Dog Acquisition Practices - Essay Example

Literary Review Contents Contents 2 Literature Review 3 Relationship between Dog Acquisition Practices and Recreational Walking of Owners 3 Maintenance in Keeping Pets 3 Tendency of Increasing Association of Children with Pets 4 Pets as Partners of Lonely and Aged People 4 Blending Relationship between Dogs and Humans 5 Building Relationship with Dogs 6 References 13 Bibliography 17 Literature Review Relationship between Dog Acquisition Practices and Recreational Walking of Owners Cutt, Knuiman and Korti (2008) observe that the practice of keeping of dogs has in fact helped in increasing the frequency of recreational walking practices of the owner groups. This kind of increase in the recreational walking practices of the individuals owing to gaining a possession of pets like dogs is observed to occur for changes in the behavioural dynamics of the individual. Increase in the rate of recreational walking augmented by around 31 minutes on a weekly level of the people resulting from possession of dogs. Moreover it is also observed that the rate of overall walking of the people who were new dog owners largely increased through gaining possession of dogs in comparison to those people who are non-owners. In addition to the augmentation of the physical activity of the dog owners the possession of dogs also is observed to transform relationships from single to courtship (Cutt, Knuiman and Korti, 2008). Maintenance in Keeping Pets Selby et al (1979) notes that the act and practice of keeping pets like dogs and cats can be referred to as a set of best practice in that it helps in rendering shelter to the innocent animals from harsh climates and other vulnerable conditions. However in that the dog owners must focus that keeping of pets does not happen to disturb the healthy climate in the surrounding areas. It is often found that keeping of dogs as pets has resulted in the growth of dog population in the neighbourhood that in turn has contributed to polluting the region with bulks of faeces and urine. The owners of the dogs when consulted of such problems reflected less interest in neutering their pets. Large groups of non-owners refer that keeping of dogs only adds to social troubles like increasing both noise and environment pollution which is again opposed by the owner groups. However the best practices that stands to this end that the dog owners must enhance their focus on the behaviour and activities of their dogs and thus help in protecting the natural and social environment (Selby et al, 1979, p.385-386). Tendency of Increasing Association of Children with Pets Vidovic, Stetic and Bratko (1999) and McKee and McKee (2007) remark that children of the households both boys and girls reflect a growing association with pets like dogs and cats. In fact the children tend to regard the pets as their playtime companions by responding to their different calls and gestures. Again it is found that the tendency of affinity to dogs and cats increases for a girl child than that for boys for the girls whether in tender age or tending towards adolescence feel the dearth for companions. It is often argued that the affinity towards pets increases after the age of thirteen where it is mostly observed that both boys and girls approaching teenage tend to show an increased liking towards their pets (Vidovic, Stetic and Bratko, 1999; McKee and McKee, 2007). Walsh (2009) also observes in this regard that the increasing association between children and pets like dogs helps in the mental development and growth of the former. The children fond of viewing cartoons get increasingly related to the pet communities in the households (Walsh, 2009, p.470-471). Pets as Partners of Lonely and Aged People Statts, Wallace and Anderson (2007) and Garnett, Szabo and Dutson (2011) reflect that the pets of the households like dogs and cats have helped the people in spending their lonely time at homes. The target population in this category is mainly constituted by people like women and other small aged and aged persons. These people are those that have to spend a large portion of their time at home and away from social circles. Thus the women and old age people apart from the household children tend to share an affinity towards the pet population and relate them as an integral part of their lives (Statts, Wallace and Anderson, 2007, p.287-289; Garnett, Szabo and Dutson, 2011, p.17). Further Staats et al. (2010) and Peretti (1990) also observe that the pets have helped the old age persons and other ailing persons come out of traumatic and hardship situations by rendering both emotional and social support. Again the pets also help persons involved in sedentary professions in helping reduce their feelings of loneliness after having finished their activities. Thus people of different stature has started depending on the pets like dogs for helping them battle loneliness and other domestic troubles (Staats, et al, 2010, p.286-288; Peretti, 1990, p. 154-155). Blending Relationship between Dogs and Humans Jonge and Bos (2005) and Beauchamp (2011) observe that human beings tend to