Source (original paper)
Kim WH, Min KD, Cho SI, Cho S. (2020). The Relationship Between Dog-Related Factors and Owners' Attitudes Toward Pets: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study in Korea. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00493
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. You may share, reuse, and distribute it if you give appropriate credit.

1. Why did they do this research?

Many people today treat their dog as family. But not all owners feel the same. Some make the dog the center of their life; others love the dog but keep some distance.

So why do these differences exist? Could factors like the dog's size, health, time spent together, or vet visits be related to the owner's attitude? This study looked at that in young owners in Korea—that is, it asked under what conditions owners tend to have a more positive view of their pet, using statistics.

2. How was the study done?

Six hundred fifty-four dog owners aged 19–39 living in Seoul took part. The team used a survey to measure two things: how positively owners felt about their pet (using the Pet Attitude Scale—e.g. "I think pets make life richer," "I see my pet as family") and dog-related factors such as size, perceived health, vaccination, recent vet visits, time spent together, and how they got the dog. They then analyzed which factors were linked to attitude scores.

3. What was linked to positive attitudes?

Several patterns appeared. More time spent with the dog was associated with higher attitude scores. Having the dog vaccinated or visiting the vet within the past year was also associated with higher scores. Dog size mattered too: owners of small dogs (10 kg or less) had relatively higher scores, possibly reflecting urban apartment life in Seoul. Owners who had bought their dog (vs adopted) tended to have lower scores, though that does not mean they loved the dog less; cause and effect cannot be determined, and many social factors may be involved. Having other pets was sometimes negatively associated with attitude in some analyses; that too can be interpreted in different ways.

4. How can we understand this?

The study does not say "good owners are like this." It does suggest that more time together may strengthen the emotional bond, that health-related behavior may go together with positive attitudes, and that the living environment and the dog's traits can shape attitudes. Just as we grow closer to people we see and talk to often, the same may hold for the dog.

5. Limitations

This was a one-time cross-sectional survey. We cannot say what caused what—e.g. whether a positive attitude led to more vet visits or the opposite. The sample was limited to owners aged 19–39 in Seoul, so we must be cautious about applying the results to other ages or regions. The dog's health was also based on owner report, not a vet assessment.

6. Scenes we can picture in daily life

Think of coming home to a dog that runs up wagging its tail. We smile and reach out to pet. When these small moments repeat every day, the emotional distance can shrink. The same goes for walks—not just going outside but sharing the same direction and the same path. Taking the dog to the vet can be a hassle, but it can also express "I am responsible for you." The study suggests that such behavior may go together with a positive attitude. The dog's size and living environment can also affect the relationship; in a small space we may see the dog more often and interact more.

What really matters?

The study does not offer a magic formula. It says: the relationship is not built in a day. Time together, care for health, and daily attention gradually shape the owner's attitude. How we feel about the dog is not just emotion—it shows in our actions and choices, and those actions can in turn change the relationship.

Source (CC BY 4.0)
Kim WH, Min KD, Cho SI, Cho S. (2020). The Relationship Between Dog-Related Factors and Owners' Attitudes Toward Pets. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00493
© 2020 The Authors. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).