Abstract

Attachment styles have been shown to affect quality of life. Growing interest in the value
of companion animals highlights that owning a dog can also affect quality of life, yet little research
has explored the role of the attachment bond in affecting the relationship between dog ownership
and quality of life. Given that the impact of dog ownership on quality of life may be greater for
assistance dog owners than pet dog owners, we explored how anxious attachment and avoidance
attachment styles to an assistance dog affected owner quality of life (n = 73). Regression analysis
revealed that higher anxious attachment to the dog predicted enhanced quality of life. It is suggested
that the unique, interdependent relationship between an individual and their assistance dog may
mean that an anxious attachment style is not necessarily detrimental. Feelings that indicate
attachment insecurity in other relationships may reflect more positive aspects of the assistance dog
owner relationship, such as the level of support that the dog provides its owner.