with their dogs. This section of the study included a limited sample size and was mainly undertaken as an exploratory pilot study. Results from the ASQ and ECR-R questionnaires found no significant differences between dyads defined as companion-only dogs (N=7) and dyads defined as undergoing some form of formal activity (N=7). No significant differences in the behaviours exhibited by the dogs during the departure, separation and reunion phases of the SRT were found to occur when companion-only dogs were compared with dogs undergoing formal activity.
The study indicated that owner perception of certain aspects of their relationship with their dog was influenced by the types of activity they do together as well as the amount of time spent on the activity, when utilising the MDORS. However, no differences in the dog’s attachment behaviour were observed related to whether or not the dyad participated in any activities, indicating that the dog’s experience of the relationship to the owner was unaffected by the amount of activities. Further analysis would be required to more fully elucidate the underlying factors and motivations involved in the development of the dog-human relationship and the resultant bond formed.