Increase in Dog-Specific TV Programs in Recent Years
Stronger Reactions When Seeing Animals on Screen
As the number of people living with companion animals in South Korea approaches six million, a recent study has found that the TV viewing habits of pet dogs kept at home also vary according to each dog's personality. On July 18, Yonhap News cited research published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports by Professor Jeffrey Katz's team at Auburn University in Alabama, USA, reporting that, on average, pet dogs watch TV for 14 minutes and 8 seconds per day.
The TV viewing habits of pet dogs kept at home also vary according to each dog's personality. Photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay
The research team surveyed the owners of 453 pet dogs, investigating the dogs' personalities, TV viewing times, and behaviors. They found that dogs that are easily excitable are more likely to react to objects on the TV screen, while dogs that are timid or anxious tend to respond more to non-animal stimuli such as doorbells or car sounds. The team stated that these temperament differences could be utilized in dog training and related fields. In particular, the researchers noted that, although dog-specific TV programs have increased in recent years and dogs are increasingly exposed to various forms of media, there has not previously been a population-level assessment of how pet dogs interact with TV.
The research team also pointed out that, while TV viewing can serve as a source of mental stimulation or stress in a dog's daily life, there has been little research aimed at quantifying dogs' TV viewing behaviors and elucidating the underlying mechanisms. They emphasized that television provides dogs with a unique perceptual experience. Furthermore, the team recruited 650 dog owners for the study and, based on their responses, developed a new Dog Television Viewing Scale (DTVS) to observe the TV viewing habits of dogs, analyzing the personalities and TV viewing behaviors of 453 dogs.
The 453 pet dogs ranged in age from two months to sixteen years. Of these, 300 belonged to breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), while 153 were mixed breeds or breeds not officially included in AKC groups. The survey for dog owners included questions about whether the owner attempted to teach the dog to watch TV, how many hours per week the owner's TV was on, and the average time (in seconds) the dog paid attention to the TV. It also evaluated the dog's responses to animal and non-animal stimuli and the extent to which the dog followed objects on the screen.
The results showed that dogs tended to react more when seeing animals on the screen compared to other stimuli. It was reported that 206 dogs (45.5%) always responded to dog sounds such as barking or howling. In terms of personality, dogs that were "easily excitable" more frequently followed objects on the screen as if they existed in reality, while timid or anxious dogs reacted more to non-animal stimuli such as car horns or doorbell sounds. The research team noted that these findings may not be generalizable to all dogs, but they suggested that interaction with TV can provide dogs with rich and meaningful experiences. They also stated that differences in temperament could be used in developing training methods to correct problematic behaviors related to TV.
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