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The Dog–Guardian Relationship and Its Meanings: Perceptions, Expectations, and Impacts on Guardians’ Lives
by
, , , and
Tatiane Aparecida de Castro
1,
Carlos Alberto Pegolo da Gama
1,
Denise Alves Guimarães
1,
Igor Tadeu Assis
1,
Marco Aurélio Pereira Horta
2,
Paulo Henrique Araújo Soares
1
and
Vinícius Silva Belo
1,*
1
Central-West Campus Dona Lindu, Federal University of São João del-Rei, Divinópolis 35501-296, Brazil
2
Laboratory of Hantavirus and Rickettsias, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2026, 16(3), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16030523
Submission received: 3 January 2026
/
Revised: 29 January 2026
/
Accepted: 5 February 2026
/
Published: 6 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Human-Animal Interactions, Animal Behaviour and Emotion)
Simple Summary
Exploring the relationship between people and their dogs is important because this bond directly influences animal welfare, public health, and family dynamics. This study investigated how dog guardians perceive their relationship with their animals in a Brazilian municipality and how meanings such as care, responsibility, affection, and protection are constructed in everyday life. Using interviews with dog guardians, the study identified that dogs are often viewed as family members, which strengthens emotional bonds but can also lead to misunderstandings about animals’ real needs. While many guardians demonstrate strong commitment to care, gaps in knowledge about responsible guardianship, health risks, and animal behavior were observed. These findings highlight the importance of educational actions led by veterinary and public health professionals to promote responsible care, prevent neglect, and reduce risks to both animals and people. By improving communication between professionals and the community, it is possible to strengthen healthy human–animal relationships and contribute to better quality of life for animals, families, and society as a whole.
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between dogs and their guardians provides insight into the role that animals occupy within households and families and, by extension, within society. This perspective offers essential elements for informing policies and practices that affect outcomes in Public Health and animal welfare. This study aimed to comprehensively examine guardians’ perceptions, including expectations, meanings, and social roles attributed to dogs, in a municipality in Brazil. We conducted a qualitative and descriptive investigation grounded in Social Constructionism and Laurence Bardin’s Content Analysis, based on 40 semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that guardians frequently describe dogs as “family members,” “sources of joy,” “companions,” or even a form of “therapy,” underscoring strong emotional bonds and noteworthy psychosocial benefits. At the same time, the interviews revealed neutral or negative perceptions of this relationship, as well as expressions of grief following the loss of an animal and indignation toward situations of mistreatment. Taken together, the results suggest that although dogs are widely viewed in a positive light and often regarded as family members, divergent understandings of their value and roles persist, reflecting cultural tensions that influence both human and animal well-being.
Keywords:
human–animal relationship; qualitative research; dog; one health
