Sarah Wilson, featured in Why We Love Cats and Dogs |
Update February 19, 2009: Professional dog trainer and behaviorist Sarah Wilson answers Five Good Questions on PBS Engage.
Every dog owner has a unique bond with his or her pet. But what does that relationship say about us? What does the way we treat our pets say about ourselves? Sarah Wilson asked herself this question, and came up with her list of the nine different behavior patterns seen in dog owners. What personality type are you?
THE FEELERS
The Angel: Angels, as their name suggests, are all about saving dogs with love. They almost always adopt or rescue their pets, and if circumstances allow, they will rescue multiple dogs, and often own other types of pets as well, including cats, rabbits, gerbils, and birds. Many Angels may have dogs with special needs—such as a missing leg or eye, or animals that have been abused by previous owners. Angels have trouble disciplining their dogs, and hate to use any kind of force. As long as their pet is happy, Angels will tolerate lots of “naughty antics” and even disregard poor housebreaking.
The Soul Mate: Loving, attentive, and empathetic towards their dogs, true Soul Mates value the deep-feeling connections they develop with their pets. Soul Mates are always thinking of their pets’ safety and wellbeing, and a Soul Mate’s dog is always very well taken care of. Soul Mates are also known to take their dogs on many trips, adventures, and outings. As a result, their dogs are usually very well socialized.
The Free Spirit: Free Spirits have no interest in controlling their dogs. They want a stress-free, laid-back relationship, where their dogs have unlimited freedom to do whatever they want. Free Spirits often have high-powered, executive jobs that require constant decision-making. When they get home to their dog at night, they want nothing more than to just let their dog call the shots.
THE THINKERS
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The Idealist: Idealists set very high, but realistic standards for themselves and their dogs. They believe there is one way to do things, and that is the right way. They like an orderly home, and make very good, loyal friends. Rules are very important, and they are disciplined, dependable, and strong. They expect the same of their dogs, but are often elated when their dogs bring a little bit of chaos to their homes — convincing them to loosen up a bit.
The Expert: Experts believe that the best way to keep their dogs safe and happy is to learn everything they can about owning a dog, training, and their specific breed or mix. An Expert will do extensive research before purchasing or adopting a dog. They are often extremely intelligent, with a sharp wit and an excellent sense of humor. They thrive on learning, and make sure their dogs do too. Experts will have their dogs enrolled in obedience, agility, and training classes.
The Observer: Observers appreciate their dogs as dogs and are fascinated by their behavior. Thinking like scientists, observers gain pleasure from watching their dogs and trying to figure them out. Everything their dogs do is a delightful puzzle, and Observers can easily lose track of time while watching animals be animals. Jane Goodall is a classic Observer, as are many loyal NATURE viewers!
THE DO-ERS
The Dynamo: Dynamos are busy people who get a lot done in a day. They are hard workers who stick to a tight and hectic schedule. Most of all, Dynamos are reliable. Their dogs are very well taken care of, and benefit from their daily routine. After going, going, going nonstop all day, a Dynamo can feel drained or empty. Some love from a dog recharges them, soothes them, and helps them keep their priorities straight.
The Master: Masters see themselves as more than dog “owners” — they are coaches, teachers, and leaders. They are extremely persistent and patient, and form their strongest bonds with their dogs by working together. Training takes on an important role, and many Masters are involved in agility and obedience competitions. Masters communicate constantly with their well-trained dogs, and the connections they form are often impressive. Masters need to feel in control, and their posture, gestures, and demeanor all signal leadership.
The Buddy: Buddies are high-energy, full force funsters. They are all for dog sports and outdoor adventures, anytime. They form connections with their dogs by sharing experiences with them. As confident, strong leaders, Buddies have no problem training their dogs. In fact, their dogs seem to naturally fall into step with their owners — the perfect Buddy System. This can be a wonderful and exciting life for both the owner and the dog.
(9 votes)
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These nine personality types, which are expanded in the book Dogology, by Vicki Croke and Sarah Wilson, are fascinating and incredibly true to life. Reading about and identifying mine and my husband’s types has helped me understand more about why we each relate to our dogs as we do and even some of why we relate to each other and our children as we do.
Well, I’m an observer. No surprise there I guess, as I work in science! ;) The personality types are neat and certainly got me thinking….can’t wait to see the show!
I am an Observer, with a fair side of Master/Buddy to go with it. My Partner and I both Loved the book and our family can’t wait for the show!!!!
I have read the book, again, and again, each time finding subtle nuances of my types. I am a hybrid of
Idealist, Master, Do’er, with a hint of Observer.
