How Contemporary Dog Ownership is Transforming Concepts of Family and Parenting: A Scientific Perspective

As global birth rates steadily decline across many developed nations, a parallel surge in dog ownership has captured the attention of social scientists and ethologists alike. This emerging phenomenon, often characterized as the rise of “furry children,” suggests a profound shift in how humans forge nurturing bonds and redefine family structures. Recent research conducted by scholars at Eötvös Loránd University delves deeply into this intriguing intersection of demographic change and evolving pet parenting behaviors, revealing that while dogs do not literally replace human offspring, they frequently fulfill a comparable emotional and social role within contemporary society.

The demographic landscape of many affluent countries, including those in Europe, North America, and East Asia, is experiencing what demographers refer to as sub-replacement fertility. In these regions, birth rates have fallen below the threshold required to sustain population levels, posing significant implications for economic growth, social services, and cultural continuity. Simultaneously, dog ownership has risen sharply, with surveys indicating that between 25% and 50% of households in numerous European countries now include at least one canine companion. This increase is not merely indicative of pet ownership trends but symbolizes a deeper societal transformation in the conceptualization of family and caregiving roles.

To interrogate whether dogs act as surrogate offspring, researchers from the Department of Ethology at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University undertook a comprehensive review of existing literature across psychology, animal behavior, and sociology. They posited that for many individuals, dogs offer a fulfilling cognitive and emotional substitute for child-rearing. This hypothesis rests on the premise that humans possess an innate, genetically embedded drive for nurturance—a drive that typically manifests in parental behaviors—but which can also be redirected towards dependent beings that require social bonding and care. Dogs, in this light, provide an accessible and emotionally rewarding outlet for nurturing impulses, without necessitating the extensive resource commitments associated with raising biological children.

The suitability of dogs as partial replacements for children is underpinned by their remarkable cognitive and social adaptability to human communication and interaction. Dogs exhibit a wide repertoire of social behaviors that parallel pre-verbal human infants, ranging from gaze-following and joint attention to the recognition of human emotional cues. Particularly notable are certain breeds with pronounced neotenous or infantile physical traits—such as enlarged eyes, round faces, and diminutive stature—that elicit caregiving responses akin to those sparked by human babies. Beyond appearance, dogs’ reliance on humans for food, shelter, and social interaction mirrors the dependency relationship of young children, establishing a framework for bonding that resonates with human nurturance instincts.

Yet, despite this symptomatic closeness, dog ownership entails a markedly different spectrum of responsibilities compared to child parenting. As Laura Gillet, a doctoral candidate at the Department of Ethology, elucidates, one factor mitigating the perceived burden of dog parenting is the relatively short lifespan of dogs. Most owners anticipate outliving their canine companions, creating a temporal boundary absent in child-rearing, where the parental role—and associated commitments—extend across decades. Moreover, sociocultural valuations of life place greater emphasis on human welfare, often rendering the ethical and emotional investments in animal care socially distinct and, in many contexts, less demanding than those involving children.

The intersection of cultural norms and individual choice emerges as a decisive element in shaping the dog-human relationship. In many Western societies, traditionally influenced by Christian ethical frameworks, human life retains an elevated moral status compared to animals. This cultural backdrop influences not only individual decisions to adopt or forego children but also affects the intensity and nature of attachments formed with companion animals. The researchers caution against oversimplifying or romanticizing the “dog as child substitute” construct, noting that only a minority of dog owners anthropomorphize their pets to the extent of treating them exactly as children. Instead, many owners consciously appreciate their pets’ species-specific needs, nurturing a relationship grounded in respect and understanding rather than conflation.

The ethical challenges implicit in seeking child-like roles for dogs cannot be understated. The human preference for extreme infantile traits—exemplified by the popularity of brachycephalic breeds like pugs and French bulldogs—has precipitated widespread health issues within these breeds, including respiratory difficulties and skeletal deformities. This trend raises important questions about animal welfare and responsible breeding practices. Furthermore, overprotective and emotionally laden caregiving behaviors may induce behavioral problems in dogs, highlighting the disparities between human parental instincts and the species-specific requirements of canine companions.

Within the broader sociological context, dog parenting practices are diverse and dynamic, reflecting both individual life stages and shifting social environments. For some childless young couples, dogs serve as “pre-children,” providing companionship and emotional fulfillment prior to having human offspring. Later, these same dogs may evolve into roles akin to siblings within larger family units. This fluidity in relational roles challenges traditional categorizations of family and suggests that companion animals occupy a unique nexus of child, friend, and partner—each with its distinct behavioral dynamics and emotional significance.

Importantly, this evolving human-animal bond reflects and shapes wider societal trends marked by increasing social isolation and the fragmentation of community ties. Dogs, functioning as reliable sources of social support and emotional connection, offer counterbalances to the loneliness amplified by modern urban lifestyles and the dispersal of extended family networks. Consequently, companion animals are redefining the concept of family itself, extending its boundaries beyond human kinship and contributing to new modes of social cohesion.

The implications of this research extend into diverse fields spanning psychology, ethology, sociology, and public policy. Understanding the motivations and consequences of treating dogs as child-like companions informs animal welfare strategies, urban planning for pet-friendly environments, and mental health initiatives addressing loneliness. The study underscores the need for nuanced perspectives that avoid reductive interpretations and instead recognize the complex and multifaceted roles dogs play in contemporary human life.

Future research directions, as indicated by the Eötvös Loránd University team, aim to deepen insights into the dog-human relationship through large-scale, cross-cultural empirical studies. An ongoing international survey targeting dog owners seeks to unravel how cultural, economic, and personal factors mediate pet parenting practices and emotional investments. Such data promise to enrich theoretical models of human-animal interactions and inform interventions that enhance both human well-being and animal welfare.

Ultimately, the examination of dogs as “furry children” opens a compelling window onto humanity’s adaptive strategies in the face of demographic change and evolving social norms. Rather than viewing the rise in dog parenting as a mere curiosity or societal oddity, it emerges as a profound commentary on our enduring need for connection, nurture, and family—values that transcend species boundaries and redefine the contours of modern life.

Subject of Research: The evolving role of dogs as child-like companions in Western societies and their impact on family dynamics amid declining human birth rates.

Article Title: Redefining Parenting and Family – The Child-Like Role of Dogs in Western Societies.

News Publication Date: 22-May-2025

Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000552

References: Gillet, L., Kubinyi, E. (2025). Redefining Parenting and Family – The Child-Like Role of Dogs in Western Societies. European Psychologist. DOI: 10.1027/1016-9040/a000552

Keywords: dog parenting, child substitution, sub-replacement fertility, human-animal bond, companion animals, nurturance drive, family dynamics, pet ownership trends, ethology, animal welfare

Tags: contemporary dog ownershipdemographic changes in pet ownershipdog ownership statisticsemotional roles of petsethology and family dynamicsfurry children phenomenonglobal birth rate declinepet parenting behaviorsredefining family structuressocial implications of pet ownershipsocietal transformation in caregivingsub-replacement fertility impact