Becoming Family with Dogs: The Process of Human-Dog Family Formation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the process through which humans and companion dogs become family and to develop a substantive theory that explains the structure and meaning of this experience. To achieve this, a grounded theory approach was employed, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 adult guardians who were actively raising companion dogs. The analysis yielded 168 concepts, 43 subcategories, and 18 categories. The findings can be summarized as follows. First, the experience of becoming a family between humans and dogs was found to be structured through the interaction of human and canine characteristics within the context of perceiving dogs as responsive subjects and confronting speciesist stereotypes. Second, the process of becoming a family unfolded through the stages of exploration, adaptation, interdependence, and re-adaptation, during which humans and dogs constructed a shared life and adapted together to changing realities. Third, the core category was identified as reconstructing the meaning of existence within an expanded experiential world in which humans and dogs are intertwined. This study conceptualizes the human-dog relationship not merely as one of attachment or ownership but as an ongoing process of relational practice. Furthermore, it provides empirical evidence for multispecies family experiences in which humans and companion dogs jointly construct family life. The findings offer practical implications for understanding and supporting companion dog families, and developing relationship-centered companion dog education and animal-assisted interventions.