2025-07-02 16:13:33

Owning a dog doesn’t make a person happy.

A major new study has cast doubt on the ‘pet effect’ theory that those who surround themselves with pooches get a boost in terms of health and happiness.

Research involving 3,000 Hungarians during Covid lockdowns found that while new dog owners saw a small initial burst of cheer, it faded fast. Over time, levels of calmness, contentment, and activity actually dropped – and feelings of loneliness weren’t cured.

In fact, many who owned canines said that they felt more anxious as a result of caring for their pets.

Judit Mokos, one of the first authors of the study at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, said: “What surprised me most was that a new pet in the household had no effect on the respondents’ loneliness.

“Dog adoption is often promoted as a solution for elderly and/or lonely people. Shelters and pet food companies promote adoption as a means of alleviating loneliness.

“However, our research suggests that dogs do not provide a real solution to loneliness; rather, they make the new owners more anxious.”

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