Luck of the Irish

To all of our Irish-born breeds, this is your time. With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, we at PuppyPetStore wanted to pay homage to our favorite Irish breeds.

Popular breeds like the Irish Setter, Irish Terrier, Irish Wolfhound, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and the Kerry Blue Terrier, are some of the most enthusiastic and independent in the world.

In Ireland, life revolves around their furry friends. A survey, taken in December 2016 by iReach for Purina, concludes that Irish people might just love their dogs more than their own children! iReach surveyed 1000 people in Ireland, 889 being current pet owners. The results were overwhelming.

69% surveyed thought in order for a house to ‘be a home’ it needed to have a dog in it; while only 55% thought children were the key to the house-to-home equation. Yet 72% of respondents stated ‘having a dog completes the family’.

And at 84%, most could agree that having a dog was key to teaching responsibility to their Irish children; while 82% believed dogs contributed greatly to childhood growth and development.

97% surveyed admitted to talking to their dogs (who doesn’t??) and 60% of those were more likely to talk ‘baby-talk’ to their pups. That’s why it wasn’t hard to believe when 74% admitted to carrying around photos of their dogs!

And although Irish women were more likely than their Irish male counterparts to buy their fur-babies a weekly treat or toy (58% versus 45% respectively), it is obvious that Irish pets will be getting something new rather than sleeping in the bed; only 16% of respondents let their pups under their covers.

No matter what your dog’s origin is, get out and celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday with your pets. Just remember, your dog may be ‘green with envy’ that you’re not sharing your green beer, but they can indulge in a new treat or you could add a tint of green to their water bowl. Either way, throw on your shamrocks and find a Bark in the Park or Yappy Hour to celebrate the Lucky Leprechauns this weekend!