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What kind of dog owner are you? Some may see their pets as best friends or even fur babies, but according to new research, all dog owners fit into one of three distinct categories. In a new study, scientists from Hungary set out to understand exactly what role dogs play in their humans’ lives.
- More than 800 dog owners were surveyed about their relationships with their pets, what they like about them and how they fit into their lives.
- The results show that nearly all owners really like physical contact with their pooch (97.6%), the “unconditional love” they get from their dog (93.7%) and the “sight and appearance” of their dog (88.4%).
- While a quarter (24.3%) of pup parents don’t enjoy the social interactions their dog generates, 36.3% say they like them a lot.
“Interestingly, even though we collected data from online groups dedicated to family dogs, the owners weren't all the same,” explains Laura Gillet, lead study author. “We found three distinct profiles of owners whose dogs played diverse social and practical roles.”
The three types of dog owners:
- The Friendly Colleague - They see their pet as a pal and security guard, but they still have a strong emotional bond. Nearly a third (31.1%) of dog owners are this type and they usually own border collies, Belgian shepherds or German shepherds.
- The Dog Parent - Almost half (49.5%) of dog owners are this type, which have a close human-like bond with their dog. They’re most likely to have vizslas, boxers and dachshunds.
- The Companion - They have dogs for companionship, but keep an emotional distance. Only 19.4% of dog owners are in this group, and they usually have English cocker spaniels or Labrador retrievers.
Check out the article at Daily Mail