A new study suggests that the rising trend of dog ownership is linked to declining human birth rates, but not in the way we might think. The study explores how the transformation of social networks and the caregiving instinct have shifted focus from children to pets.
In some countries, the number of dogs has surged to the point where it surpasses the number of children. This trend has sparked debate about whether people are choosing pets over parenting. A new study from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science, examines the connection between the rise in dog ownership and declining birth rates, suggesting that the explanation may lie in the transformation of social networks rather than a simple replacement of children by pets.
“Some say dogs are the new children, while others find this idea outrageous. Pope Francis, for example, has called it selfish for childless people to pamper pets,” Enikő Kubinyi, head of the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University, said in a news release.
Kubinyi points out that many individuals now consider their dogs family members, and in some cases, they even place their dogs above human relationships. Recent Hungarian surveys reveal that 19% of childless individuals and 10% of parents value their dogs more than any human, raising questions about the underlying reasons for this phenomenon.
“Some studies suggest that dog owners indeed have more negative views of motherhood, and mothers who own dogs find parenting more burdensome, which could reduce their willingness to have more children. In some cases, dogs may even harm romantic relationships. But that’s only one side of the story,” Kubinyi added.
On the other hand, Kubinyi argues that dog ownership might actually encourage human fertility.
“Families with children are more likely to own dogs, and some couples see their pet as a ‘practice child,’ a preparatory step toward starting a family. Women also tend to find men with dogs more attractive, which could increase the chances of fatherhood,” added Kubinyi.
The benefits of dog ownership extend further, acting as a “social glue” that promotes social interactions. Walking a dog creates opportunities for human connections, which can help build and strengthen social networks. However, potential issues arise when dog behavior problems complicate these interactions, especially if the owner relies on their dog for emotional support.
“The number of children is not declining because the number of dogs is increasing, but the same trend lies behind both phenomena: the transformation of social networks,” Kubinyi added.
Her companion animal, or more specifically, the “companion dog runaway theory,” suggests that the popularity of dogs is rooted in biological and evolutionary causes but has escalated culturally.
Kubinyi’s study highlights how the caregiving instinct and the need for social support, genetically encoded in human behavior, have shifted toward companion animals due to the breakdown of traditional human relationships.
“For example, nearly 90% of Hungarian adults do not spend even an hour a week caring for young children, even though humans evolved to engage in cooperative breeding,” she said.
The collapse of these support networks leaves many people feeling unsupported in child-rearing. Dogs provide the comfort and unconditional love that humans miss in their fractured social frameworks.
The cultural shift is further evidenced by the booming pet care industry and the trend of pet owners referring to themselves as their dog’s “mom” or “dad.” This change in dog-human dynamics indicates a significant gap in caregiving and social support within Western societies.
Kubinyi concludes that dogs have adapted to fill these emotional voids, making them essential companions in modern life.
“We need to strengthen family-based social support systems and reduce social isolation,” she concluded. “Dog ownership is a wonderful thing when it connects people rather than isolates them.”
The study has garnered recognition from the research community.
“The companion animal runaway theory provides an important new perspective on the roles that dogs have come to play in human psychological and social lives,” Hal Herzog, human-animal interaction researcher, said in the news release.
Source: Eötvös Loránd University