Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The human–dog relationship is widely recognized for its potential to promote physical and
psychological well-being in owners. However, research has traditionally focused on the benefits to
humans, while the dog’s perspective has been less studied. This study aims to explore positive
experiences of dog ownership from both the owner's and the dog's point of view, with attention to
how these may relate to the dog's body size, measured by weight.
A total of 141 dog owners completed a web-based questionnaire distributed via social media and
university channels. Dogs were categorized into four weight groups: <10 kg, 10–<20 kg, 20–<30
kg, and ≥30 kg. The questionnaire included both quantitative and qualitative items addressing
quality of life, emotional support, preferred activities, and perceptions of the dog’s behavior and
emotional expressions. Results showed that 82% of owners reported that dog ownership greatly
improved their quality of life, and 84% stated that their dogs often or always provide emotional
comfort. Love and joy were the most frequently reported emotions experienced by owners when
spending time with their dogs. Owners of larger dogs more often reported a sense of security,
which may indicate a perceived connection between physical size and emotional stability. These
results are descriptive and not based on inferential statistics.
From the dog's perspective, behaviors associated with happiness, such as tail wagging, physical
activity, and social contact, were commonly reported across all weight classes. Some activity
preferences appeared to vary with size; for example, owners of larger dogs more frequently
described their dogs as enjoying swimming, tug-of-war, and search games. While this may partly
reflect breed-specific traits, it is also possible that such differences are shaped by owner behavior.
While owners described both themselves and their dogs as enjoying physical activities, they more
often emphasized their own preference for calm, quality time, whereas their dogs were perceived
as preferring play. This may illustrate interspecies differences in social interaction and
communication.
This study underlines the importance of considering both human and animal perspectives when
assessing welfare and satisfaction in pet ownership. It also contributes to the understanding of how
dog characteristics, such as size, may influence the dynamics of the human–dog relationship.