According to new research, the way your parents raised you could influence the way you treat your dog.
A study of dog owners in the UK and US has found that the parenting styles individuals experienced in childhood are related to the way they treat their dogs as adults.
Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Stirling asked 391 dog owners to complete an online survey.
This included assessments about the parenting styles they experienced as children and the way they care for and discipline their dogs.
The analysis revealed that participants who experienced a permissive parenting style, characterized by high warmth and responsiveness but low demands and discipline, were more likely to apply the same style to their dogs.
Parents who adopt this style tend to be very lenient, avoiding strict rules and allowing great freedom in decision-making.
They are affectionate and recognize their children's needs, but generally lack the ability to provide direction and structure.
Meanwhile, participants who experienced authoritarian parenting were less likely to be permissive with their dogs.
The way your parents raised you could influence the way you treat your dog, according to new research (file image)
A study of dog owners in the UK and US has found that the parenting styles individuals experienced in childhood are related to the way they treat their dogs as adults.
This type of parenting leans more toward clear rules and high expectations, encouraging independence while maintaining consistent discipline and open communication.
The style also tends to emphasize parental authority and the focus is on obedience rather than understanding.
The researchers wrote in the journal Animals: “This study explores how parenting styles toward dogs are influenced by one's own parenting experiences.”
“We found that a permissive parenting style tends to be passed down from generation to generation, and that people who experienced it growing up were more likely to use it with their dogs.”
Interviews with 10 dog owners confirmed that participants were deliberately replicating their own parenting experiences.
Their analysis also revealed that a “protectionist” orientation toward dogs was most common, emphasizing management and discipline.
The next most common was a “humanistic” attitude, which focuses on treating dogs more like companions and emphasizing emotional bonds.
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