Should we treat our pets like our children?
My dog, Cloudy, got me thinking a bit this morning as he patiently waited for me to make his flea dip. He had her favorite teddy bear in her mouth and leaned in, asking me to take her to play.
It was not the first time that she behaved like a child, or showed attachment to her “parents”.
Pet owners develop bonds with their dogs that others, including family members, find difficult to empathize with. There are times when I get quizzical looks for giving Cloudy a hug after she completes a run in the park.
There is a persistent, or at least a gnawing, gap between pet owners and non-pet owners that needs to be addressed. Perhaps your fear of dogs stemmed from a bad experience of being bitten by one. Their disgust could also stem from sheer disgust at pet owners who don’t clean themselves up after a walk in the park.
This gap always raises the question “Should we treat our dogs like our children?”
The bond with a dog is one of implicit trust. Once formed, the dog sees you as its leader and looks to you to show it the way. As he follows you, he shows his faith that your path is the right one. Trust that you will not abandon him or hurt him.
His acceptance of our affection is unconditional.
We love our dogs for the feelings of dependency they convey to us. They make us feel needed. That need continues for life.
A relationship with a dog is innocent, without complications. She has no particular motives or reasons for his actions, and that is where his psyche differs from ours.
That naivety is a real draw. Add hardcore loyalty to the mix. There are times when you come home to your spouse watching TV, and he ignores you when you walk in the door. It is always the dog that greets you.
You are probably assertive with a playful dog that shows no signs of defiance or reply.
Like all children, dogs get excited, sometimes better than us. They respond to your feelings of happiness, sadness, or anger. They understand stress, often better than humans.
Treating dogs like children is a given, considering these very understandable reasons. Owners have to do it thinking about the feelings of those who prefer not to have one.
This means that pet owners must go to the trouble of cleaning up after their pets, just as much as non-owners must try to empathize and accommodate.
It also means that owners have to train the dogs to follow and not jump at passers-by. They have to control themselves around other dogs.
With everyone in mind, dogs are like children.
