Published: 09 Oct 2025 | Last Updated: 09 Oct 2025 15:56:37

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, has today launched a nationwide survey to explore how canine behaviour impacts the lives of dog owners and their families.

Now calling for adult UK-based dog owners to take part in the survey, the researchers hope the insights gathered will help veterinary professionals, canine behaviour experts and animal welfare organisations and charities provide better behavioural support for owners and their pets across the UK.

The UK is home to more than 10 million pet dogs, with approximately one in three households sharing their lives with a canine companion. While dogs often bring joy and companionship to these households, their behaviour can sometimes be challenging or even overwhelming for owners. Complicating this further, all dogs and owners are unique, and while behaviour may be considered problematic by one owner, the same behaviour may be considered desirable or cute by another.

Launching the Living with Dogs survey, the RVC’s Companion Animal Research and Engagement (CARE) Collaboratory and VetCompass Programme, aims to better understand dog owners’ experiences and the impact of canine behaviours.

Seeking to capture as many views as possible, the RVC-led research team is now inviting all adult UK-based dog owners with a dog aged 12 months or over to complete the online survey. The initial set of questions takes approximately 30 minutes or less to fill out, with the option of a further 5-minute section. Parents can also choose to involve children aged 8–17 years, providing valuable insights into how young people experience life with dogs.

Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC, said:

“Living with dogs can be immensely rewarding, but also emotionally and physically demanding, particularly when they behave in ways we find challenging. We want to better understand these experiences by learning from dog owners across the UK, whether they consider their dog to show problematic behaviour or not. This study will help us shape more effective support for dogs and the people who love them, to ultimately ease the burden on caregivers while strengthening the bond between dogs and their families.”

Zoe Belshaw, veterinary specialist and co-research lead from EviVet Research Consultancy, said:

“Our previous research shows that when dogs display behaviours which people find difficult, the impact on the whole household, including children, can be significant. What remains unclear is why some behaviours are challenging for certain households but not for others, and whether particular behaviours are especially hard to live with for everyone. By completing this survey, you will help us better understand which behaviours cause the most difficulty and how we can provide more effective support.”

Simona Zito, Grants and Programmes Manager at Battersea Cats & Dogs Home, said:

“At Battersea, our commitment to animal welfare extends far beyond the rescue work at our centres. We provide funding to a variety of veterinary and welfare programmes and organisations around the world as part of our commitment to driving positive drive in the sector. Battersea is proud to fund this research and is dedicated to working with partners to ensure the findings will be accessible, effective, and deliver real benefits for all dogs.”

To participate in the survey, visit: https://rvc.uk.com/living-with-dogs-survey-main

 Notes to Editors

For media enquiries, please contact:

• rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London. 
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and AVMA (probationary) in the USA and Canada. 
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025. 
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences. 
• The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. 
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.