a Poodle or a Bichon Frise. Coren
adds that “People who get dogs that
require special grooming, especially
fancy clipping- such as Poodles-are
often people who care a great deal
about their own appearance and
grooming.”
TOY COLLECTOR?
Size also matters when it comes to
deciphering a person by his or her
pooch. Those same fastidious folks
who cringe at the thought of dog hair
on the décor are also likely to grow
faint at the thought of large, dirty
paws and the puddles of drool that
can go along with big dogs, so they
will most often stick to the smaller
breeds. Big dogs also typically
require more exercise, so owners of
such dogs are generally those that
like to be active in the outdoors,
people who are probably more
interested in sports than in designer
drapes.
“A
SUSPICIOUS
PERSON WILL
ALSO WANT
A DOG THAT
IS ATTENTIVE
ONLY TO
THEM, AND
WILL FOSTER
THAT DOG’S
SUSPICION
OF OTHER
PEOPLE”
Then, of course, there is the macho
factor: big dogs appeal to the male
ego in ways that even the snappiest
armpit piranha never could. As
Coren says, “People often choose
dogs to reflect their own body
image. Big men or men who feel
that they are tough, powerful, or in
control seem to like big dogs, and
little dainty women seem to like small
dogs. However, there are always
exceptions-thus Jack Nickleson has a
flock of Shih Tzus.”
ANTISOCIAL ANIMAL?
Your dog’s personality provides yet
another glimpse into what kind of
WWW.NORTHERNHILLS.CO.ZA
person you are. Friendly, outgoing
dogs usually have sociable,
outgoing owners, while more
standoffish dogs often belong to
less gregarious individuals. “Shy
and less-secure people often want
a dog that is only attentive to them,
and proves to them that they are
somehow special,” says Coren.
A suspicious person will also
want a dog that is attentive only
to them, and will foster that dog’s
suspicion of other people. Such
people may be attracted to the
guard dog breeds, but as Coren
explains, there is more than one
type attracted to the guarding
breeds. “The two extremes of
people who like guard dogs are
those who want a dog to make
them look as tough as they feel
they are, and those who worry
about the state of their world and
want a dog to protect them.”
Think about your dog’s training
(or lack thereof), as well, if you’re
wondering what people will assume
about you from your dog. According
to Coren, “A poorly trained dog
often says that the owner doesn’t
spend enough time with the dog, or
that the owner really doesn’t have
much empathy with other people,
so he or she is not bothered by the
fact the dog is pestering or annoying
others.”
A highly trained dog, on the
other hand, can be evidence that
a person simply loves interacting
and working with their dog, or it
can be a sign that a person has a
strict or controlling personality. As
for aggressive dogs, Coren says, “If
a dog has a persistent aggression
problem and is encouraged by the
owner in such behaviour, it is likely
that the owner has a persistent
hostility problem of his own.”
BEDROOM SOFTY?
How about your dog’s living and
sleeping quarters? A dog that has
the run of the entire house probably
belongs to a caring person who sees
a dog as a member of the family.
The owner of a dog kept outside,
locked into a kennel, or kept on a
chain, may lack empathy or see
a dog as more of a possession
than a friend or family member.
If Precious sleeps on her own,
custom-made, canopied velvet
bed, you are indulgent and likely
have no children; if Fido beds
down snuggled up next to you, you
are likely to be soft-hearted and
affectionate.
HEALTH-FOOD HOUND?
Even what your dog eats provides
others with a glimpse into your
personality. If you cook or prepare
your dog’s food yourself, this
indicates that you are highly health
conscious and you probably eat
healthy foods yourself. You might
also be a bit of a skeptic, as you
doubt the claims made by dog food
companies who say their foods
are healthy for your dog. You have
likely read one or more books on
dog nutrition, suggesting that you
are educated and self-directed.
However, this doesn’t mean that a
person who buys their dog’s food is
a naïve hillbilly whose idea of haute
cuisine is a freshly opened bag of
pork rinds. What we can deduce
about owners ݡ