share an increasing relationship with pets like dogs rather than to feline pets. It is because the human beings tend to find many characteristics or features of dogs similar to them in activities like group building or in rearing activities of their off springs. Moreover the dogs also tend to reflect leadership traits while communicating with their communities and also compete with each other in getting hold of opportunities. Such character traits reflected by the dogs increasingly find a relation to the human behavioural features. Thus human beings tend to reflect an increasing affinity towards dogs than any other pet animal. Again the off springs of pets like dogs are often treated like children by the household communities. It is because the facial characteristics of the puppies instigate a feeling of tenderness that makes the householders treat them as children. In that the people especially the women of the households endeavour to act like mothers and through high pitches and gestures try to generate command over them as if nurturing their own children (Jonge and Bos, 2005, p.103; Beauchamp, 2011). Miklosi (2009), Serpell (1995) and Jackson (2011) further observe that human blending with dogs gets more enhanced at time of isolation or where the individual stands secluded from his or her family members. Such environment of seclusion or isolation tends to make the human beings more dependent on the pets like dogs with which the people tend to share a feeling of compassion. Again the increased affinity of the individuals with their pets tends to bring out some negative consequences especially at the death of such pets. It is found that the sudden death of a dog in the family happens to create a sense of mourning for the entire family members. This reflects the tremendous affinity the people tend to have for their pets being treated as an integral part of the family. Moreover, Miklosi (2009) further states that the dogs nurtured in an urban environment tend to be more aggressive in nature in regards to getting hold of the opportunities available. The householders in the urban setting also tend to reflect a strong sense of understanding of activities performed by their pets which turn out to be seemingly aggressive. Pets like dogs are also found to help in events like family reunion where the family members by adopting dog have again started living together after having broken up (Miklosi, 2009; Serpell, 1995, p.3; Jackson, 2011, p.350-352). Building Relationship with Dogs Walton and Adamson (2000) and Moore (1998) relate that human beings tend to follow certain norms in order to develop their relationships with their pets like dogs. The human beings need to behave in a consistent manner while communicating with the dogs. This sense of consistency tends to relate their sense of understanding of their pet’s behavioural attributes. Further the people also tend to enhance their level of understanding as to what the dogs can or cannot do and thereby relate to their dogs accordingly. Again to enhance the socializing features of the dogs in the human communities the owners of such pets needs to attract the dogs to different type of rewards and benefits and other playful activities (Walton and Adamson, 2000; Moore, 1998, p.188-189).Power (2008) further states that dogs are treated like children in the households and thus the owner takes utmost responsibility in reforming the behaviour of their pets. The pets like dogs along with their owners are found to proceed up a learning curve in their day to day relations in endeavouring to understand their mutual relationships. This fact in turn enhances the binding between the pets like dogs and their owners (Power, 2008, p.536-537). Eldredge et al (2007) and Mills (2010) state that breed is a potential way of categorizing the different types of dogs available in the world. The different types of breeds in turn relate to the different nature of the dogs available in the community. In that some appear to be quite aggressive and defensive in nature while some are quite fun loving and of affectionate nature. The people who desire to possess the different types of dogs thus tend to focus or evaluate the utility for which they want to go for such. It is observed that people who have children out home and desire their children to be busy want to go for dogs that are fun loving and playful in nature. Similarly some people tend to possess dogs for defensive or guarding purpose for which they tend to possess dogs that are seemingly aggressive or defensive in nature (Eldredge et al, 2007, p.513; Mills, 2010, p.183). In regards to the process of binding the relationship between dogs and their owners Burke (2005) and Hubrecht and Kirkwood (2010) regard that training rendered to the dogs of different breeds helps in enhancement of the relationships between them. The training of the pets like dogs is initiated from the tender age of six weeks when they are brought as puppies by the householder. Thus the training activities being initiated from such small age helps in cultivating a strong bond between the owner who acts as the trainer and the pets like