Selection Factors Influencing Eventual Owner Satisfaction about Pet Dog Adoption

Abstract

Personal likes, experience, and deep-rooted interests to satisfy emotional needs such as companionship, affection, empathy, and security are some of the underlying human motivations for acquiring a pet companion. In this study, we asked how long the owner took to decide whether to adopt a dog, who their dog was adopted from, their primary motivation for adoption, a ranking of characteristics considered during the adoption process, and how satisfied they were with the eventual outcome. Participants (n = 933) to this Center for Canine Behavior Studies survey completed an online questionnaire with responses representing 1537 dog/owner pairs. A majority of participants reported satisfaction with at least one of their adopted dogs. Odds of eventual satisfaction are higher for participants who spent less than a week considering an adoption or were seeking a pet to provide companionship and affection. Participants that prioritized personality as an adoption criteria were more likely to be satisfied with their adopted dogs. A mast majority (91%) of participants reported they would consider adopting another dog in the future. Selection criteria rankings that participants indicated they would employ for future adoptions tended to shift away from physical to behavior characteristics when compared to selection criteria priorities of prior adoptions.

Self-reported motivation in the pursuit and choice of companion dogs

“…Owners living alone were more likely than other non-single owners to adopt a dog on a whim, without any self-reported expectations or reasons, similar to previous results [44]. Adopting a dog because one likes it can lead to con ict if the animal only partially meets the expectations of several people living together [45]. Of course, it is also possible that because adults living alone may be more lonely [46],…”

“…They also more often wanted a friendly family dog. Trainability and friendliness are both characteristics that would enable the dog to adapt and conform to the needs and expectations of a bigger group [45,47]. These traits, as highlighted in previous studies [22,24], often prioritize characteristics over impulsive behaviors of the dog among potential dog owners.…”

“…Nonetheless, in households with multiple adults, the harmonious coexistence of all members may take precedence over achieving exceptional sporting performance [45].…”

Pet Companion Hub

“…According to Scarlett and Johnston (2013) [12] will examine the pivotal role of animal shelters in promoting pet adoption, focusing on adoption practices and strategies for increasing adoption rates. They will investigate shelter policies and practices to ensure efficient, transparent, and satisfying adoption processes for potential adopters.…”

El diseño estratégico y su influencia en la adopción de perros criollos en el distrito de Surco, Lima, Peru 2022

“…Ahora, cuando se trata de adoptar por medio de refugios o albergues, es posible que la raza no sea relevante en la decisión. Al menos los resultados del estudio de Dinwoodie et al (2022) no mostraron que los adoptantes estén interesados en la raza del can. Esto puede deberse a que las personas que acuden a albergues para conseguir una mascota ya estén conscientes de la situación de los perros mestizos, además de no apreciar un perro meramente por su apariencia o pedigree.…”