Does definition of self predict adopter dog breed choice?

Abstract

Motivated by the fact that each year 6 to 8 million lost and unwanted dogs and cats end up at animal shelters across the U.S. and half of those animals must be euthanized, the objective of this research is to determine the influence of dog owner's definition of self on dog breed choice. The regression analyses findings assert that dog owner's behavior (temperament) has significant influence on dog owner's dog categorization and dog breed choice. Moreover, male dog owners found gender of the dog to be less important in categorizing and choosing a dog than did female dog owners. Overwhelmingly, the dog owner is found to be the primary decision maker in acquiring a dog and choosing a dog breed. The dog owner's prior experience with dogs is found to be the primary influence on decisions about whether to acquire a dog and which dog breed to choose. Practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed extensively.