Posts tagged "Dog People"

Dog People vs. Cat People

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Jan 15th 2010 4:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats

Coke vs. Pepsi. Red states vs. blue states. Team Conan vs. Team Leno. Americans never tire of ways to categorize themselves. Recently, science has taken a closer look at one of the most classic of rivalries: Dog people vs. cat people.

In a recent online questionnaire titled the Gosling-Potter Internet Personality Project, a group of researchers, led by psychologist Sam Gosling at the University of Texas at Austin, asked thousands of volunteer participants to gauge their own personality traits in five areas: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness. Respondents also were asked whether they considered themselves to be cat people or dog people.

Those who identified themselves as "dog people" were likelier to score high in the extroversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness columns. "Cat people," on the other hand, ranked higher in both neuroticism and openness, which in the context of the study meant being creative, quirky and contemplative.

"Once you know the findings, it kind of falls into place," Gosling recently told CNN. "Agreeableness and extroversion -- dogs are companionable, they hang out, they like to be with you, they like your company, whereas cats like it for as long as they want it, and then they're off."

The Doggie Diaries -- Pooch People?

by Ben Westhoff (Subscribe to Ben Westhoff's posts): Oct 22nd 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats

Ben Westhoff

Do "dog people" and "cat people" really exist?

If so, Anna is the former and I am the latter. Before we started dating and I brought my cat, Nora, into her life, Anna had zero interest in kitties.

Similarly, before we began our two-and-a-half-year courtship, I was absolutely uninterested in getting a dog. We never had dogs when I was growing up in St. Paul, and I was scared by their incessant barking and likelihood (in my mind) of possessing rabies.

I brought Nora with me when I moved to New York in 2007, and quickly decided that pooch possession in an urban environment was even more foolhardy. Take, for example, an acquaintance of mine who kept a small dog in her apartment. Since she worked all day and had no yard, she laid out a 3'x3' square of absorbent paper for the dog to poop and pee on during the day. Which he did! Disgusting!

Anna, meanwhile, grew up surrounded by dog lovers who hated cats. Her grandmother would scream "Scat, cat!" whenever one came into view, and Anna's prejudice stayed with her into college. She once engaged her roommate in a spirited debate about the psychological profiles exhibited by cat and dog lovers: He maintained that she was a shallow weakling in need of constant reassurance; she insisted he was a masochist who enjoyed lavishing affection on the unappreciative.

Anna's opinions changed when she got to know Nora, who wasn't aloof like she'd imagined. In fact, the two of them have become fast friends. Meanwhile, I've become convinced that having a Spot in my life could be just the ticket. Anna believes I'll love a highly-interactive, loyal pet, and I expect she'll be right.

Are any of you out there reformed cat or dog people? Is it true that once you go cat, you never go back? Or is a doggy conversion entirely possible?

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals