Pet strollers, designer dog ware, pricey Halloween costumes and gourmet dog recipes, it’s a great time to be a dog–or is it? As more and more pet parents become obsessed with their fur babies, experts wonder whether they are hurting rather than helping their little fur balls? It’s a controversial question with doting parents and professional trainers weighing in on both sides of the issue.
First let’s take a minute to acknowledge that the very fact that we need to ask this question underlies the heightened value and regard with which current generations hold dogs. Understanding canine needs and behaviors is no longer the exception but the rule, as dog mums and dads lavish an ever-increasing portion of their energy and income on their pups to ensure that they are healthy and happy. This of course is a good sign for the humanitarian treatment of animals in general and dogs in particular. The issue, however, is that the humanitarian treatment of our pups seems to be morphing into the human treatment of our canine friends. So, what you may ask is wrong with that? Below we investigate this question and list the pros and cons of treating our fur babies like human babies.
BACKGROUND:
The relationship between dogs and humans dates back 30,000 years, as domesticated dogs predate even horses and livestock. The mutual benefits of this relationship are many, and so it is not surprising that we continue to pursue the human-canine bond. Dogs today continue to serve many of the same purposes as their ancestors; they are guard dogs, hunters, and companions. In addition, they are now also special needs service dogs, military use dogs and drug and disease detecting canines.
Our modern day, increased understanding of how dogs learn and how best to communicate with them is enhancing our synergetic relationship. Afterall, a better understanding of canine abilities benefits both species, as dogs continue to offer humans a wide array of services, and humans in turn take better care of their loving and useful friends. Thus, the human/canine bond continues to trek forward on its evolutionary path. So far, so good.
What’s Changed:
On the surface, one may suggest that little has changed in our historical bond with dogs. They are perhaps being trained to fulfill different needs, but essentially the mutual bond between us remains the same. However, the way humans live now is vastly different than the humans of 30,000 years ago. Few of us hunt for food and use working breeds for the purpose for which they were originally bred. We spend far more time indoors with our pups, which while increasing the loving bond between us, has changed the way we view dogs. As dogs live more and more with humans, we have begun to view them as being like us, and in so doing we may ignore their species-specific needs.
TREATING DOGS LIKE HUMANS: PROS
- We are more protective of our pups ensuring their safety.
- We gain closer companions, as we identify more with them.
- We offer them a higher level of health care.
- We offer them more respect.
TREATING DOGS LIKE HUMANS: CONS
- We ignore their species-specific needs for exercise and socialization: Putting able-bodied dogs in a stroller, for example, undermines their need for exercise as well as prevents them from sniffing the ground and leaving their scent as part of their instinctual socialization behavior.
- We offer them improper nutrition: Sitting with your pup at the dinner table may lead to him eating food not suited to his constitution as well as encourage him to beg and become aggressive around food.
- We assign them the same depth of human emotions: According to research, dogs’ emotions are not anywhere near as complex as human emotions. Mistaking this point can lead owners to become frustrated when their pups do not respond in the way they want.
- We ignore the difference in communication methods: Dogs communicate differently and so expecting dog licks to mean the same as human kisses, for example, leads us to misunderstand their needs. The result is that we may not notice when our dogs are feeling stressed or frustrated, which can lead to unhappy or even aggressive pups.
As in all things, balance is best when deciding how much to baby your fur baby. Yes, you can dress your dog in the occasional costume, as long as it is safe, comfortable and does not cause him stress to wear for a short time. No, do not smother your pup with hugs and kisses, as this is a human expression of love that stresses most canines. Instead, play, train, and exercise with him which will increase your loving bond without making your dog anxious. In other words, by all means give your pup as much love and care as your doting heart desires but do so in a way and in a language his species understands and appreciates.
