What Kind of Dog Parent Are You?

Have you ever stopped to think about how you “raise” your dog? The way we care for our pups is similar to how we bring up our human kids, because a pet is very much part of the family dynamic.

We’ve crafted a fun flowchart to help you figure out your dog parenting style. Are you a helicopter dog dad or dog mom? Are you a super laid-back parent? Perhaps you’re a bit of both.

Let’s delve deeper to learn about each type of pet parent and what pet products might suit their style.

To the super parent, your dog is more than just a pet, they’re a full-fledged member of the family. As such, their health, comfort and enrichment are of the utmost importance.

To keep your canine well-fed, Stella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb dog food offers the benefits of raw food nutrition with the convenience of freeze-dried preparation. It’s made with grass-fed lamb raised without hormones or antibiotics and 100-percent organic-certified fruits and vegetables.

Keep your pup’s brain sharp by teaching them tricks and giving them games to play, like the Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Twister interactive toy. You hide little treats inside blocks, and then watch—and be impressed—as your talented doggo searches for treats using their wits, nose and paw.

To promote your fur baby’s emotional well-being, VetriScience’s Composure chews are formulated to help alleviate stress, and can be used daily or when your pup needs extra help to relax.

Active parents enjoy being outside and going on adventures with their dog. There is no terrain that’s off-limits and that means picking up the necessarily dog supplies for your journey.

With Chai’s Choice 3M reflective dog harness, your pup will be ready for an adventure day or night, whether an early morning walk around the neighborhood or evening trip to the dog park. If headed to the dog park, don’t forget to bring the Chuck-it classic launcher where you easily can launch tennis balls for your dog to fetch, which will help keep them lively and running around for hours.

Ultimately, every active dog dad and mom knows that to keep your canine’s energy up, wholesome nutrition is essential. American Journey Salmon & Brown Rice dog food is full of nutritious ingredients to fuel your dog’s everyday adventures. With real, deboned salmon as the first ingredient, plus wholesome grains, fruits and vegetable, this tasty recipe delivers protein for lean muscles and powerful antioxidants to help keep your dog feeling his best.

Because your dog travels with you nearly everywhere you go, a must-have is the Frisco quilted water resistant hammock dog car seat cover to help ensure your wanderlust pup can be comfortable wherever the ride takes you.

Keeping up-to-date on the newest gadgets, fashions and cultural trends is part of your everyday life. You’re always the first to try something new, so why wouldn’t you include your four-legged pup in on the trends?

For trendy dog dads and moms, that means picking up all the hottest tech gadgets available for your pup, like the Wi-Fi-enabled PetSafe automatic pet feeder for iPhone and Android, which allows you to feed your canine from any location.

When it comes to fashion, you’re always dressed to impress in the hottest looks of the season. Make sure your dog is equally stylin’ by accessorizing with Frisco patterned dog collar, which comes in either a floral or geo graphic print. It just might make the dog park crew green with envy.

While showing off your pup’s brand new collar at the park, have a ball by taking the PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher with you. This battery-powered toy takes fetch to the extreme by launching tennis balls up to 30 feet in the air. Don’t forget to capture it all on camera so you can share the photos on social media. (If you don’t post it on Instagram, did it even happen?)

You love your dog like your own offspring, and you’re attached at the hip. Some might call you overprotective, but they just don’t understand the bond you have with your canine kid.

Lucky for you, there are plenty ways to coddle and protect your precious pup. The Wyze Cam Pan allows you to keep a keen eye on your dog when you’re away from home. This 1080p HD camera rotates so you get 360-degree coverage, automatically detects and tracks motion, and comes equipped with night vision so your never miss a moment with your pet.

When your dog is out and about, you keep tabs on them with the Link AKC smart collar. It’s a GPS tracker that sends an alert if your dog wanders off, and the smartphone app provides daily activity monitoring with custom recommendations based on your dog’s age, breed and gender. Your dog never leaves the house without it!

If you’re worried about your pup on car drives, the Kurgo true-fit smart harness with steel nesting buckles is a crash-tested car harness for dogs to help keep them safe in automobiles. This is one safety option for any helicopter dog dad or mom who wants to ensure their pup is buckled up at all times.

Also, if your pooch is up for a swim, any helicopter parent worth their salt knows that a flotation device, such as the Frisco dog life jacket with thick foam panels for greater buoyancy, is the way to go to help keep your pup safe in the water.

While you love your pet, you also love a clean, organized and tidy home. Having a comprehensive stash of pet cleaning products allows you to keep your pup close and your couch spotless!

Help fight smelly odors with Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Odor Eliminator, an eco-friendly, odor-eliminating spray formulated to get smelly dog and urine smells out of anything in your home.

For your floors, Bissell’s CleanView Rewind Deluxe vacuum cleaner has a “TripleAction” brush roll that loosens, lifts, and removes embedded dirt and hair from multiple surfaces, making it easier to clean up after your pet.

To prevent that hair from hitting the floor to begin with, Neat Freak dog moms and dads might enjoy the FURminator deShedding edge dog brush. It features a stainless-steel edge designed to reache through your dog’s topcoat to easily and safely remove loose hair from the undercoat.

When it comes to chow time, the Gamma2 Vittles Vault stackable pet food storage will help you store your kibble and keep it fresh—and not all over your floor.

If your dog is a chewer and you want to keep your couch legs safe, try Nylabone’s DuraChew dinosaur dog toy. Designed to stand up to tough chewers, this toy provide a safe chewing outlet and helps clean their teeth.

No matter what your pet parenting style is, at the end of the day it’s all about the companionship and love! Be sure to share this flowchart with the other dog moms and dog dads in your circle and see how you compare.

By: Katrina Rossos