Your dog owner types remind me a bit of Myers-Brigg’s personality types, which I’ve always found kind of fascinating and rather helpful in understanding how people interact with each other and how they work and play. So it’s kind of neat to see a version that’s really focussed on how we interact with our animals. And it rings true, I think, when I read the descriptions and think of myself and other people I know.
I am a soulmate. :)
I loved Sarah’s book, Dogology– learning about the relationship types has changed the way I look at the dog owner relationship, including my own! I can’t wait for the show to air!!
I’m a soulmate with some idealist thrown in as well. :) I LOVED Dogology – it helps me understand other peoples’ relationships with their pets. Ultimately, I think it helps pick out the best pet to fit my personality.
I am a Dynamo — with a bit of Observer mixed in — but then, I probably would not be able to have 2 border collies in NYC if I wasn’t!!!
Can’t wait to see the show!!!
I think I’m all of those people! Does that make me a split personality? LOL
This program is very interesting. I learned that I was a Soulmate to my sweet girl Bear (17 year old Schipperke). I lost her the day before Thanksgiving. I miss her very much!
I missed the very first of this but saw enough to get the gist. I want to find out more as I know that the two Boxers and two cats that my daughter has have given her the day to day support to face each day and night after her husband recently died.
Wow. Soulmate, definitely. Each of my dogs (Shadow passed 3 yrs ago; Zephyr is 10 now) is a part of me. They have each defined my life, work, fun. Shadow & I traveled/camped together all over the country! Now it’s just Zephyr and me. We live a quieter life at home, but my favorite part of any day is taking long walks in the park or along the river with him. I can’t imagine not having him.
Great show! Thanks mom for calling and telling me about it. :-)
If I had a dog, I would probably be a mix between an observer and a soul mate. I love dogs and when I get to know those my other family members own, I tend to have feelings of happiness just for seeing the dog be a dog and for the friendships (I’m sure many people can agree with that, as well). Too bad I can’t have my own dog to see if that is true. :_(
Okay, I’m an observer. Of Norwegian Elkhounds. I, and my family, have owned them for over fifty years. I can’t say enough in praise of them. They’re all slightly different but they are all characters. I thoroughly enjoy watching them occasionally outsmart me! And I’m 65 years old and have an IQ better than 150. It takes intelligence to fully appreciate a Norwegian Elkhound’s intelligence. You don’t hunt moose by being dumb, because if you’re a dog the moose will kill you if you don’t outsmart him! And, yes, I am a scientist. Leif is my companion. He goes where I go. If he can’t go there, I don’t go either.
I planned my time so I could watch this program. I fell asleep and missed it. Please
show it again
I’m a mutt! A bit Soul Mate, Master and Expert.
It will run many more times, I am sure. As for your type – some of us are purebreds and some of us are glorious mixes and any combination is normal. The point is to ponder – and laugh. :)
Very, very interesting stuff. Kudos to you, Ms. Wilson. I was really impressed with your bits on the show. I enjoyed your insight into the owners, as well as reveling in the breath of fresh air regarding dogs and their behaviour! Thank you! I’m off to buy your book.
I so enjoyed the show and was very interested in Sarah Wilson’s breakdown of owner’s behavior patterns – she was right on the money with regard to my husband, myself and a few dog owner friends I know. Having a rescued greyhound, I am a combo of expert, angel and soul mate. I appreciate the enlightenment. Will look for Wilson’s book for sure!
I believe that Juno, my dog, and I are Soul Mates, but the master, expert, and observer describe me as well. If you can be all of these for your dog, you will have a very rewarding relationship with your pet.
Dorothy Tracey: Not to fret – you can watch it online. (How great is that?)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/video-full-episode/4673/
I loved the show,I’ll be getting the book now.I think I am a bit of each,always have had cats and dogs my whole life,my lab Mick,he helped raise my son,gave me the emotional support I didn’t get from my now,ex!love my Mick,Rusha,is my bestfriend these days I get a bit teary eyed just talking about them.lol
I am definitely a Soul Mate and Dynamo. Bernie Tu even goes to bible study with me. Because I usually work 10 hour days, I sacrifice things I’d like to have to keep him in daycare during the week. As a Dynamo, it’s Bernie Tu that keeps me grounded. He makes certain we go for our walks on the weekends and knowing he’s on the pillow beside me on the bed makes me feel a lot more secure because he is a great watchdog and lets me know when someone is coming to the door (but once he knows I know, he stops barking). He is definitely spoiled, but not rotten, and is a well-behaved little dog (he’s a 5 year old Shih Tzu). One of the ladies interviewed on the show said she wished she could have loved her boyfriend as much as she loves her dog. I wish I could find a partner as much a soul mate as Bernie Tu is – but I don’t think humans are capable of the kind of unconditional love we get from our furbabies. Really enjoyed the show!
