- Of 1,000 dog owners, scientists found that purebred dogs, especially Labradors, were the most avid viewers.
Many of us love nothing more than to curl up on the couch with the dog and turn on the television.
But it turns out that our pet enjoys the playpen as much as we do – research shows that eight in ten dogs enjoy watching TV. Some are even happy to sit and watch long movies.
After surveying more than 1,000 dog owners about their pets’ TV habits, scientists found that purebred dogs, especially Labradors, were the most avid viewers, opting mainly for programs about other dogs.
They also enjoyed shows about nature, cartoons and cats. Winter sports and skating were among the least favored.
After surveying more than 1,000 dog owners about their pets’ TV habits, scientists found that purebred dogs, especially Labradors, were the most avid viewers
Eighty-six percent of dog owners said their pet watched TV
Overall, an astonishing 86 percent of dog owners said their pets watched TV, but researchers warned against leaving videos for dogs home alone to watch, as some dog viewers may become overexcited, with 1 percent watching screen jumps.
Most dogs (72 percent) looked at screens at least once a day, with the average session lasting no longer than 20 minutes. However, some owners said their pet would sit and watch an entire movie, actively engage with the content and respond to the plot.
The researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US also found that dogs can be attracted to watching TV by the sound of a familiar song, voice or jingle.
Staring at the screen was the most common behavior, observed in 54 percent of dogs, while 19 percent barked, howled, whined or growled.
Dogs also seemed to prefer newer TVs — one owner said their pet showed more interest in watching after the family upgraded.