- Of 1,000 dog owners, scientists found that purebred dogs, especially Labradors, were the most avid viewers.
Many of us like nothing more than cuddling with the dog on the couch and turning on the television.
But it turns out our pet may be enjoying the box as much as we are: research reveals that eight out of ten dogs love watching TV. Some are even happy to sit and watch full movies.
After questioning more than 1,000 dog owners about their pets’ television habits, scientists found that pedigree dogs, especially Labradors, were the most avid viewers, primarily choosing to watch shows about other dogs.
They also enjoyed shows about nature, cartoons and cats. Winter sports and ice skating are among the least favored.
After questioning more than 1,000 dog owners about their pets’ television habits, scientists found that purebred dogs, especially Labradors, were the most avid viewers.
Eighty-six percent of dog owners said their pet watched television.
Overall, a surprising 86 percent of dog owners said their pet watched TV, but researchers cautioned against leaving videos for dogs to watch alone at home, as some canine viewers can get too excited, and 1 percent cent rushes towards the screen.
Most dogs (72 percent) looked at screens at least once a day, and the average session was no longer than 20 minutes. However, some owners said their pet would sit and watch an entire movie, actively interacting with the content and reacting 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 the dogs, while 19 percent barked, howled, whined or growled.
Dogs also seemed to prefer newer TVs: One owner said his pet showed more interest in watching them after the family upgraded.