"My hope is that this insight can help to build communication among people with a range of views, in which positive change can emerge" - Peter Sandøe.

The findings could help vets better support clients in managing behaviour.

New research from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies suggests a dog owner’s ethical values can influence how they manage their pet's behaviour.

Through a survey of 500 owners in the US, researchers found a clear link between a person’s ethical orientation toward animals and their preferred training methods.

Specifically, the survey aimed to determine whether certain ethical perspectives would correlate with a preference for positive reinforcement training. For example, only responding to desired behaviours or to physical correction methods, like prong collars.

The results suggest that individuals who prioritise people over animals (anthropocentric) are less likely to use positive reinforcement training methods and more likely to use physical correction.

Conversely, people whose ethics are inclined towards animal protection were more likely to use positive reinforcement training and less likely to use physical correction methods.

Interestingly, the results also suggest that people who support animals having equal rights to humans rarely use physical correction, but do not show a clear inclination towards positive reinforcement training.

Researchers hope their findings may help vets and animal behaviourists better support their clients in managing their pet’s behaviour.  

Tracy Weber, Former MSc researcher and study lead, said: “People have deeply held belief systems that frame their views of the world and impact many aspects of their lives – this includes how they train their animals.

“My hope is that this insight can help to build communication among people with a range of views, in which positive change can emerge.”

Peter Sandøe, Ms Weber's MSc supervisor and senior author of the study, said: “Scientific studies of dog behaviour play an important role when it comes to choice of training methods, but there is also an ethical side to the debate, as our study has shown.”

The study, Dog Owners' Use of Ethical Training Methods and Their Ethical Stance on the Treatment of Animals, is published in Anthrozoos.

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