Dog guardians and genetic testing: Survey textbox responses & human-animal bond influences

Abstract

Research has yet to evaluate how direct-to-consumer genetic services for companion animals may influence the human–animal bond (HAB). US-based Wisdom Panel TM customers were invited to complete an online survey to evaluate dog guardians who had used a genetic test for their dogs. This paper presents a subset of that data in which participants provided qualitative responses and answered Likert scale questions related to genetic test use and the HAB. Our sample consisted of 253 participants who completed the HAB questions, with 126 completing one or both open-ended text box questions. Qualitative responses were deductively coded using a codebook from a previous content analysis on pet genetic company website and consumer review data. Responses to HAB Likert items indicated genetic test results allow guardians to learn more about their dog, a benefit promoted by pet genetic companies, but did not suggest the new genetic knowledge influenced their sentiments toward the tested dog. Central themes found in qualitative responses were participants using the test results to interpret their dog’s breed or other types of information (e.g. biological relatives in the Wisdom Panel database). Other themes were participants discussing their perceptions toward their dog’s test results (e.g. perceived accuracy of the results) and sharing information about their dog to give additional context to their experience of using a genetic test (e.g. dog acquisition history). Follow-up research should further explore the potential impacts companion animal genetic services may have on the HAB and utilize these findings as a framework. These lines of inquiry will especially be pertinent with the growing use of genetic services for companion animals and genetic researchers suggesting genomic technologies may be used to enhance HAB.