Thursday, December 4, 2008

What Your Dog Says About You

Stumbled upon this article from MSNBC.com - I find it so entertaining how dog owners and their dogs not only share similar characteristics but sometimes share physical traits...cheers.Link

You can pick up after your pooch and make sure he plays nice, but it's your dog's breed that truly speaks volumes about what kind of owner you are.

Got a beagle? You are inquisitive and willing to learn new things. The beagle is constantly questioning. If you own one of these dogs, chances are you are a curious, willful person who is loyal to friends, tough on enemies and pretty stubborn.

Those with cocker spaniels are family oriented and nurturing. Gentle, playful and sweet in demeanor, this breed is the perfect size for smaller children. Owners of these dogs display the same affectionate qualities as their pups.

It appears affection — and an affinity for a pet — go a long way when times are tough.

"Pets have become more like family than an animal left in the dog house in the backyard," says Daisy Okas, assistant vice president of communications at the American Kennel Club (AKC). "Just as people are not going to skimp on their children, they are not going to cut back on their dog."

Humans are so devoted to their canine counterparts that despite the economic downturn, it seems pet owners aren't willing to cut back on canine-related expenditures.

In fact, spending on pet supplies and over-the-counter medicines is expected to reach $10.5 billion by the end of this year, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers' Association. In 2007, spending reached about $9.9 billion.

"Animals provide a consistency to the ups and downs of our life, whether that's the downturn in the economy or job stress," says Shari Curran, director of Therapet Foundation, a Whitehouse, Texas-based not-for-profit that provides animal-assisted therapy. "They don't care whether you won or lost a bunch of money in the stock market; they provide unconditional love and react the same way every time you come home."....click to read the rest of the article..