Study: There Are Three Kinds Of Pooch Parents

Researchers from Hungary discovered that dog owners all fit into three categories: friendly colleague; dog parent; and companion. The study of 800 dog owners found that the relationship a person has with their dog can even influence the kind of dog they choose. Friendly colleagues tend to see their dog as a security guard and fellow colleague, and are more likely to have border collies and German shepherds. Dog parents have human-like bonds with their pets, and don’t see them as being fit for practical functions. Companions keep a bit of an emotional distance and are more likely to have English Cocker Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers. 31.1% of dog owners are colleagues, 49.5% are pet parents, and 19.4% are companions. “Our results show that dogs can fill multiple (social and non-social) roles simultaneously in their owners’ lives, highlighting the complexity of the dog-human relationship,” researchers wrote. (dailymail.co.uk)