study for the development and validation of a dog owner’s parenting behavior scale

Abstract

With the increasing population of companion dogs, the social cost derived from their behavioral problems is increasing. Therefore, it is important to understand the environment to provide experience for dogs via interactions with their owners to prevent and solve these problems. The parenting behavior of dog owners as an environmental factor has a profound impact on the behavior development of dogs, as does the parenting behavior on children. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a scale to assess the dog owner’s parenting behavior. Exploratory factor analysis involving 300 participants resulted in a scale with four subscales, Positive Education, Involvement of Socialization, Intimacy, and Stable Responses, and 19 items. Confirmatory factor analysis was then performed to verify its reliability and validity. The result of parenting behaviors assessed by this scale was significantly different between a group with dogs with problematic behavior (n = 141) and those without (n = 159). Overall, a dog owner’s parenting behavior involves affection and control aspects, but the role required specifically in the control aspect is distinguished from the parenting behavior with children. The findings in the present study will provide people who have dogs with behavior problems with effective education that will help prevent dogs from developing behavioral problems.