Understanding Dog-Human Companionship
Based on the survey of 749 dog owners, this study identified seven underlying dimensions that form the foundation of dog companionship, including: symbiotic relationship; dog-oriented self-concept; anthropomorphism; activity/youth; boundaries; specialty purchases; and willingness to adapt.
This article reports findings from a survey of 749 dog owners. The study focused on owners’ interactions with their dogs. This research identifies seven underlying dimensions that comprise the construct of dog companionship. The dimensions include symbiotic relationship, dog-oriented self-concept, anthropomorphism, activity/youth, boundaries, specialty purchases, and willingness to adapt.
Results suggest that certain demographic variables “in particular gender, age, and education level, as well as length of dog ownership, amount of quality time spent with the dog, and whether the dog is purebred or mixed breed” relate to these dimensions.
[Excerpt from ScienceDirect.com]