Might pet owners be friendlier than those who are not?

Welcome to fluther. I think that most dogs can pick up on an interest in them or emotions. My dogs were always in tune with our moods. When my s/o was really upset they ignored me completely and showered her with attention. That was interesting because I usually took care of them. Maybe it’s pet owners tend to be more in touch with their feelings?

Although my mother warned me never to talk to strangers, when I see someone in my ‘hood walking his or her dog, I always strike up a conversation. That means a lot of chatting because it is a dog-heavy community. Most dogs seem able to drive their owner’s pick-up trucks also, which is a conversation starter.

Doubtful. Pet owners are likely to be more introverted and anti-social, because they talk to (and depend on) their animals, as opposed to humans.

Depending on the pet, they may be more snobbish and uppity than non-pet owners. Remember that pet owners often take on the behavioral attributes of their dogs—look at the snooty poodle owners and the arrogant Jack Russel owners, for example.

And cat owners are class by themselves, totally neurotic and in co-dependent relationships with their pets.

Sorry, I don’t agree with your observations, at all.

People stop me and talk to me when I’m walking my dog. I’ve even had a girl run after me in my car so she could pet my dog.
This doesn’t happen when I’m alone.
So yes, I think pet owners are friendlier because people force them to be.

Nah. I’m a pet owner, and I’m really unpleasant.
Welcome to Fluther.

You could say the same for parents. My little one can smell a jerk from a mile away.

@AshLeigh You are far from unpleasant.
@chyna I’d run after you with or without J. :)

^Aw, thanks.

@chyna :)

@Adirondackwannabe, you only think that because I think you’re awesome, so I’m not a jerk to you. :)

I think so. Never trust someone who does not like animals, they are probably a sociopath. lol
Then again, even as an animal nut I am friendly with everyone, most all the time.
Today alone I had 2 great encounters, 1st, I jammed my ring finger closing my car door this afternoon and a nice looking guy getting out of his car heard me say under my breath “OWWWW!”

I then said ” ooh, I just jammed my finger…here..kiss it and make it all better!” lolol
He DID! It was a perfect moment!
Then..I was in home depot when I saw THE MOST beautiful younger dude, I told him so, said ” Oh my, young man, you are gorgeous, if I had met you in 1977 it would have been explosive!” haha

I then joked ” How’s that for flirtation of the day?”

He came at me open armed and gave me a great hug!
Yeah, that’s me…always looking to play a little and go into comedian mode.
I LOVE playing with people that can play BACK!
Kick in your improv groove and you’ve got me, dog, cat, parrot, horse or not. ;-p

@AshLeigh I’m far from awesome. I’m just a schmo trying to figure it out like everyone else.. But I do value good people a lot.

No. I am a little afraid of dogs and don’t want them jumping on me and I don’t want to pet anyone’s dog usually, but the dogs seem to love me. So, I don’t think they can perceive that I don’t want much to do with them in general. I care about them, I do think they are cute, entertaining, loving animals, but still, half the time people’s dogs stink, and I really don’t want to have to wash my clothes.

Having said all that, I make friends just fine. I was social chairperson of my club appointed b someone who thought my outgoing persnality would fit the job. I worked in retail and real estate, which required being able to build rapport and trust with people.

I don’t avoid people out walking their dogs, but someone more extreme than me might, but not because they are less friendly, but because you have your dog with you.

Just to add, I am so tired of dog owners thinking people who don’t like dogs are unloving and whatever other negative attribute people might want to add.

I tend to avoid dogs, and wait for cats to approach me (they usually do. I’m about 20 years away from crazy cat lady).

I love animals in general, but I do recognize that they are not people and they do not care about me. My cat and I have a symbiotic relationship. I find petting and scratching him to be stress-relieving, and he likes having someone to remove his fleas and provide his meals. However, if I die tomorrow, he would eat me and find a new home without shedding a tear.

My husband’s old dog, Bub, felt charged with guarding the household. I wouldn’t say he was a great judge of character, he just didn’t like anyone who wasn’t invited. UPS guy, Jehovah’s witnesses, etc. More programming than judgment, if you ask me.

I love animals in general, but I’m allergic to most breeds of cats and dogs. I tend to keep my distance from them until I know if they will send me into an allergy attack. If I start to have any signs of my allergies acting up, I keep away as much as possible.

I’ve met people who are much more involved with animals than they are with people. They seem to have found that animals are much more reliable and caring than people. Their animals are much more loyal and willing to follow what the pet master wants than their friends are.They may spend more time helping animals than humans. Of course it’s their choice, but I value people more.

I read saw on King of the Hill that dogs can sense your emotions, and if someone you don’t like or are afraid of walks into the room, the dog might start playing the guard. Don’t quote me, not sure if it’s true, but apparently.

Also I don’t know. About the question, that is. I’m not friendly and I don’t like most people, but I’m a pet owner. (two cats) Obviously two pet owners will have something to talk about, while a pet owner and a non pet owner will have to dig slightly further. But not far enough to say that there is some kind of established fact on which person is friendlier. I don’t think so, anyways. Probably a lot of people who meet and strike it up learn that one or both has a pet a bit later, unless that subject striked the convo to begin with.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of pet owners who don’t look out after their pets properly, so that nurturing thing doesn’t come automatically to everyone who owns a pet.

I wouldn’t say it’s entirely true.
I have plenty of pets, but I’m rather cold and standoffish toward other people. I don’t mean to be that way, I suppose I’m just rather reserved. Perhaps that may be why animals appeal more to me?

I always bump into the same folks when I take the dawg on her walks, I say walks, but that’s extremely misleading. What she actually does is run & bound after her ball like a demented gazelle spooked by the encroaching aroma of a ravenous lion…but I digress.
I’ve gotten to know these people & are on first name terms with them & their dogs, each of our pooches recognises the other & they do that mutual arse sniffing thing by way of a greeting…be funny if us humanoids did that.
Anyway yeah, I don’t buy into the idea that pet owners are more friendly, because unless you happen to be a miserable, aloof bastard of epic proportions, then you’re bound to strike up conversations with fellow dog walkers, it is what it is, which it is…see?

How about the idea that dog people have trouble striking up conversation without a dog leash in their hand? Like somehow it frees them to approach people. The same way some people can’t be at a party without holding a drink.

I don’t think this is true of most dog people, but I bet there is more than one person who feels more permission to approach someone if they both are walking dogs, but they don’t do it when both people don’t have a dog with them.

It could be…but I know if I find out a person hates animals, it is a definite turn-off for me. You don’t have to own a pet (allergies or some other good reason may apply), but if you don’t like animals? Hmmm….

@yankeetooter Like can mean anything. People can say I don’t like dogs and mean they don’t like to be around them because they are afraid of them. What’s ironic is how many dog people I know who say they don’t like cats.