A comprehensive study of dog guardianship in Denmark has revealed relationships between socioeconomic position (SEP) and various aspects of dog guardianship practices. The research provides valuable insights into how socioeconomic factors influence not only who adopts or purchases dogs, but also how they are acquired and the reasons people have for keeping them.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Copenhagen, used a probability sample of 2,112 Danish citizens aged 18-89 years. By combining questionnaire data with official register data, the researchers were able to investigate four SEP indicators: family income, education, occupation, and neighborhood SEP.

Approximately 20% of Danish families were found to have a dog, a proportion that has remained stable since 2000. The study found that when life course and lifestyle factors were taken into account, there was no significant relationship between socioeconomic status and dog guardianship. This contrasts with findings from other countries, where clear socioeconomic patterns in dog guardianship have been observed.

However, the study did uncover significant socioeconomic differences in dog acquisition practices and the reasons people have for keeping dogs. For instance, families living in high-SEP neighborhoods and those with higher incomes were more likely to pay premium prices for their dogs. In the highest SEP neighborhoods, 39% of dogs were purchased for more than 9,999 DKK (around $1,400 USD), compared to only 14-17% of dogs in lower SEP neighborhoods.

The choice of dog breed was also linked to socioeconomic factors. People in high-status occupations and with high family incomes were less likely to acquire mixed-breed dogs, while those with low-skilled jobs or uncertain job market connections and low family incomes were more likely to have mixed-breed dogs. For example, 69% of dogs in the highest income quintile were pedigree dogs, compared to only 43% in the lowest income quintile. The reasons people gave for having a dog varied according to neighborhood SEP and education level. Families in high-SEP neighborhoods were more likely to acquire a dog for exercise-related reasons. This could reflect differences in leisure time behavior or the “walkability” of different neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, education level was associated with different motivations for dog guardianship. People with higher levels of education were more likely to say they had a dog simply because they enjoy animal company (61% for those with high-level tertiary education vs. 42% for those with only compulsory schooling). In contrast, those with lower levels of education were more likely to cite instrumental purposes and social support as reasons for having a dog. The study also revealed a connection between education level, social isolation, and the use of dogs for social support. Among people who frequently felt involuntarily alone, 38% of those with only compulsory schooling mentioned social support as a reason for having a dog, compared to 0% among those with high-level tertiary education.

These findings have several implications for animal welfare and public health:

1. The socioeconomic differences in dog acquisition practices suggest that interventions to promote responsible dog guardianship may need to be tailored to different socioeconomic groups.
2. The higher prevalence of mixed-breed dogs among lower-income families could have implications for animal shelters and rescue organizations, which often care for mixed-breed dogs.
3. The use of dogs for social support, particularly among less educated individuals who feel socially isolated, highlights the potential mental health benefits of dog guardianship for certain groups. This could inform public health strategies aimed at reducing loneliness and improving mental wellbeing.
4. The tendency for people in high-SEP neighborhoods to acquire dogs for exercise purposes could be leveraged in public health campaigns promoting physical activity.

For animal advocates, these findings offer valuable insights:

1. Efforts to promote adoption of mixed-breed dogs might be more effectively targeted at lower-income communities.
2. Education campaigns about responsible dog guardianship and the benefits of mixed-breed dogs could be tailored to different socioeconomic groups.
3. The strong emotional bonds that many people form with their dogs, particularly among higher-educated individuals, could be leveraged in campaigns promoting animal welfare.
4. The use of dogs for social support among certain groups could be highlighted to promote the adoption of shelter dogs, particularly among older or socially isolated individuals.

This study demonstrates that while dog guardianship itself may not be strongly linked to socioeconomic status in Denmark, the ways in which people acquire and relate to their dogs are influenced by socioeconomic factors. As in many other areas of consumption, the acquisition of, and reasons for keeping, a dog are linked to socioeconomic status. They also suggest that dogs play different roles in emotional and mental health at different educational levels.These findings underscore the relationships between humans and dogs, and highlight the need for novel approaches to promoting responsible dog guardianship and animal welfare across different socioeconomic groups.