WHY DO PEOPLE OWN DOGS- "The first step in understanding"

To better help you understand your clients and how they may react to a particular communication style, you need to understand how your client looks upon their dog and the reason they own one.

One of the primary reasons people own pets is to fill an empty space in their emotional life. For the individual who has no children, the dog can become a viable substitute for a child. Keep in mind that every parent likes to think that he is the best judge of the needs of his children. This is also very true of the dog owner whose dog fills that particular need in their life. Other people have children who are grown and no longer dependent and so the dog becomes the substitute for a younger and more dependent child. The dog may also fill the position of obedient child. A parent whose children are out of hand and causing trouble may find great comfort in the company of an amenable dog.

All of these people are in a parenting position, with the dog in the role of child or infant. Few of these people are really aware of the underlying reason they have chosen to own a dog, and fewer still would appreciate a business owner telling them what the reason might be. As a pet care professional, you need only be aware of the situation and its possibilities in order to adapt to it best.

For some people, a dog serves to bolster a sagging ego. This may be especially true of people who choose to own large aggressive dogs. Often these owners will assure the staff that “no one can handle him but me.” This may or may not be the case, but as you deal with dogs daily and you are still dealing with a dog, you will probably be well able to handle the dog-- the owner may prove to be a different matter. 

Dogs can fill and ego building need in other ways. For some people, their dog becomes the beauty they feel they lack in their own person. This may express itself in showing the dog in competition or in simply accepting the admiration of other people who think that this is a beautiful dog. This type of owner may assure you that the dog is “pick of the litter” or “from a great line” or “is a perfect specimen of his breed, but we just don’t want to show him” or other words of a similar nature. This owner does not want to hear from you or from anyone else that the dog is less than perfect in any way. 

You may have to handle certain problems very tactfully or this owner will be deeply offended. With owners of this type, you must understand that anything you say that could be construed as a negative remark will be taken by the client as a direct reflection on them as a person. They almost certainly not aware of this situation, but will be highly defensive of their pet in every way, whether you are referring to the dogs disposition or to the condition of its coat. Even the presence of fleas or ticks may trigger this type of client into a defensive attitude. To this person, a problem of this nature is an admission that they have failed to care for the dog adequately, and because their ego is so bound up in the dog, they become extremely agitated. This client requires very tactful handling. 

The third primary reason for owning a dog is to fill the need for companionship. These owners will fall into two subcategories, the first being the person who lacks human companionship for one reason or another and has a dog in lieu of human companions. These clients are indeed likely to view their pets on a most human level and may attribute to them some overly highly developed human characteristics. This client may tell you in all seriousness just how his dog feels about various matters. This is a situation that can appear laughable until you realize that the client is not making a joke. They actually believe that they are expressing exactly what the dog feels. In sharing this information with you, the client is placing trust in you to understand their feelings and accept them. If you take these remarks lightly or make jokes about the dog’s feelings, this client is likely to be hurt, as well as offended, and again you risk losing a client. 

The second subcategory is the owner who owns a dog for the real pleasure of owning a dog. This client is likely to be among the most sensible of all clients you have. They try to understand the dog as a dog. They do their best not project their own feelings onto the dog to any great extent. They may also be quite well informed about dogs and their needs or they may not be so well informed. If they are not particularly well informed, this client is one of the few who is probably aware that they have a lot to learn and will be interested in and appreciative of your help and information. 

It can be of great benefit to the business owner to understand some of the primary reasons for dog ownership. Through this understanding, it is possible to deal with clients in such a way that every client feels special and appreciates your care and concern. 

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