Redefining Parenting and Family – The Child-Like Role of Dogs in Western Societies

Abstract: While many societies worldwide are experiencing demographic transitions characterized by declining birth rates and shrinking kinship networks, the rise in pet ownership, particularly dog keeping, is most pronounced in Western and East Asian urbanized societies, where pets increasingly fulfill companionship roles. Dogs, one of the most often kept pets, are largely considered integral members of the human family. An increasing number of owners have even begun to regard their dogs as their children. This phenomenon can be explained by cultural evolutionary hypotheses, which suggest that due to changes in their environment, humans have culturally redirected their biological needs to nurture and care for children towards animals. Why are dogs good candidates for this child-like role in Western societies? The aim of this theoretical review is to describe the child-like morphological, behavioural and physiological features of pet dogs and explore the similarities and differences in dog and child parenting. We also examine the motivations behind “dog parenting” and conclude that “dog parents” constitute a heterogeneous group of people who attribute child-like roles to their dogs to various degrees and for various reasons. Both are highly dependent on socio-cultural contexts, among other factors. While some owners might see their dog as a child surrogate to spoil, others actively choose to have dogs and not children, bearing in mind that they have species-specific characteristics and needs. Dog parenting can also coexist with child parenting, enhancing the idea that humans might have evolved to care for others regardless of species.