Lack of space sees fall in large pets

WISE men have always known you can really get to know a person by sizing up their mates.

But little did they realise the average height of an Irish man’s best friend can help document the social history of a generation.

This is what research has shown and anybody with doubts should take out a ruler and start measuring dogs.

In the past five years the country’s dog population has risen by 14%.

But, of the three categories of K9, breeds under 9kg (the size of a slightly bulked-up highland terrier) have accounted for half the total hike.

According to the Euromonitor International’s research team this is not a mimic of the Chihuahua trend sparked by Paris Hilton but a reflection of society’s move away from the countryside and to a more intensive work regime.

“Increased urbanisation is leading to space shortages in the cities and so providing space for larger animals is difficult.

“The small pet population is rising in Ireland due to a trend towards more apartment living and because the smaller pet is perceived to be easier to maintain.

“Combined with busy consumer lifestyles, high maintenance pets are increasingly being eschewed for cats, smaller mammals and fish,” the research said.

In the past five years the number of small dogs has risen by 17% to 279,000.

By comparison the number of dogs over 23kg (the size of a boxer on a diet) has risen by just 7% to 138,500.

This has help grow the entire pet food and pet care industry significantly and it is valued at €190 million this year.

The research findings are contained in the market report compiled by Euromonitor based on trade surveys, company reports and international statistical comparisons.

Paul Blair, sales’ director at Irish Dog Foods, said its strategy has transformed in recent years because of changes in the relationship between people and their pets.

He said the shift is towards smaller pet-food portions and more manageable breeds but he warned in future the same social trends will see dogs’ special status overtaken by cats.

“In the UK there is more cats than dogs but over here we are still very much dog lovers, they are the family pets and cats do not get anything like the attention.

“That is changing and will change with smaller apartments and more time demands — cats are an awful lot easier to keep,” he said.

In the past five years the cat population has grown by 160,000 but they are still 130,000 shy of dogs. Mr Blair said the feline’s self-sufficient lifestyle will see this change.