"Don't Bring Me a Dog…I'll Just Keep It": Understanding Unplanned Dog Acquisitions Amongst a Sample of Dog Owners Attending Canine Health and Welfare Community Events in the United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the factors that result in people becoming dog owners is key to developing messaging around responsible acquisition and providing appropriate support for prospective owners to ensure a strong dog-owner bond and optimise dog welfare. This qualitative study investigated factors that influence pet dog acquisition. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 142 sets of dog owners/caretakers at 23 Dogs Trust community events. Interviews focused on the motivations and influences that impacted how people acquired their dogs. Transcribed interviews and notes were thematically analysed. Two acquisition types were reported, that each accounted for half of our interviewees' experiences: planned and unplanned. Whilst planned acquisitions involved an intentional search for a dog, unpl

SUBMITTER: Holland KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7996527 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature