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See What Science Has to Say About Dog People

In the world of cats and dogs, there are four people: people who love cats, people who love dogs, people who love both, and people who could live very happily without either.

Interestingly, people who tend to love cats don’t understand how anyone could love a dog more, while dog people usually don’t understand why anyone would ever choose a moody feline over a happy-go-lucky K9.

Well, recent research has given a slight edge to dog lovers in their ongoing war. As reported in Live Science, a study conducted by Denise Guastello, in association with Carroll University, Wisconsin, considered the personality traits of dog and cat owners.

By surveying 600 college students, and asking whether they identified themselves as dog lovers or cat lovers, and what qualities they loved most about their pets (along with a number of other personality-related questions), Guastello found that dog people:

  • Are in the majority: nearly 60% considered themselves dog people, compared to only 11% who favored cats
  • Are far more lively and energetic than their cat loving counterparts
  • Are more outgoing that cat people
  • Tended to follow rules more closely
  • Preferred companionship to independence

Guastello suggests that people very likely select pets based on their own personality, explaining “‘It makes sense that a dog person is going to be more lively, because they're going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog. Whereas, if you're more introverted and sensitive, maybe you're more at home reading a book and your cat doesn't need to go outside for a walk.”

We haven’t read the conclusion to the report, but we’re better it goes something like this: Bottom line, dog people (and dogs!) are just awesome!