The New Dog Parent Archetypes

10 Types

Find out which kind of dog parent you are. No quiz required.

But if you want to, you can do the following tests to help

From Enneagram types to attachment styles, Ayurvedic constitutions to armchair astrology, the dog you choose (and how you raise it) says a lot about who you are, or at least makes for an entertaining theory.

Of course, the truth is simpler: you don’t pick the dog, the dog picks you. These archetypes are mostly irrelevant (your pup won’t check your MBTI before wagging into your life). But they are interesting, and a little tongue‑in‑cheek, a playful way of asking: what kind of dog parent might you turn out to be?

And here’s the kicker: whichever type you land in, you don’t get a free pass. Dogs need boundaries, consistency, patience, and your best self, even when you’d rather roll over and snooze. So consider this your mirror and your manual: a playful guide with a dose of grit and a few honest tips for being the kind of parent your dog actually deserves.

1. The Softie

Enneagram: Type 2 (The Helper)
MBTI: ESFJ / ENFJ
Attachment Style: Secure
Ayurveda: Kapha
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Labrador, Golden Retriever, Spaniel

You’re happiest when you’re giving love, and your dog eats it up. The other park parents know you as “the one with snacks.”

Pitfall: Smothering. Love isn’t endless treats.
Upgrade: Boundaries = love. Teach “no” as kindly as “yes.”
Celebrate: You make dogs (and people) feel safe, seen, and adored.

2. The Adventurer

Enneagram: Type 7 (The Enthusiast)
MBTI: ENFP / ENTP
Attachment Style: Anxious‑Secure
Ayurveda: Pitta
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Dalmatian, Beagle, Border Collie

Adventure is your love language. Your dog’s Instagram has more travel reels than yours.

Pitfall: Overdoing it. Not all dogs dream of ultramarathons.
Upgrade: Build in rest days. Your dog deserves downtime too.
Celebrate: You make life feel like an endless highlight reel.

3. The Ride-Or-Die

Enneagram: Type 8 (The Challenger)
MBTI: ENTJ / ESTJ
Attachment Style: Avoidant‑Secure
Ayurveda: Pitta
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Husky, German Shepherd, Rottweiler

Fierce, loyal, and commanding, together, you and your dog are a fortress with fur.

Pitfall: Control isn’t connection.
Upgrade: Let go sometimes. Play matters as much as protection.
Celebrate: You make your dog feel safe in a world that isn’t always kind.

4. The Dreamer

Enneagram: Type 4 (The Individualist)
MBTI: INFP / INFJ
Attachment Style: Anxious‑Preoccupied
Ayurveda: Vata‑Pitta
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Afghan Hound, Whippet, Saluki

For you, dogs are more muse than pet. Expect moody black‑and‑white portraits of floppy ears.

Pitfall: Beauty won’t housetrain your pup.
Upgrade: Marry the poetry with practicality: training, mud, vet bills.
Celebrate: You remind us dogs are living art.

5. The Thinker

Enneagram: Type 5 (The Investigator)
MBTI: INTJ / INTP
Attachment Style: Avoidant
Ayurveda: Vata‑Kapha
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Shiba Inu, Basenji, Greyhound

You and your dog share quiet respect. Space is love.

Pitfall: Forgetting affection. Even independent dogs crave connection.
Upgrade: Schedule cuddles. Yes, really.
Celebrate: You raise calm, self‑sufficient companions.

6. The Rock

Enneagram: Type 6 (The Loyalist)
MBTI: ISFJ / ISTJ
Attachment Style: Secure
Ayurveda: Kapha
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Bulldog, Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain Dog

Routine is your religion. Your dog never misses a meal, or a cuddle.

Pitfall: Too much sameness dulls joy.
Upgrade: Mix in novelty: a new trail, a new toy.
Celebrate: Your dog knows what true security feels like.

7. The Achiever

Enneagram: Type 3 (The Performer)
MBTI: ESTP / ENTP
Attachment Style: Anxious‑Avoidant
Ayurveda: Pitta
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Poodle, Doberman, Belgian Malinois

You want a dog who turns heads as fast as you do. Together, you’re a glossy magazine spread.

Pitfall: Dogs aren’t LinkedIn endorsements.
Upgrade: Love them off‑duty too.
Celebrate: You give your dog the kind of life other pups dream of.

8. The Peacemaker

Enneagram: Type 9 (The Peacemaker)
MBTI: ISFP / INFP
Attachment Style: Secure
Ayurveda: Kapha‑Vata
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Cocker Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles, Basset Hound

Your home is a haven. Peace, cuddles, and cozy vibes abound.

Pitfall: Too conflict‑avoidant, dogs need boundaries.
Upgrade: Practice gentle discipline. It preserves your peace.
Celebrate: You give your dog a life full of warmth and calm.

9. The Idealist

Enneagram: Type 1 (The Reformer)
MBTI: INFJ / ENTJ
Attachment Style: Anxious‑Secure
Ayurveda: Pitta‑Vata
Dog Match: Rescue first, then Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Tervuren

You believe in purpose, discipline, and doing things right. Your dog is the best‑trained on the block.

Pitfall: Forgetting that messy joy beats perfect obedience.
Upgrade: Laugh when they steal a sandwich, imperfection is the point.
Celebrate: You give your dog both structure and meaning.

10. The Rescuer

Enneagram: Type 8 wing 2 or Type 2 with grit
MBTI: ENFJ / ESFJ
Attachment Style: Anxious‑Secure
Ayurveda: Kapha‑Pitta
Dog Match: Rescue first (always), then Mixed Breeds, Pitbulls, Senior Dogs

You believe every dog deserves a shot, no matter their story. Your home is a haven for the overlooked, the misunderstood, and the “too much trouble” cases.

Pitfall: Burning out or stretching yourself too thin, you can’t save them all.
Upgrade: Learn boundaries. One dog well‑loved beats five half‑cared‑for.
Celebrate: You change lives. Your dog isn’t just your pet; they’re living proof of your heart

At the end of the day, archetypes are a game, what matters is the day‑in, day‑out reality. The muddy paws on clean floors, the vet visits you didn’t budget for, the patience you didn’t know you had.

The real “type” of dog parent you are isn’t captured by a chart, it’s forged in the unglamorous moments you show up anyway. The theory is entertaining; the practice is character‑building. And that’s where the magic really sits, in the ordinary, unfiltered work of being someone your dog can count on.