Just What Kind of Pet Owner Are You?Are You Serving?

New sociology research published in 2011 from the University of Indiana USA by David Blouin PhD categorises pet owners into three major orientation groupings.

You may be able to use this information to improve your pet business by improving your understanding of pet owners.

David argues that Pet Owners show one of three major “orientations” being:

-        Dominionist

-        Humanist

-        Protectionist

 Basing his theory on extensive surveys of dog and cat owners, Dr Blouins’ definitions make you stop and think not only about which groups fits you best ( as a pet owner and/or pet business) but also which definition fits groups of pet people that you work with or come into contact with (activists, clients, media writers, friends etc).

 ‘Dominionist’ Pet Owners

-        Pet value strongly based around the benefits they provide eg protection, working, hunting companionship or relaxation and can generally speak about the ‘role’ of the pet.

-        Often view humans and animal quite differently, but still develop quality attachments to pets

-        Views about pets are often hierarchial

-        Are most likely to argue that pets do not have a soul

-        Pets visit the vet less often and usually not for preventative programs

 ‘Humanist’ Pet Owners

-        pets have the status of surrogate humans – as children or close friends

-        Pet value based around close and often intense emotional attachment

-        May ‘adore’ their pets and lavish them with gifts

-        Relationship centred largely around the owners wants and needs, rathe rather than their responsibilities to the pet

-        Often disapprove of ‘using’ pets for a purpose eg working dogs

-        Often spend considerable time, money and effort ensuring their pet is happy and comfortable.

-        This is the group most likely to allow a pet to sleep on the bed and have them groomed regularly

‘Protectionist’ Pet Owners

-        View pets ( and other animals) as creatures with their own interests or ‘rights’.

-        View pets as creatures who should be given the same consideration as humans

-        Will often spend money or time on animals that are not their own

-        Often have more pets/animals than the other groups

-        May think of themselves as guardians or stewards rather than as parents

-        Are more likely to donate time and money to organisations, participate in animal rescue, adopt from shelters or take on abused pets.

David argues that the type of pet person you become depends on personal experiences, family structure and area of residence, individual experience, demographic status, and scripts put forward by local regulators and animal protection groups – all determine the type of pet owner that you might become.

It’s important to remember that you are not ‘all’ one orientation – you can sit between two categories, or have one orientation with one animal and another with another.

 Regardless of your ‘orientation’ Blouin argues that pets are an important part of people’s lives, providing companionship, entertainment and notable interaction.

 David also found some other interesting facts, including:

 1. The presence of young children in a family diminishes the status of dogs, resulting in a more ‘dominionist’ tendency (the presence of children provides a sense of perspective)

 2. ‘Empty nesters’ are more likely to have a humanist orientation

 3. ‘Protectionists’ are more likely to not have children or not want any

 4. A ‘dominionist’ tradition is more likely to be found in Judeo/Christian tradition [author note: and also in Islam as all three are based on the teachings of the Old Testament]; and cultural upbringings ( but Blouin argues this is losing ground as an orientation for dealing with pets in the modern world)

 5. The ‘humanist’ orientation is especially prominent in pet industry advertising campaigns

 6. The ‘protectionist’ orientation is more likely to be seen in the animal rights, environmental and conservationist movements. 

Author’s note: No orientation is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ –they are just different, BUT people from each group may find the other groups as ‘strange’ or ‘wrong’. It’s important not to judge people on their beliefs. Don’t panic if you are between two groups or even a mix of all three, it’s common.

 It’s also worth noting that this is the first scientific proposal about categorising pet owners into groups – so while this may be useful and highlight why some people behave as they do, more work needs to be undertaken to confirm and better define the groups. It’s normal in science to question, develop and argue a theory before it becomes well established, which might be why scientists have so many opinions!

  References:

Thesis Dissertation summary David Blouin PhD 2011 -  http://gradworks.umi.com/33/30/3330815.html

 Thesis Dissertation David Blouin PhD 2011-04-16http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/3/0/7/3/5/pages307350/p307350-6.php