Pet PARENT SURVEY

bY aNSLIE kROGH & tHE MUTTLY CREW

The survey results are in! Paw-rents and pet lovers across the U.S. answered a few questions about their furry friends. Our Crew fetched responses during the fall of last year and this winter in 2024.  

The first question asked was “Do you snuggle/cuddle more with your pet or your partner?” 53% said they cuddle more with their pet than their human partner while 31% said they cuddle more with their spouse or significant other. We dug further into why people would rather snuggle their pets. Searching through social media posts, studies, and our crew’s experiences led us to find common reasons. It’s comforting, always positively stimulating, and less work than with people. Cuddling with pets increases oxytocin, the "love hormone," in both humans and animals, promoting bonding, trust, and happiness. This creates a positive connection where affection strengthens the emotional bond. The release of oxytocin also helps reduce stress and promotes relaxation. Similar to the bond between mothers and infants, cuddling with pets fosters a sense of social connection. Signs that a pet enjoys cuddling include leaning into you, purring (in cats), nudging, or seeking physical contact (with dogs). Of course, there are never requests to chat or run extra errands, or conduct more difficult actions or “work” other than caregiving like walks, playing, feeding, and cleaning them. And many couples harbor some resentment toward one another. You usually don’t find that in human-to-pet relationships! The remaining 16% said they only cuddle with their pet because they do not have a partner! The next question asked was, “What is the most annoying part of walking your dog(s)”? 39% of people said the most annoying part was their furbabies taking their sweet time to go, followed by 24% saying dogs off leash annoyed them the most! The third question was “Is your pet into music”? 31% responded yes, 60% said no and 9% said none of the above! Let’s talk, bark, and meow about outfits! Do you dress up your pet? 45% of our dog lovers answered only on holidays and occasions, followed by 22% saying they do occasionally while 20% never dress up their furbabies. The last question asked to our friends was how many nicknames do you have for your pet? 51% said they have 3 or more nicknames for their furry friends while 28% said 2 or more names!  For our full survey, responses, and comments, email us at info@themuttlycrewstore.com.  Thank you!