What are the Differences between a Typical Pet Owner vs a Dog Person?

Question

This should be interesting

Typical person who just owns a dog as a pet*** vs dog people

Some of you are REALLY on the right track...for those of you that think the differences are just a "play on words", stay tuned for further questions...

This is great! Keep it up...

Answer 1

A typical pet owner:

* Has a pet or pets around the house.
* In the case of a dog: Takes them to the park, or for walks, or maybe just plays with them in the backyard.
* May have them spayed or neutered; is pretty good about shots; will take them to the vet as necessary.
* Considers the animal "part of the family".

A "Dog Person":

* Is involved in some kind of dog activity; obedience, conformation, aglity, herding, schutzhund, etc.
* May have a few dogs, or a kennel of dogs.
* Is constantly researching dog diets, vaccination protocol, genetics, training methods, etc.
* Can tell you about pedigrees and Great Dogs of the Past; will go on and on about function and structure and drive.
* Usually has a vehicle specifically bought and outfitted for dog/equipment transportation!

Answer 2

I have one working dog and two that are pets. I really don't think there is a concrete difference in mentality. As previously stated, there are handlers of working dogs who view the dogs as family members just like there are pet owners that view the dogs as simply dogs. There are plenty of pet owners who think the dog is their "child" or "baby." They spoil it, treat it like anything but a dog, and such. Then there are others that take the time to get to know the breed(s) they own and make an effort to bring out the best in the breed. For example, a lab owner might take time to allow his dog to play fetch in water. A border collie owner would cater to the mental exercise the dog needs and may even allow the dog to practice herding sheep...even though the owner is not a farmer and is letting the dog do this just for its enjoyment. The same can be said of working dog handlers. Some view the dog as a tool and treat it as such. Some make every effort to treat it as a family member and love it just as much as a pet would be loved. Many working dogs are still pets when they aren't working. So, the mentality is varied no matter if the dog is a companion or a worker. There is a huge variety in owner mentality no matter what.

Answer 3

A pet person owns a dog because that is what families do. They love their dog, but they usually need guidance in most areas of pet ownership. Not a bad thing if they are responsible.
A dog person eats, sleeps and breathes dogs. They own dogs because they can't NOT own dogs. Dog people have dog friends, dog people often are involved with dog related activities, dog people are always researching to stay on top of all things dog. There is a big difference between a dog person and a pet person. Dog people usually have multiple dogs.

Answer 4

THANK YOU for that question Mr./Ms. dog apprecianado. I used to be a pet owner - loved all of them (cats, horses, birds, fish) and did everything to promote their health, comfort and vitality at all times. I JUST became a dog owner some 8 years ago. I had NO idea what I was missing!

Dogs are so intelligent, so eager to please, and offer their owners unconditional love for the small task of walking/exercising them, grooming them, and feeding them quality food/nutrition. You can "read" the appreciation in their faces and in their actions. The are also unbelievable workers (think K-9 officers, dogs for the blind or deaf, etc). I have alot of respect for working dogs.

A dog person understands and appreciates the unbelievable talents of a dog and knows that while a dog wants boundaries and barriers, as well as as a job, it also just wants to be loved. The person who is willing to balance all of those things is a dog person.

Answer 5

A ton of answers here. In my opinion the difference between a pet owner and a dog person is that a dog person understands what a dog is, treats a dog like a dog, has a dog that usually has a job instead of sitting around all day burping with boredom.
Understands that dogs have different needs then dogs do and trains his/her dog using real life, proven methods that work instead of looking for excuses and "positive only" crap.
I think that some of the answers you got here explain the rest of what I wanted to say, but, I will leave you with this piece of gem that one of the most respected dog trainers I have ever met told and it was the worst insult I could have gotten in my life as a DOG PERSON.. "Quit being a pet owner" I do not remember what I had said or done to cause him to say this to me, but, it felt like a slap in the face!! Hope I helped!!

Answer 6

I, for one, explain that I am a "dog person" as a part of my personality and preferences. I love dogs. I think I like going to the dog park as much as my dog does, because I get to see the dogs.

Another way I've heard it put is that dog people are the people interested in doing more than taking a spin around the block with dogs. They often get involved with things like agility, rally, flyball, or tracking, or are busy volunteering with shelters and cleaning up dog parks. Dog people understand the responsibilities of dog ownership and seek to reap all the benefits of ownership.

Answer 7

A typical pet owner may have dogs, but they also have other animals like cats, birds, hamsters, etc as part of the family. They mostly get these animals for the kids, and although some people do treat these pets like family, they don't always see them as a family member.

Dog Person loves their dog as well as any other dog, homeless or not. They treat their dog as a true member of the family, and will go thorught great lenghths to make sure the dog has his vaccinations and goes to his yearly checkups, as well as their daily exercise. Also they will buy dog-related items like calendars, t-shirts, etc that expresses their love for dogs. I do realize some dog lovers go overboard, and I can say that because although I am a dog lover, I also like other animals too. I just rather have a dog as a family member than any other animal.

To the person that said that dog lovers only meet other people at dog parks, people that lack social skills can also be found on the internet as well as in any walks of life, so don't label any group, please. That just shows ignorance.

Answer 8

Around here, we call dog people: "Doggers."

A typical pet owner:
Likes or loves their dog, feeds them, walks them occasionally, lets them into the backyard to play, keeps up to date with shots, but other than that, does not make the dog a priority in their life. They don't really take the dog anywhere. They see the dog more as an accessory, or something to make them feel good without putting much work into them.

A Dogger:
Loves their dog to death and knows every facial expression and body posture their dog makes and what it "really means." They realize that a dog has certain needs that need to be met EVERY DAY. So they make sure the dog gets enough exercise, mentally and physically, every day. They are involved in dog sports or competitions, or maybe they just have hobbies that include the dog (such as hiking). They try to spend as much time as possible with the dog and take the dog to as many places as possible. They realize that putting time into your dog is not a chore, and that the dog is able to give more back to you the more you train and spend time with the dog. And they often perfer a dog's company to a human's!

Answer 9

A dog person still goes to the dog park for 2 hours a day in the middle of winter when it is -10 because they want their dog to have fun and their only friends and form of social life are the people they have met at the dog park or through their dog.

Answer 10

I am a dog person. I have 4 dogs that I do obedience and agility with. I belong to a training club where I train and teach obedience. This coming training session I will be at the club 4 nights a week. I am also the training director this coming year.
All our dogs are inside dogs. They have their own beds but share ours also. They are more than just "pets".