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Animal Science Journal (2010) 81, 377–383

doi: 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2010.00741.x

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The influence of dog ownership in childhood on the sociality of elderly Japanese men asj_741 377..383

Miho NAGASAWA and Mitsuaki OHTA
Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Japan

ABSTRACT
In Japan, care for the elderly has been a serious social issue. The relationship between dog ownership and health of the elderly has attracted considerable attention, but it is still unclear whether dog ownership affects the health of owners. In this study, we focused on the experiences of dog ownership in the past. The questionnaire survey was conducted targeting elderly Japanese men and asking them to clarify whether the experience of dog ownership in the past influences their current mental and physical health. To examine the characteristics of the experience of dog ownership, we divided past dog owners by a hierarchical cluster analysis using the variables related to the experiences of dog ownership. We added the
‘never owned a dog’ group to the three groups that were provided by the cluster analysis, and conducted analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analysis using the variables of physical and mental health. The results showed that the group that owned their first dog at an early age and owned more dogs later scored higher in the companionship and social support scales. These results suggested that the experiences of dog ownership in childhood were related to the sociality of older men, such as the enhancement of their companionship with others.

Key words: childhood, dog, elderly, mental health, ownership.

INTRODUCTION
According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the proportion of older people aged 65 and above is rapidly increasing, and it will be over
25% of the total Japanese population in 2015 (Ministry of Health & Labour and Welfare 2003). Care for the elderly has been a serious social issue in

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