Taking Dogs to Tourism Activities: Testing a Pet-Related Constraint–Negotiation Model

Abstract

This research's purpose is to examine the factors that affect pet owners' decisions when taking pets to participate in tourism activities. Unlike tourist traveling alone, pet owners must consider their own circumstances as well as the constraints their pets place on them. After examining 30 British dog owners' interview transcripts through interpretive approach and 388 British dog owners' surveys through structural equation modeling, the results show pet-associated constraints will negatively affect owners' motivation and behavior. however, motivated owners can still participate if they have sufficient negotiation strategies. Contrary to the literature, owners' attachment with their pets will not directly cause them to take pets when participating in tourism activities.

Pet tourism: motivations and assessment in the destinations

“…In line with the above, some studies show the relationship between attachment to dogs and motivations, both human-related and dog-related, as well as the relationship between these motivations and the assessment of the appropriateness of the destination for visiting with dogs (Carr and Cohen, 2009; Chen et al , 2013; Hung et al , 2016). More specifically, studies such as that of show the influence of dog attachment on both human- and dog-related motivations.…”

“…The design of the questionnaire was based on previous scientific literature (Carr and Cohen, 2009; Chen et al , 2013; Hung et al , 2012). Thus, the questions used to determine human- and dog-related motivations were based on the study by Carr and Cohen (2009).…”

“…In this respect, tourists’ motivations, whether dog-related or human-related, are included as an antecedent of the decision to include dogs in tourist activities (Chen et al , 2013).…”

“…tourists who do not want to stay in places where dogs are allowed). The comfort and well-being of a pet are becoming fundamental elements in analyses of the quality of the tourist experience among dog owners (Chen et al , 2013). Hence, this article focuses on the analysis of the motivations of Spanish tourists travelling with their pets, specifically with their dogs.…”

The Role of Catteries and Boarding Kennels In Enabling Tourist Mobility

“…Tourism and leisure research related to pets has so far mostly considered means by which animals can travel along with their owners (e.g., Carr & Cohen, 2009;Chen et al, 2013;Gretzel & Hardy, 2015;Kirillova et al, 2015;Wu & Cheng, 2020). Carr and Cohen (2009) argued that dog owners prefer to take their pets along on vacation, but that does not always become reality, due to the lack of pet-friendly accommodation.…”