Reported Acquisition Practices of Australian Dog Owners

SIMPLE SUMMARY: There are more than 205 pure-breeds of dogs and many mixed or cross-breeds available to those seeking to acquire a dog in Australia. It is estimated that 400,000 dogs are acquired annually but there is little information about how prospective owners make their choices and what canine attributes they prioritise when acquiring dogs. Attributes influencing owner’s choice include: physical appearance, behavioural characteristics, breed reputation, how a dog has been bred, perceived genetic soundness, and a dog’s need for rehoming or rescuing. This study considers the choices owners make in selecting their most recently acquired dogs and explores how owners prioritise various attributes. Analysis of survey results suggests that Australian dog owners fall into two distinct groups: one that prioritises the ability to rescue a dog, compatibility on meeting and how compatible they believe the dog will be with their family, and the second that prioritises attributes associated with how the dog was bred including morphotype, how a dog has been raised, genetic testing, and temperament predictability. Each group is making different but not substantially more optimal acquisition choices than one another. ABSTRACT: In Australia, the UK and the US dog ownership is prevalent with an estimated 40% of Australian households, 25% of UK households, and 50% of US households owning a dog. Once acquired, a dog usually becomes a family companion so, unlike a faulty product, it can rarely be returned or resold without some emotional impact on both the acquirer and the dog. Regarding the reality of dog relinquishment, there is a growing need for cross-disciplinary research that considers how dog owners are making their acquisition choices and, if prioritising different attributes, leads to more optimal acquisition choices. This research collected data from 2840 dog owners via an online survey and examines how owners prioritised various attributes when acquiring their latest dog. The Pearson-Blotchky analysis of survey results show owners are split into two groups, with each group prioritising different attributes or characteristics in their search for a new dog. The first group are those dog owners who prioritised: the ability to rescue a dog, how compatible the dog was on the first meeting, and how compatible they believed the dog would be with their household. The second group are those owners who prioritised: a dog’s morphology, temperament predictability, and breeding practices. While each group prioritised different attributes, neither group made substantially more optimal acquisition choices in terms of overall satisfaction with the dog that they ultimately selected.