The Human Canine relationship: Its Place in Human Well Being and Relevance in Research Design

Abstract

Introduction

The relevance of the human-canine relationship in terms of human wellbeing and its consideration by researchers in terms of future study design are posited to be worthy of raising increased awareness. In this thesis, wellbeing is defined by the Victorian state government’s ‘Better Health Channel’ as; “not just the absence of disease or illness. It is a complex combination of a person's physical, mental, emotional, and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.”

Purpose

The initial survey investigation into the relevance of physical activity and exercise on sleep, with no consideration for the human-canine relationship in its study design, forms the foundation for comparison to that which investigates the relevance of the human-canine relationship in terms of interactions and cohabitation on sleep, exercise and diet, in relation to human well-being. Collectively, these findings point to the importance of the human-canine relationship and flag awareness for its consideration in research study design.

Method

Two survey studies were conducted.

Study 1. Investigated the relationship between physical activity and exercise, and sleep.

Study 2. Investigated and compared specific contributing factors for human well-being in participants with and without a companion dog in terms of:

(a) Human-canine interaction

(b) Human-canine cohabitation

A Focus Group Study, conducted through 20 min. interactive 4 to 6 participant group Zoom discussions. Groups comprised (a) those currently having a dog and (b) those not. Subgroups, (i) companion dog owners with long term continuous dog ownership since childhood, (ii) those who do not meet criterion (i) but have had a dog for at least the past 12 months, (iii) those who had a dog in the past but not currently, (iv) those who had a dog........