Describe the Influence of Lifestyle on Pet Preference (Essay Sample)

The Influence of Lifestyle on Pet Preference
Name
Institution
The Influence of Lifestyle on Pet Preference
There is a significant relationship between human beings and the animal kingdom. People tend to keep pets at home for various reasons. Keeping a pet is, indeed, a large responsibility which comes with rewards. Animal lovers usually claim that pets can improve entertainment and meaning to one's life and can improve an individual's mental and physical health. Sometimes pets can be a source of entertainment and comfort when someone feels lonely or experiencing difficulties in life. Owing to their innocence nature, animals can make someone spare sometimes to interact with and care for them. However, there is a difference in people’s choices for pets, and such choices speak volume on an individual’s personality and lifestyle.
An individual's culture, lifestyle, and environment have a significant influence on the selection of the type of pet. The environment and the community affect the way and quality of life of pets and how they are perceived. It is normally understood that dogs are more dependent on the owner compared to cats. It is a norm to see dogs following the owner wherever they go while cats, on the other hand, can choose when and for how long to spend time with or receive affection of the owner. This implies that dogs need more time and work to take care of compared to cats, who seem to be self-sufficient and need a little attention. Living space and age have a significant influence in the selection of pets. People living in apartments in urban areas, for instance, are likely to choose cats and small dogs over large pets while families residing in the suburbs which are characterized by relatively large spaces are more apt to keep dogs and other bigger animals (Harris & Gray, 2012). Parents whose children are still young are likely to energetic dogs that the kids can play with in the gardens outside their houses, while unmarried and aged people are more liable to have a low-key cat (Harris & Gray, 2012). According to Matyszczyk (2016), the difference can make an individual to deliberately choose either of the pets to match personality traits.
Weiss, Miller, Mohan-Gibbons, & Vela (2012) conducted a study to determine the factors that influence pet selection preferences and to determine whether the choices relate to personality traits and lifestyles. The findings showed that pet owners are generally a happier lot than to non-pet owners (Weiss et al. 2012). When it came to the particular type of pet, dog owners seemed to be more outgoing, more delightful, more diligent and less nervous that cat owners. Although further research may be required to validate this, Weiss et al. (2012) state that there might be several explanations.
Dogs are, in general, deemed to be more friendly, sociable and confident than catsthat are often seemed to enjoy seclusion and independence more than interacting with humans. Individuals with particular lifestyles and personality traits are likely to choose pets that would contrite towards their way of life. As a result, social and outgoing people are likely to prefer dogs to cats. However, this may not always be true to other people. Matyszczyk (2016) states that, an individual may prefer a pet that will drive him out of his reserved life. In such a case, an individual would choose a pet that will have an influence to their lifestyle and...