Study shines light on why we choose certain dogs

Most dog lovers have a certain breed that they hold near and dear to their heart. They may love all dogs, or at least most of them, but there is that one breed that they place on a pedestal above the rest. For me, it’s boxers. I don’t know why. I didn’t grow up with boxers. I actually rescued a boxer when I was in my mid 20’s and she was the first boxer I had ever known. So why did I gravitate toward the breed?

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Since then we’ve had multiple boxers and they have all been as wonderful as the first. If we ever go anywhere and see a boxer, I am drawn to him and compelled to ask the owner if I can snuggle him. A recent study reveals that there may be some science behind why we choose the dogs that we do. According to the Natural Balance Canine Personality Study, Americans tend to enjoy breeds that are just like them.

What does that mean, you ask? It may be possible that people gravitate toward breeds that eat, socialize and interact with their world in much the same way that the human does. The survey polled 1,015 U.S. dog owners. It was conducted by Natural Balance Pet Foods in conjunction with Learndipity Data Insights.

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The research collected shows that 66 percent of extroverted people have extroverted dogs, and 65 percent of introverted dogs have an introverted owner. It also shows that if you are a picky eater, your dog is more likely to be fussy too. Similarly, if you identify yourself as a lifelong learner, there is a 72 percent chance that your dog will be good at learning tricks.

The survey shows that dogs and humans, at least according to the humans, form deep emotional bonds that go far beyond taking walks and playing fetch. 79 percent of the dog parents surveyed said their pet actively and consciously attempts to comfort them and 55 percent say they can see the love in their Fido’s eyes when they look at him. 52 percent of dog owners who completed the survey said they believed their dog could sense when they are sad.

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Any dog lover will tell you that their dog has a personality of his own, and most pet parents do think of their dogs as a furry member of the family. Maybe that’s why 90 percent of the dog owners who were questioned for this survey believed that if they were late returning home from work or something bad happened to them, their dog would be worried about them. 93 percent said they were certain they have seen their dog smile, and 79 percent believe their dog can feel embarrassment.

If I had taken this survey, I’d have to say that I probably would have agreed with every statement. I am one of those dog lovers that believes canines have feelings and that they have the ability to bond with humans on a deeper level than just master and dog. We don’t call them man’s best friend for nothing!

We’ve owned numerous dogs over the years and I can say that they most certainly have each had their own personality. Yes, some of our dogs have been similar, but they are also all unique in their own ways. I think that any responsible pet parent should do their research before adopting a dog to make sure that they choose one that meets the requirements of their lifestyle. So that begs the question, is this research scientifically based, or did most of these pet parents educate themselves about the breed they were adopting to make sure the dog would fit in with their family?

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