Comments on: Dog Owner Behavior Patterns – What’s Yours? http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/ The premier natural history series Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:19:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kkls http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-9834 kkls Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:58:30 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-9834 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. 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.

]]> By: Mikel http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-8367 Mikel Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:08:41 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-8367 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 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

]]> By: Lisa http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-8268 Lisa Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:10:07 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-8268 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! 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!

]]> By: Paula http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7484 Paula Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:51:18 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7484 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 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.

]]> By: Sarah Wilson http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7353 Sarah Wilson Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:31:00 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7353 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. 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.

]]> By: Kirsten http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7188 Kirsten Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:18:26 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7188 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! : > 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! : >

]]> By: Chris Reardon http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7182 Chris Reardon Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:37:48 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7182 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. 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.

]]> By: Sarah Wilson http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7108 Sarah Wilson Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:08:08 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7108 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). :) 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). :)

]]> By: Allison http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7104 Allison Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:11:15 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7104 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! 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!

]]> By: Jeanette http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/why-we-love-cats-and-dogs/dog-owner-behavior-patterns-whats-yours/4626/comment-page-1/#comment-7074 Jeanette Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:06:15 +0000 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/?p=4626#comment-7074 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! 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!

]]>