Do You Look Like Your Dog.Com

   6114 La Salle, #358  .  Oakland, CA 94611

  (510) 339-1625; Fax: (510) 339-1626

www.doyoulooklikeyourdog.com  .  DogDaysBark@aol.com

 

 

 

From: Gini Graham Scott

www.giniscott.com

www.giniscott.net

www.behaviorresearch.net

 

 

WHY DO PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THEIR DOGS?

 

AUTHOR OF BOOK, CREATOR OF CONTEST, AND CO-PRODUCER OF TV GAME/REALITY SHOW DOES RESEARCH ON QUESTION

 

Worldwide Photo Hunt for Book Photos Until June 1, Contest Deadline December 1

 

Why do people look like their dogs?   In what other ways are they and their dogs alike?   This is the question that anthropologist Dr. Gini Graham Scott has sought to answer in the first of a series of research reports comparing the owners of different breeds.  In the first report to be published June 10, she did research comparing Siberian Husky and Pomeranian owners and looked at the way personality typing helps match prospective dog owners with the dogs they choose to buy.   Her comparison of two very different types of dogs – a large working breed and a small toy companion dog – illustrated major differences.  For example, the Sibe owners were a very independent lot very aware of group politics, much like their independent pack dogs, while the Pom owners tended to be very social and laid back, much like their very social friendly dogs.  Now Scott is exploring other breed differences and developing talks and workshops to help people better understand themselves based on their choice of dogs.

The research was inspired by the Web site and book Do You Look Like Your Dog?, which is now going to become a TV game and reality show.  The contest has attracted over 500 entries from all over the world, including the U.K., New Zealand, Italy, Israel, and Canada, and there is still time to submit photos for the book to be published by Broadway Books/Random House in January 2004.  The book photo deadline is December 1, while the entry deadline for the 1st International Do You Look Like Your Dog Contest is December 1. 

The TV game and reality show is being co-produced with Eleventh Day Entertainment, based in Encino, California.  In the show, both owners and their dogs will compete in a series of obedience, agility, and intelligence trials.  Previously Eleventh Day Entertainment has created numerous award-winning network and cable TV shows, including CBS’s 50th Anniversary Special, TNT’s Emmy Award-winning mini-series, and MGM’s When the Lion Roars. 

The latest contenders for the book can be viewed in the “Latest Picks” section, and more are being added as the editor selects them.   But they won’t be there long.  Once the selection for the book is finalized, the chosen photos will be coming down. 

Meanwhile, interest in the Web site has been growing – about 200,000 hits a month, plus newspaper articles, magazine features, and radio interviews from the U.S. to Canada, Ireland, and Australia.   The Web site is now linked to over 500 other sites and features over 600 pictures of people from all over the world.       

The photos present a capsule portrait of people’s favorite by the number of photos submitted of that breed.   Golden Retrievers are especially popular, while other favorites include Labradors, Pomeranians, Shih-Tzus, Bullmastiffs.  The site also features dog art and ads, a PowerPoint presentation on why people look like their dog, and more.  A list of some recent media mentions is included at the end of this release, along with a list of the most commonly asked questions.

The idea for the contest and site was developed by Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D., a speaker, writer, sociologist, and anthropologist interested in psychological profiling, as well as other topics from creativity to social trends. She developed the idea after going to a local dog show in 1992 and noticing differences between the owners of different types of dogs.  After the partner of a client helped to set up the initial site in 1999, people gradually started sending in their photos.  About 7 months ago, interest started to explode, including plans to publish the Do You Look Like Your Dog book.  For example, the Web site was featured in Good Day Philadelphia on WTXF-TV (Fox) and some recent radio interviews include:

          RTE FM – Cork, Ireland (with Charlie Wolf) – 3/11/03

          CHQR – Calgary, Alberta, Canada (with Bruce Kenyon) – 3/14/03

          WGGY-FM – Pittston, Pennsylvania – 3/14/03

          WIYY – Baltimore, Maryland (Kirk, Mark & Lopez Morning Show) – 3/19/03

          KISN-FM – Portland, Oregon (Dan Dubay) – 4/1/03

          WTOP – Washington, DC – 4/4/03

          WLIE – Dear Park, Long Island, NY (David Weiss) – 4/8/03

          BBC South –  Berkshire, Kent, Oxford, Southern Counties, England (Steve
                McCormick) – 4/9/03

          CKTB – St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada (Larry Fedonuk) – 4/9/03

          WZID-FM – Manchester, New Hampshire (Mike Morin) – 4/17/03

         2CC – Cambra, Australia (Mike Jeffreys) – 5/4/03

         WCTY – Omaha, Nebraska (Big Party) – 5/5/03

 

News features have recently appeared in Insight Magazine, the Home News Tribune in Central New Jersey, the North Seattle Journal, and other publications.

If you think you look like your dog or know who someone who does, you’re invited to send in your photo by June 1 to be considered for the book or by December 1 to be entered in the competition, which is not related to the book and will be judged next year.  The entrants are divided into the 8 main groups of dogs: working, herding, sporting, non-sporting, terriers, hounds, toys, and just plain mutts. You’ll see your photo posted on the Web site, too.  Send photos to photos@doyoulooklikeyourdog.com or mail to Do You Look Like Your Dog, 6114 La Salle Avenue, #358, Oakland, CA 94611.

# # # # # #