WHAT KIND OF DOG OWNER ARE YOU? SCIENTISTS SAY ALL POOCH PARENTS FIT INTO THREE DISTINCT CATEGORIES

Dogs are often called “man’s best friend,” but a new study suggests that some owners might want to reconsider this label for their pets.

Researchers from Hungary surveyed 800 dog owners and found that they fell into three distinct categories.

“Interestingly, even though we gathered data from online groups focused on family dogs, the owners weren’t all alike,” explained Laura Gillet, lead author of the study from Eötvös Loránd University.

“We identified three distinct profiles of dog owners, each with unique views on their pets’ social and practical roles.”

The ‘friendly colleagues’ group sees their dog as both a co-worker and a security guard, but they also share a strong emotional bond.

‘Dog parents,’ by contrast, have a close, almost human-like connection with their pets and don’t focus as much on their practical roles.

Finally, ‘companions’ keep dogs mainly for company, though they maintain some emotional distance.

So, which type of dog owner are you?

In Western cultures, many dog owners view their pets as best friends, family members, or even “furry children.”

However, until now, little research has explored how this societal trend influences both the lives of the owners and their dogs.

In their new study, researchers set out to better understand the role dogs play in today’s world.

They surveyed around 800 dog owners about their relationship with their pets, including what they love about them and the role their dog plays in their life.

The results showed that nearly all owners (97.6%) enjoyed physical contact with their dog, appreciated the “unconditional love” their dog offers (93.7%), and found joy in their dog’s appearance and beauty (88.4%).

However, other benefits were less universally shared. For instance, about a quarter of owners (24.3%) didn’t experience social benefits from having a dog, while 36.3% found it to be a significant perk.

Based on these findings, the researchers identified three distinct categories of dog owners.

For 31.1% of dog owners, their pets serve both practical and emotional roles. These owners, classified as ‘friendly colleagues,’ typically own breeds like Border Collies, Belgian Shepherds, or German Shepherds.

The largest group, 49.5% of owners, have a close, almost human-like bond with their dog and don’t view them primarily for their practical functions. These ‘dog parents’ often have breeds such as Vizslas, Boxers, or Dachshunds.

Finally, 19.4% of owners keep dogs mainly for companionship but maintain some emotional distance. These ‘companions’ generally own breeds like Mudis, English Cocker Spaniels, or Labrador Retrievers.

“As we suspected, several factors related to both dogs and their owners were linked to these three profiles,” said Professor Eniko Kubiny, head of the Department of Ethology.

“For example, dogs with dual functions were often seen as very obedient and were trained using positive reinforcement methods, such as clicker training, along with professional training techniques.”

The researchers hope these findings will spark further exploration into the complex bond between humans and their dogs.

“Despite the growing trend in Western countries where dogs are increasingly seen as family members offering unconditional love and support, this study underscores that not all dog owners view their pets the same way, even within a sample group interested in dog behavior studies,” the researchers wrote in their study, published in Scientific Reports.

“Our findings reveal that dogs can fulfill a range of roles—both social and non-social—in their owners’ lives, emphasizing the complexity of the dog-human bond.”