The Benefits of Dog Ownership on Relationship Satisfaction

SOURCE studyfinds.org
A study conducted by Hungarian researchers shows that dog owners experience greater relationship satisfaction with their dogs than with their relatives or friends. Dogs provide more support and fewer negative interactions, with high companionship, caregiving opportunities, and minimal conflict. The study found that the dog-human bond closely resembles the parent-child relationship but without as many negative interactions.

Key Points

  • Dog owners report higher relationship satisfaction with their dogs compared to human relationships.
  • Dogs offer emotional support, companionship, and minimal conflict in relationships.
  • Dog relationships most closely resemble the parent-child bond.

Pros

  • Dogs provide more support and companionship than most human relationships.
  • Dog relationships have fewer negative interactions and conflicts.
  • Dogs offer emotional closeness, ease, and predictability in relationships.

Cons

  • Having children slightly changes how people view their dogs, with parents rating dogs lower on companionship and affection scales.
  • The study sample was predominantly female, potentially skewing results towards positive dog relationships.