dogs in the family. These puppies are treated as small kids who are taken utmost care off by the householders along with rendering them potential training to help them gain potency to match the needs for which they are taken (Burke, 2005, p.843; Hubrecht and Kirkwood, 2010, p.432). Rainwater and Rainwater (2008) and Anderson, Anderson and Scott (2005) observe that the dogs are by nature aggressive pets in that they tend to reflect high amount of aggressive behaviours in their tendency of playing with other dogs. However in that the owners of the dogs are required to take resort to such activities as would help the dogs in gradually gaining control over their aggressive behaviours. The dog or pet owner is required to continually socialize with the dogs through involving such into playful events and not by keeping the animals into isolation. Keeping the dogs into isolation or rather rudely behaving with them only is found to enhance their aggressiveness and thus must be strictly avoided by the owners while dealing with their pet dogs (Rainwater and Rainwater, 2008, p.17-18; Anderson, Anderson and Scott, 2005, p.18-19). Behan (2011) and Swabe (1999) further observe that the relationship of human beings with their pet dogs can be further understood with the emotional and sensational understanding that the two parties tend to possess for each other. The human beings being conscious about their activities tend to understand that the way they behave with the dogs and other pets reflects their own emotions and internal feelings. Developed and conscious individuals thus tend to behave rightly with the dogs that on the other hand tend to develop their own senses and behavioural attributes. Thus behavioural attributes of human beings in regards to the pets also speaks a lot about the individual’s mind (Behan, 2011, p.270; Swabe, 1999, p.123). Franklin (1999) and Johns (2008) reflect on the changing socio-cultural inhibitions of the people along with other demographical features that tend to largely impact the behaviour of the individuals in their decision to possess pets. In the first case it is observed that pets were increasingly possessed by the individuals as a means to reduce the feelings of loneliness. The pets in such approach increasingly tend to act as companions to the different people. However with the changing social and demographic features of the individuals the possession activities of the pets require further considerations. The people mainly youngsters along with status liking individuals tend to possess special breed of dogs to enhance their positions in the society. Thus people belonging to affluent households and also belonging to high income groups tend to gain possession of high breed dogs. Hence possession reason for dogs that depended in the initial stages on matters of security and in reducing loneliness has largely shifted from such ends to helping the individuals gain a lot on their social status (Franklin, 1999, p.89; Johns, 2008). Knobel et al (2008) and Svartberg (2006) observe that different categories of people pertaining to different nationalities tend to reflect different types of reasons and decisions in their endeavour to possess dogs as household pets. Countries mainly developing in nature like Tanzania along with other western countries and regions like Taiwan constitutes of households where the male population tend to reflect increasing dominance over their female counterparts in regards to the possession of dogs as pets. Again on the contrary regions like Kuwait the women population tend to reflect increasing dominance over the male population in gaining of dogs as pets. Categorizing the regions based on religion reflects that regions that are increasingly constituted by Muslim households, in there the number of households possessing dogs as pets is found to be considerably lower. This fact holds ground in that in Muslim religion the dogs are regarded as seemingly impure animals and thereby possession is rightly not encouraged. On the contrary regions that are largely constituted by people belonging to Christian religion the tendency to possess dogs as effective pets gains further strength. This study thus reflects on the different understandings and socio-ideological conceptions of the people in their tendency to gain hold of different breeds of dogs as pets around the world (Knobel et al, 2008, p.8-9; Svartberg, 2006, p.306-307). Jyrinki and Leskinen (2006) and Sussman (1985) render a further observation to the understanding of the decisions that the pet owners like dog owners work upon in deciding on the food habits of the pets. The feeding habit of the dogs is decided upon by the people through a number of factor considerations that can be outlined as follows. Firstly the people relate the pet dogs as an integral part of their households and thus endeavour to render them the best quality of food available in the market. Herein the person does not care of the price parameters in relation to the food product purchased for the pet dogs. In the second case the owner of the pets also tend to reflect an increasing desire of feeding and dressing