What kind of owner are you?

How do you interact with your pets?

Some diligently train them, others prepare their home environment to be comfortable for their pets, and still others ensure both pet and owner stay healthy through plenty of walks and exercise. Beyond these, I imagine everyone builds their relationship with their pet in their own unique way.
Once you have a pet, how you care for it determines what kind of presence it becomes. There are no clear-cut rules dictating "how a pet owner should be." This alone suggests the diverse realities of pet owners.

In the past, Think Pet Project attempted to categorize dog owners into six distinct clusters based on their awareness and behavioral characteristics.
This time, we'll briefly introduce those clusters.
You may never have consciously considered what kind of owner you are. Please take a moment to see which type matches you best.

*This survey was conducted nationwide among men and women aged 20 to 69 who own pets and either primarily care for them themselves or also participate in their care.

 

Cluster ①: "Intimate Type"

Owners who find emotional support in their pets as a balm for daily fatigue. They tend to have a relatively high awareness of training, firmly establishing a master-servant relationship while showing affection, and conducting thorough training. They have a strong desire to purchase toys and treats, and notably, 80% buy treats, indicating many owners are relatively lenient with their pets. In terms of breed characteristics, owners of "Pomeranians" are more common.

 

Cluster ② "My Pace Group"

Many owners decided to purchase a pet due to family influence (especially requests from children). While they are attentive to diet and healthcare, their awareness of pet ownership responsibilities, such as training, tends to be lower. They are also less likely to actively seek information and participate in pet-related events. However, this doesn't mean they lack ownership awareness; many feel responsible in their own way. In terms of breed characteristics, owners of "Shiba Inu" dogs are more common.

 

Cluster 3: "Fashion-Conscious Owners"

Many owners in this cluster are highly conscious about taking their pets out. They are very mindful of external perceptions, dressing their pets in clothes and paying close attention to grooming. This group is often seen among owners who enjoy going out with their pets. They also have a very high blog rate and are sensitive to information. A characteristic feature is that they spend more on clothing compared to other clusters. Breed characteristics show a higher proportion of owners with Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas.

 

Cluster ④ "Strict"

These owners spend the most money on their pets, with significant expenditures on healthcare, pet food, and other health-related costs. They are highly conscious of training and their pet's socialization. They excel at both sharing and gathering information, making this the cluster with the highest blog rate overall. In terms of dog breeds, Border Collies are more common among this group.

 

Cluster ⑤ "Guard Dog Owners"

Owners who avoid spoiling their pets, enforce strict training, and tend to keep them outdoors rather than indoors, generally requiring less effort. They don't tend to spend much money on their pets and, consequently, rarely share or gather information. A common breed characteristic is owning a "Mixed Breed."

 

Cluster ⑥ "Laissez-Faire Owners"

Owners who got a pet because their family wanted one but show little strong interest. They provide proper care but are the least involved group. This cluster is also very small, accounting for less than 10%. Breed characteristics show a higher proportion owning "Golden Retrievers".

 

These are the six clusters.

Pet owner surveys often struggle with clear delineations between groups like youth, seniors, or genders. While we couldn't segment clusters strictly by age or sex, I believe we've managed to capture the types of pet owners we've vaguely recognized before.
Regarding both dog breeds and pet owners, this analysis represents tendencies only. While we've divided them into six types, did any resonate with you? We hope this provides an opportunity to reconsider how you care for your own pet and to reflect on your relationship with them.

Because there's no single right way to care for a pet, it would be wonderful if we could all find a way of raising them that fits our own lifestyle and also suits our pet's specific traits and personality.