The show was absolutely wonderful. I really enjoyed learning more about pet/owner relationships, and furthermore, self reflecting on my own relationship with my little chihuahua Peanut. My family and I are probably a mix of Angel/Soulmate. Peanut was adopted from a shelter.
I do have a question though–is there a cat equivalent of “Dogology”? I’m very interested to learn if anyone has done research about cat owners and their relationship with their pets (and more specifically, if anyone has broken it into precise categories such as Dogology). I can’t wait to read the book!
it’s such fun to hear about your pets and your stories. Bernie Tu sounds the much beloved lucky dog I would expect to be riding shotgun with a Soul Mate/Dynamo owner.
Allison, I am beginning to look at the cat owner types more intensively so I will have to get back to you on details but I suspect, since we are who we are, that much of it does apply no matter what species we choose to attach to.
Patsy, let me know what you think after reading the book.
Right now, Ben (16-year-old rescued cat) purrs by my shoulder, PJ naps on the bed behind me and Wyatt is curled up by my feet. Making be a perfectly contented Observer/Soul Mate/Master (listed in descending order). :)
Great show. I just lost my Border Collie a week before this show aired, and this was a great way to understand my own feelings of loss…and admiration. Many thanks!
I was both a master and a buddy…but I don’t think my Border collie would have been happy if he didn’t have a master or a buddy. This is perhaps why certain breeds don’t do well with all people.
Thus it probably would be useful to combine Ms. Wilson’s categories of people with a similar assessment of the pet…something akin to the later segment on the adoption center. The closer both the owner and the pet are, I assume the better the match.
These classifications are fascinating, but it is interesting that many people state they fall into several categories. I do think that this is not just a one-way street: People react to dogs, and dogs react to people.
I have lived with a lot of animals all my life, including a big pack of collies that my mom bred and showed, and both house and barn (almost feral) cats. I know I have tendencies towards ‘expert’ because I was fretting over which single category fits, lol, but then it occurred to me that I have changed over time, and with each of my bonds with my furry loves. Of course, I said to myself, they also have some influence over the type of relationship! : >
At a recent book signing for Dogology, an audience member said, “I’m not sure what I am, if my relationship with my dog is a pie chart….”
I stopped her. Pie chart? That narrows it down – Expert or Observer speaking.
We do change over time. Absolutely. To quote Agee, “…I only know him only as far as I know him…and all that depends as fully on who I am as on who he is.”
Applies to all relationships we have, in my experience.
I loved the dog owner personality part of the show, especially as I watched alongside my 7 year old animal loving daughter. She was entranced by all the dog/owner teams and your analysis of them.
Your approach also gave me some valuable insight into my husband’s family who are all dog owners with loving but badly disciplined purebreds. Some insight, but I crave more.
We visit there often and stay in their houses, which I have come to dread because unless I am on the other side of the doggie gate I am constantly assaulted with 40 lbs of bouncing, jumping, smelly invasions of my person and lots of unwanted sloppy wet dog kisses. These are kind, intelligent professional people with lovely expensive homes. All the dogs and owners have taken obedience classes and they can get their dogs to perform tricks but seem impotent when it comes to keeping them out of people’s faces. And still they shower the pets with affection and “Good girl” until I grow sick of hearing it.
What type of owner takes excellent care of themselves, their homes and their dogs, but yet is unable or unwilling to teach the dogs to behave? Maybe if I understood this better I could be more forgiving of the doggie assaults.
I’m a soul mate and a buddy. I just bought a new puppy. She is so full of it, and she fallows me everywere!
Hi Sarah,
How fun seeing the program – Zachary and I are still soul mates and you wouldn’t believe how many people in my neighborhood are calling him a celebrity! He is 14 years young and doing very well.
mikel@furdogsnyc.com
I believe that I am mostly dynamo with my dog, Kirby. I do discipline my dog, but I just love him being himself and am constantly thinking that I would be stifling his personality if I discipline him too much. My cat, Kitty, is the princess of the home. She usually gets what she wants, when she wants it. Kirby and Kitty have a brother-sister relationship, and i know that despite the complaining that they do when my husband and I are home, they love being here with each other.