the pet dogs on the basis of their own wishes. In such case the people are found to render an enhanced focus on the gaining of branded and quality food products for the dogs. The people in the third criteria also tend to feed the pet dogs with quality food products in endeavouring to sustain and enhance their position in the society. Thus the criteria and reasons for feeding the pet dogs is found to gain a large transition from only feeding desires to a means of social enhancement for the individual owners. Again it is found that the male population in the westernized societies tends to gain hold of dogs that are quite large by dearth of size and also reflect a tremendous amount of aggressiveness. This tendency of the male population reflects that people like macho men tend to gain hold of large breed of dogs to reflect their sexual vitality in the society (Jyrinki and Leskinen, 2006, p.547-548; Sussman, 1985, p.2). Douglas (2005) and Evans (2008) reflect on the mutual benefits that both the owner of the dogs and their pets gains from such ownership activities of the individuals who endeavour to gain possession of the dogs as their pets. It shows that where the gaining of dogs helped the people in reducing both loneliness and large amount of mental tension. Studies have shown that gaining possession of the pets has to a considerable extent helped in the reduction of propensity of heart attacks among the people pertaining to westernized countries. Again the dogs treated as pets reflect a large amount of social protection and also similar protection from the rise of different harsh conditions. The dogs also gain a social upliftment on being taken by the householder as pets. Some men and women belonging to different religious boundaries also tend to reflect an increasing affinity towards the practice of keeping pets in that it helps in enhancing the quality of life of innocent animals (Doulas, 2005, p.32-34; Evans, 2008, p.118). Steffoff (2002) and Sprinkle (1994) reflect that dogs are treated differently by people belonging to different cultures round the world. In some cultures like that of western countries the dogs are regarded as a person’s best companion and thus is increasingly kept at home as a domestic pet. However in countries pertaining to the United Arab Emirates like in Kuwait the dogs are increasingly seen as outskirt or stray animals and thus not given a place in the household communities. Similarly the dogs on account of their birth are referred to as pertaining to some breed and others belong largely to the wild or stray groups and thus are rightly not owned by affluent people and also by other demographic groups belonging to developing countries (Stefoff, 2002, p.94-99; Sprinkle, 1994, p.91). Browne (2001) and Wolff and Sherman (2007) state that people living in highly urbanized societies pertaining to western countries and also in semi to high affluent areas reflect an increasing liking behind the keeping of high breed dogs. These dogs are reflected by the individuals in several shows both on the physical level in regards to kennel and dog shows and also on the virtual plane as observed by Jones (2010). Thus dogs to these people become a symbol of social status in that keeping of high breed dogs create a separate class attitude in the people in relation to other sub-groups of people pertaining to different demographics (Brown, 2001, p.242; Wolff and Sherman, 2007, p.171; Jones, 2010). Fine (2010) and Zubiri (2004) observe that the strong binding factor between human beings and dogs has gone to such an extent that in turn has augmented the dependability factor of the dog owners on their pets. It is found that the practice of keeping dogs as pets has helped to a great extent in the reduction of the prevalence of coronary heart disease ailments among the owners(Fine, 2010, p.90-91; Zubiri, 2004, p.103). Giaquinto and Valentini (2009) further observe that keeping of dogs as pets helps the dog owners in effectively reducing the tension and pressure that leads to the rise of physiological and psychological ailments. This fact is found to have a larger incidence in regards to the female owners than that in regards to the male owners. Thus where the visit to doctors were frequent in regards to non-dog owners for increased physical and mental stress the same was found to largely reduce in case of dog owners (Giaquinto and Valentini, 2009, 596-597). References Anderson, A., Anderson, L., and Scott, W. (2005). Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love. New World Library. Beauchamp, R. (2011). Breeding Dogs For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. Behan, K. (2011). Your Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves. New World Library. Brown, P. (2001). The guide to United States popular culture. Popular Press. Burke, D. (2005). The Complete Burkes Backyard: The Ultimate Book of Fact Sheets. Murdoch Books. Cutt, H., Knuiman, M., and Corti, B. (2008). Does getting a dog increase recreational walking? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Volume 5, Issue 17. 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