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Characterizing TV viewing habits in companion dogs
Lane I Montgomery1, Sarah Krichbaum2, Jeffrey S Katz3
1Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA. lim0004@auburn.edu.
Scientific Reports
|July 17, 2025
Summary
Dog television viewing is influenced by on-screen stimuli and a dog's personality. Understanding these factors can enhance canine enrichment and welfare through media engagement.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Canine Cognition
- Human-Animal Interaction
Background:
- Television viewing offers dogs unique perceptual experiences, potentially causing enrichment or stress.
- Limited research quantifies dog television viewing behaviors and their underlying mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a scale measuring dog television viewing behaviors.
- To identify factors influencing how dogs interact with television content.
Main Methods:
- A novel Dog Television Viewing Scale (DTVS) was administered to 453 companion dog owners.
- Principal component analysis and generalized linear models were used to analyze DTVS data.
Main Results:
- Dog television viewing scores were best explained by the types of stimuli (animals, objects) and observed behaviors (following, stationary).
- Temperament traits like excitement and negative reactivity predicted viewing component scores.
- Dogs appear to perceive 2D television images similarly to 3D environments.
Conclusions:
- Canine television viewing habits are predictable by personality traits.
- Television can be a tool for enriching the lives of companion dogs, including those in shelters.
- Further research can inform canine welfare interventions through media exposure.
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