title: Highly Educated Men Establish Strong Emotional Links with Their Dogs: A Study with Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) in Committed Spanish Dog Owners.
abstract: The characteristics of the human-animal bond may be influenced by both owner-related and dog-related factors. A study was designed to explore the existence of different dog ownership patterns and their related factors. We created an on line questionnaire that included demographic questions about the dog and the owner, a Spanish version of the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) and a validated measure of satisfaction with life (Cantril's ladder). We collected 1140 valid responses from adult dog owners, who were recruited using the client databases of Spanish veterinary practices. We explored the presence of groups within the population using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of the MDORS variables combined with Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). Two groups were found; Group I having a higher level of emotional involvement with their dogs compared with Group II. Binary logistic regression was used to explore demographic factors that influenced group membership. Four variables were significantly associated with membership of Group I (p<0.0001); male gender of the owner (OR = 32.36), high school level of maximum educational attainment (OR = 0.052), university level of maximum educational attainment (OR = 8.652), and owner Cantril's score (OR = 0.807). The results obtained from this convenience sample demonstrate that different patterns of dog-ownership may be present within a population of owner-dog dyads, and that certain owner characteristics are associated with the type of owner-dog relationship. Future research could apply a similar approach to different types of sample population in order to identify specific patterns of dog-ownership.
authors.affiliation: Chair Affinity Foundation Animals and Health, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.|IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1013-6521
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Chair Affinity Foundation Animals and Health, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.|Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mimms, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: Chair Affinity Foundation Animals and Health, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.|IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.|INAD (Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions), Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulbena
authors.affiliation: Chair Affinity Foundation Animals and Health, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Adolf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobeña
authors.affiliation: Chair Affinity Foundation Animals and Health, Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalunya, Spain.|IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fatjó
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010067:Ownership; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires