Pet parenting: A systematic review of its characteristics and effects on companion dogs

Abstract

Pet parenting is part of the pet-guardian relationship and involves caring for companion animals by applying strategies typically seen in the parent-child caregiving system. This phenomenon reflects a shift in the perception of companion animals, particularly dogs. We conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of these patterns of dog-directed parenting. Fifteen articles on pet parenting involving companion dogs were analyzed. The results were thematically grouped into three sections. The use of parent-child terms related to companion animals and guardians (first section) showed that familiar terms (e.g., father) are widely used within pet parenting and that factors such as familiarity with the conversational partner, culture, and the existence of children affect their usage. The influence of offspring, culture, and gender on pet parenting (second section) included studies indicating that having children was negatively associated with attachment intensity and resource investment. We also described research pointing to common factors and disparities in cultures experiencing this phenomenon. The pet parenting styles (third section) discussed studies that identified traditional parenting styles and dimensions within the dog-guardian relationships (i.e., authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive), characterized by guardians’ level of demand and responsiveness toward their dogs. Moreover, we described findings regarding the impact of pet parenting styles and dimensions on dog’s health, attachment, sociability, and problem-solving behaviors. Results of this review are discussed to comprehensively characterize the pet parenting phenomenon in relation to dogs; overall, they emphasize the relevance of adopting authoritative strategies to parent, educate, and train dogs, which directly impact on dog’s well-being.