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In a nutshell
- While dog ownership brings significant emotional benefits like unconditional love and companionship, nearly all owners (95%) cite veterinary and ongoing care expenses as their biggest challenge.
- Daily responsibilities like walks and training can be viewed either positively or negatively, suggesting successful dog ownership depends heavily on individual circumstances and expectations.
- Though most owners report more benefits than drawbacks, the research indicates potential dog owners should carefully consider both the emotional and financial commitments before bringing home a pet.
BUDAPEST — Ever wonder why so many people are bringing home furry friends these days? The numbers are staggering: 65.1 million households in the United States and 104 million in Europe now include at least one dog. While most prospective owners dream about morning walks and endless cuddles, they rarely consider the full picture of what it means to care for a canine companion. Now, a revealing new study examines both sides of the story.
A research team from Hungary’s ELTE Eötvös Loránd University set out to understand what really happens when humans and dogs share their lives. They surveyed 246 Hungarian dog owners, asking them to weigh in on everything from vet bills to emotional bonds. What they found challenges some common assumptions about pet ownership.
“We were interested in seeing if all these aspects of dog ownership could group together into bigger components,” explains Laura Gillet, lead author and PhD student at the Department of Ethology. Her team discovered three main dimensions to the human-dog relationship: the feel-good factors (emotional, physical, and social benefits), the challenges (negative emotions and practical difficulties), and the commitment factor (daily responsibilities and routine changes).
The study, published in Scientific Reports, combined two approaches to get the complete picture. First, participants rated 33 statements about dog ownership on a scale from highly negative (-3) to highly positive (+3). These covered everything from “Dogs can brighten one’s life” to “Dogs can damage property.” Then, owners shared personal sentiments about their biggest joys and challenges with their pets.
“These open-ended responses gave us an even better understanding of the costs and benefits,” notes Eniko Kubinyi, who heads the Department of Ethology at ELTE. Owners frequently described their dogs as honest, devoted partners who offered genuine, selfless love to their human families.
The strongest positive emotions centered around the bond between humans and their dogs. More than 60% of owners described their pets as bright spots in their lives, offering unconditional love and steadfast support during tough times. Many reported becoming more active and developing better daily routines thanks to their four-legged friends.
Consider the morning routine of a typical dog owner: while some people cherish those pre-dawn walks as a peaceful start to their day, others might view them as an unwelcome disruption to their sleep schedule. This kind of split reaction appeared throughout the study’s findings.
One particularly poignant finding was that dogs’ relatively short lifespans ranked as the hardest part of ownership, highlighting the emotional investment owners make in their pets. While saying goodbye to aging pets is certainly a difficult reality owners must face, the daily joy dogs bring scored highest among the positives. Overall, the good outweighed the bad — much like that muddy paw print on your favorite sweater, which somehow becomes a cherished memory rather than a laundry mishap.
But dog ownership isn’t all tail wags and tennis balls. The financial reality hit home for nearly every participant — 95% cited money as their biggest concern, particularly veterinary expenses. Other challenges included the emotional toll of caring for sick or aging pets and the limitations on travel and social activities.
The research also revealed an interesting parallel between dog ownership and parenthood, with many of the benefits and challenges mirroring those reported by parents of human children. Like parents, dog owners often cited their relationship as providing meaning, structure, and emotional fulfillment while acknowledging the significant responsibilities and sacrifices involved.
While dog ownership isn’t always a walk in the park, most participants found the rewards worth the investment. Perhaps that’s why dogs remain humanity’s most popular life coaches — even if they occasionally eat our homework
Paper Summary
Methodology
The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining a quantitative Cost/Benefit scale with qualitative open-ended questions. The scale consisted of 33 neutrally-phrased statements that participants rated on a seven-point scale. Researchers carefully worded these statements to avoid bias and allow respondents to weigh each aspect independently. Principal Component Analysis was used to identify underlying patterns in the responses.
Results
The analysis revealed three main components of dog ownership experiences: emotional/physical/social benefits, negative emotions/practical challenges, and commitment/responsibilities. Financial costs, particularly veterinary expenses, emerged as the primary concern (95% of respondents). The emotional bond and relationship qualities ranked as the most significant benefits (61% of respondents). Positive aspects generally received higher ratings than negative ones.
Limitations
The research relied on a convenience sample of Hungarian dog owners, primarily recruited through social media. This sample skewed toward working women in their forties with higher education levels living in metropolitan areas. Additionally, participants were likely more invested in dog behavior and the human-animal bond than average dog owners, potentially affecting the results.
Discussion and Takeaways
The study demonstrates that dog ownership is more complex than a simple cost-benefit analysis suggests. Individual circumstances and personalities significantly influence how different aspects of dog ownership are experienced. While financial and emotional challenges exist, most owners in the study found the relationship rewarding overall. The research also highlights the importance of realistic expectations for prospective dog owners.
Funding and Disclosures
The study was supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences through the MTA-ELTE ‘Lendület/Momentum’ Companion Animal Research Group and the National Brain Programme 3.0. The authors declared no competing interests.
Publication Information
Published in Scientific Reports on January 21, 2025, Volume 15, Article 2515 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85254-1 Authors: Laura Gillet, Borbála Turcsán, and Eniko Kubinyi from ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
