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Do you treat your dog like a person?
The tragic Travis the Chimp incident got me thinking. I know that you can't compare a wild animal "pet" directly to man's best friend. But, are there risks for you or your dog if you treat him like a human child? What is too far?
Asked by
Max
on Feb 21st 2009
in Other Behavior & Training
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- This question is closed.
Best Answer
Everyone has their own version of what “treating a dog like a person or child” really means. Most really love their dog, but some, I think, just rationalize their "neediness" they are laying on their dog.
I think, we just need to ask ourselves SINCERELY if what we are about to expect of our dogs is for the best of the dog, or the best for us. Is it to change their behavior, or is it to change who they are?
If the person I love most in the whole world expected me to change my BEHAVIOR in order for us to get along, I might consider it, but if they expected me to change my NATURE, I would tell them where to stick it. That is not being “loving,” that’s being “needy!”
answered on Feb 21st.
Other Answers
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My dogs are treated like dogs. Let them have free run, and don't always dress them up and baby them. I have chihuahuas and I don't do that at all. I let my chihuahua's be dogs. If you go too far and treat them soo much like a human, they will become spoiled you will have many problems.
♥ Chanel ♥
answered on 2/21/09.
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I guess you could say I treat my dog like a kid in the sense that I let him sleep with me and I talk to him etc. BUT I don't spoil him or baby him and let him do what he wants.
I think the only risk that could come of babying your dog is that you will end up with an untrained, spoiled brat that nobody likes.
In an extreme case, you would get an I'm-in-charge-and-just-try-to-stop-me aggression issue.
Zackintosh CJ
answered on 2/21/09.
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I treat my dogs like dogs for the most part, but I do talk to them needlessly a lot and I do put clothes on them sometimes. They enjoy it all. All but the clothes part, that is. xD
I'm not sure exactly where the line is, but somehow I know when not to cross it.
Burkett's Cookies 'n' Creme
answered on 2/21/09.
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I treat my dog like a dog. I think that sometimes people forget that adog is a dog and then they end up spoiling it. Sometimes though, I think I am to cold or stern with them, but they still love me.
Bella
answered on 2/21/09.
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I treat & RESPECT my dogs like the unique individual souls that they are!
Pippin CGC
answered on 2/21/09.
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When I adopted my dog 7 months ago, I was all set to treat it like a four legged human. Luckily the trainer I hired set me straight and I treat him like a dog. Which is good because my dog would think he's the boss of me.
He does get run of the house and I talk to him alot, especially on our walks. I'll comment to him about the weather, the neighbors cat or whatever comes up. I'm convinced if any of my neighbors see me do this, they'll think I'm coo-coo.
But it 's hard not to smother him with kisses, let him on the bed, get on the floor with him, etc. I do hope I get to loosen up on being so militant with my boy, but for now it keeps him in line.
Guest 404377
answered on 2/21/09.
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I guess it could be a 70/30 thing. Out of the home I expect nothing but good behaviour & obedience from my dog. I make sure she's well exercised, fed, and regularly checked out by the vet. It's my job to make her healthy and socially acceptable.
However, at home I chatter at her like she's a person. No clothing, I consider it silly to do so except for warmth, plus she has a magnificent fur coat! ( and I tell her so....)
If you treat a dog too much like a person, you'll be disappointed. You'll also have an unruly, undisciplined, annoying pain in the butt. Hate to hear folks go "Fluffy, if you don't stop that, mummy will be very unhappy with you..." Rationalizing doesn't work with children or dogs. Set boundaries for behavior, and praise for good actions.
Dahlia
answered on 2/21/09.
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I love Bammers to death, he gets spoiled rotten, and I talk to him as though he's a kid, and in some ways I baby him. But he still knows he's a dog... He's still not allowed on the furniture, he is still expected not to bark at me and wait politely while I put his food dish down, he's still expected to go to the door when he wants out, and he's still expected to do what I command him to do.
Dogs, like most other critters, if not given boundaries and rules, will walk all over their owners. People think they can love their dog into listening to them, but thats not the case.
I 100% blame the humans for the Travis the Chimp incident.
Bam-Bam, CGC
answered on 2/22/09.
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Well first that was a wild animal. And he had problems in his history he finally just snapped. and it was said the woman had fed him ice cream and junk food that night. So in my opinion she had no business having him. Wild animal are just that. They deserve to be free or in safe natural area. I have raised and released wild animals. And I have been attacked. One time my raccoon attacked me and soon after she was released they can not be domesticated.
Dogs are domestic. They are not like wolves in the wild. I treat my dogs with respect, I let them run on one acre and yes I spoil them. But I don't go over board. They sleep on the floor or in their beds. I have no dogs on my bed or furniture, but that's me. I feed them well. I train them and I am a member of a dog club. Going to far is keeping them locked in the house, no exercise, letting them eat on the chair at the dining table. Letting them bite you and laugh it off. Let them pee and poo in the house.
Dieta
answered on 2/22/09.
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