Could helicopter parenting be effective for pets? In a nationwide survey analyzing the key personality traits of pet owners, those who expressed the greatest affection for their pets also rated among the most neurotic. Psychologist Mikel Delgado of the University of California, Berkeley explains that the positive association between neuroticism and affection suggests that the qualities of an overbearing parent might work better for pets than for kids.

"In human children, having a parent who scores high in neuroticism is not usually linked to good outcomes. They tend to have less consistent parenting, either overly permissive or maybe overly protective. And at some point, children grow up, and they need to be autonomous."

Delgado says that high levels of affection and dependence on their pets could be beneficial because pets require lifelong caregiving.

"This relationship to their pet may not be harmful to the pet because the pet never has to kind of graduate and leave home, right? The pet is always dependent on the owner."