A Comparison of the Feeding Behavior and the Human–Animal Relationship in Owners of Normal and Obese Dogs

Abstract

Inadequate compliance of owners is a major problem in the prevention and treatment of canine obesity. Warnings on possible health risks of obesity are often disregarded, and owners argue that they love their pet so much that they just cannot deny it treats in the form of food. To find an adequate psychological approach for practitioners in nutrition consultation, we investigated the human-animal relationship, the feeding and care of the dogs and certain personal characteristics (such as eating and health behavior) of 60 owners of obese dogs in comparison with 60 owners of normal dogs.