Numerous studies on childbearing can be found in a European context (see, for example, Balabo et al., 2013), as no European society exceeds the replacement rate in terms of total fertility rate. Hungary is also characterized by low fertility rates. Over the past decades, family structure in Hungary has significantly changed: there has been a notable increase in the number of childless or one-child families (Spéder, 2021). There are various explanations for changes in fertility patterns, such as secularization and the widespread adoption of the Second Demographic Transition, increasing uncertainties in individual life paths, as well as more frequent economic and environmental crises.

Some international studies have shed light on the relationship between pet ownership and reproductive decisions. Laurent-Simpson (2018), for example, concluded that pet ownership can be interpreted as a viable alternative to childbearing. Meanwhile, Shir-Vertesh (2012) found that in families where a child is born, a previously considered family pet loses its status as a child. However, the relationship between pet ownership and reproductive decisions has not yet been studied in Hungary.

The aim of this research is to explore the possible relationship between pet ownership and reproductive decisions. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with childless or one-child women aged 18 to 45 who have owned a dog for at least one year and allow them into their homes. Preliminary results indicate that conscious childlessness is not related to pet ownership, as almost all childless dog owners envision having children in the future. However, many of them consider their dog as a family member and even think of the dog as a "zeroth child," but they do not believe that the dog can substitute for a child. The relationship may be reversed, as dog ownership seems to have helped them fulfill their caregiving needs due to various reasons for failed childbearing (lack of suitable partner, health issues, difficulties in balancing work and family life). Several interviewees reported that they could not reconcile childcare tasks with their paid work, but they could with dog care. This highlights that policies aimed at balancing work and personal life for Hungarian middle-class women are more likely to help realize their childbearing plans than current family policies primarily based on financial support.