A Scoping Review of Education for Dog Owners in South Korea

Abstract

Background and objective: With the growing population of pet owners, the roles and responsibilities of dog owners are becoming increasingly important. However, research on dog owner education in Korea remains limited. This study analyzesthe characteristics, trends, and educational content of dog owner education in Korea through a scoping review and examines future research directions. Based on these findings, it proposes strategies for the advancement of educational research. Methods: Using electronic databases, we identified studies published between 2010 and 2024 and selected 18 studies following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Results: Research on dog owner education has gained momentum since 2018, with a focus on dog training and the development of educational programs. Quantitative and mixed methods approaches dominated, covering topics such as training for behavioral problem-solving, socialization, ethical responsibility, emotional stability, and owner competency development. Based on these findings, future research should focus on developing a customized educational approach that encourages active owner participation and continuous feedback, expanding mandatory education programs led by local governments to enhance animal welfare, introducing psychological support programs to improve owners' emotional stability, and implementing competency-based evaluations to design more effective training programs. Conclusion: This study discusses the need to apply coaching methods in dog owner education, strengthen ethical responsibility and legal awareness through educational approaches, and explore meditation and yoga programs for emotional stability andpsychological support. Further research is also needed to train professional coaches specialized in dog owner education. This study confirms that dog owner education must go beyond mere training or behavior correction and adopt a multidisciplinary approach that integrates education, psychology, ethics, and policy research. Therefore, future empirical and policy research should be conducted in a balanced manner to contribute to the advancement of pet culture and the improvement of animal welfare.