Dogs’ reactions to television vary widely and appear to be driven more by individual temperament than by breed, age or prior exposure, according to a peer-reviewed study published 17 July in the journal Scientific Reports. Researchers at Auburn University surveyed the owners of 453 pet dogs, using a newly developed Dog Television Viewing Scale to capture how often animals barked, chased, pawed or otherwise engaged with on-screen stimuli. Roughly 45% of dogs always responded to canine sounds such as barking or howling, while interest in non-animal content was markedly lower. The analysis found personality to be the dominant factor. Excitable dogs were more likely to follow moving objects on the screen, sometimes searching behind the set when the action disappeared. Anxious or fearful animals reacted more strongly to everyday noises such as doorbells and car horns, suggesting that certain programming intended to soothe pets may instead heighten stress for some. Demographic variables—including age, sex, breed and the amount of time a television was left on—showed no statistically significant influence on viewing behaviour. The authors say the results could help veterinarians, trainers and content producers tailor visual enrichment tools to individual dogs rather than relying on one-size-fits-all channels.