The Power Of Pets
It has long been a joke among my friends that my Border Collie, Toby, is the perfect man. He is good looking, loyal, affectionate and always happy to see me. On top of this, he doesn’t care what I wear and no matter how stressed or busy I am, he always manages to make me smile.
Jokes aside, research just out suggests there may be a whole lot more going on between women and their dogs than we suspect.
A national Newspoll survey[1] among Australian women aged 25 years and over with dogs in the household, commissioned by the Petcare Information and Advisory Service, shows that for the majority of Australian women, the four-legged family friend is truly that and more – a trusted, reliable, much-loved companion and a source of affection in difficult times.
According to the research:
- More than 90% of all women surveyed say they enjoy the companionship and unconditional love their dog provides and more than two-thirds said this affection was what they like most about owning a dog
- 60% of women say dogs are more affectionate than men
- 77% say dogs are more easy-going
- 63% say they are more loyal
- 58% say dogs are more reliable and
- 64% say a reason to exercise regularly is one of the major benefits of dog ownership.
None of this surprises me. As a single girl living a fast paced life in Sydney, there is nothing quite like coming home to the unconditional love provided by Toby. I never tire of the greeting he gives me each and every time I open my front door - he asks for so little but gives me so much in return.
I am not the only woman who treats her dog as a valued member of their family.
The research also found:
- Almost nine in ten women say they enjoy stroking and petting their dog
- 75% of women say they turn to their dog for affection when they feel down, with more than half reporting that they do this often
- 88% confess to spoiling their dog with treats and presents and 32% say they give their dog a birthday present
- 71% describe their dog as a “friend” and three in ten as their best friend.
- 80% say security is one of the things they liked most about having a dog in the household.
Owning a dog is a great way to meet people too – there’s a whole social scene at the local dog park. Morning and night, dozens of happy canines socialise and rumble together while their owners chat and proudly watch on. Dogs are a definite ‘ice-breaker’ and a very useful tool for the single guy or gal.
But men be warned: when a woman says she loves her dog, she means it! 71% of all women surveyed said they would not enter a new relationship with anyone who did not like her having a dog in the household!
*Newspoll, June 2004. Survey of 242 Australian women aged 25 years and over with dogs in the household.
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