Spinoff: Treating Dogs Like a Human

I've been accused of spoiling Willow and treating her like a human.  To me, I'm treating her the way she should be treated.  I treat her like a very well loved and cared for dog whose owner is very informed.  A lot of times the people who accuse me of treating her like a human or spoiling her are the ones who still think dogs should be "tied up" and fed Gravy Train.  Or, trained like they did years ago. 

I humanise all my animals.... in that I imagine how I might like something were I them. I do it because it's the only tool I have to try to work out how to make them happy and healthy. They can't tell me what they're on about, so I watch and try to learn through observing chains of behaviour, but when I come up with nothing, I put myself in their shoes and say "Would I like it if someone did this to me? Would I like it if I was a dog?" Whenever I wonder if something might be too aversive for one particular animal, I ask myself how I would feel if I were them. If I wouldn't like it, I don't do it to my animals if I can possibly help it.

My animals are all happy and healthy and well behaved and my relationship with each of them is very good. If I got to that point by putting myself in their shoes, then so be it. I see nothing wrong with it. I treat my animals the same way I was treated as a child: loved, needs taken care of, boundaries set. I was the one that peremptorily placed them in my life and expected them to conform to my life style. The least I can do is make sure they're happy here.

I believe the main connections between human and dogs is that they share similar emotional feelings.  In that sense and through empathy, I treat my dogs and react to these feeling the same as I would do with humans.

a lot of people DO deny the basic "dogginess" of dogs, and pretend they think just like people, react like people, understand english, and have the same types of needs as people, and this, I think, can lead to many problems like bitten children and frustrated dogs and irritated owners.

From what I've noticed, what most other people mean when they say "treating dogs like humans" is generally not what I mean when I say that. I think a lot of people use that phrase as a code for "spoiling", or what they personally consider spoiling--which to me doesn't make any sense because it's not good to spoil humans either. But just as others have said, just because a dog lives in a house with you doesn't mean you spoil the dog, or "treat it like a human". I have a multi-species family living in my house, 2 cats (you know, no one has ever accused me of treating them as humans!) and two dogs and two humans and we're all quite happy. All of the family members get treated with respect and have their unique needs for food, shelter and socializing met to the best of my ability. I don't understand how that is "treating dogs like a human" when I give the cats the same level of respect and no one has ever that I've seen gone off on a rant about "treating cats like humans". I treat all my pets as what they are: companions who are of a different species than me but are still important and deserving of some respect.

Now, when I would say someone was treating a dog like a human, would be when they are ascribing all sorts of emotional and psychological states to a dog that dogs are not capable of experiencing. That is not to say that dogs are not capable of emotion, or that they don't have a unique psychology, because they do. It's just different from humans and when humans fail to realize this, it often does not end up very well for the dog. Usually when I see people "treating their dogs like a human" it's when they are actually furious with the dog for some kind of infraction and are ascribing all sorts of motivations to the dog for that infraction that dogs just can't have. For a dog, being treated like a human often leads to the dog being neglected, abused, or given away. 

People saying "He's doing that to make me angry" or "He knows it's bad but he does it anyway" or "He knows what I want but he won't do it because he is stubborn" or "I know he knows that command because he did it in my living room yesterday, so he wont' do it now at the pet store because he's trying to embarrass me" or "He ripped up my sofa when I went to work because he's mad at me for leaving him" are all examples of ascribing to dogs human emotions and psychology when they don't actually think that way. And as I say, people doing this very often does not end well for the dog.

 I do believe that the phrase,"treating your dog like a human." is definately overused.  To me, dressing your dog up is not humanizing unless you're going through its wardrobe every morning trying to help it pick out what it wants to wear.  Feeding your dog healthy fresh food is definitely not humanizing, as nutritious food is a requirement for every living creature, not just humans.  Pushing your dogs around in a stroller to make your life a little easier is fine, providing your dog is not then required to wear a bonnet and lay nicely on its back under a blankie.

To me, humanizing your dog is expecting things of it that just aren't doglike.  

My Latest (personal) Example:  I do not expect my dogs to deal with my children should they be out of line.  Even Onyx, who would deal with it just by playing back, or washing a face, but Crusher who gets out of the way if he possibly can, shouldn't have to.  It is my job to make sure tiny fingers aren't poking into eyeballs.  Or pulling fur.  Or just generally crowding his space.  And to expect him to deal with her on a human level, that is, taking her away and telling her no, "Be Nice To The Nice Doggy", just isn't fair.  That is humanizing him.  He's a dog and dealt with her on doggy terms, no if, ands, or buts about it.  He doesn't understand that he's a dog and she isn't and thats just not the way we treat human babies. 

So some of the things I think would be humanizing are:

• overfeeding your dog because he still wanted more after you fed him what he should have eaten.  Dogs are gluttons and given the chance, most will overeat.
• believing your dog can't be happy sleeping in a crate at night instead of on your bed.
• believing your dog does anything 'just to piss you off.'  He may be trying to get a reaction, but its not out of spite.  Thats a human emotion.
  

huskymom

Pushing your dogs around in a stroller to make your life a little easier is fine, providing your dog is not then required to wear a bonnet and lay nicely on its back under a blankie.

OMG!  That visual is too funny!!!!!!!  LOL!

Actually, I could see how strollers could be a great option for socializing puppies that have not had all their shots yet.  It sure beats carrying them if they are a large breed.  Jack spent a good deal of time in the carts at pet stores so that he did not walk on the floor.

Both of my dogs have worn clothes.  In the winter Sally needs dog boots or her feet get chapped and bleed between her toes.  She also gets some sort of coat under about 25 degrees.  If she doesn't have these things she will be miserable on her walks, and that's not something I'm willing to put her through if it can be so easily prevented.

Jack doesn't need winter stuff but he has worn a Halloween costume.  Not only did he not care that he was dressed up, but after he saw all the extra attention he was getting from adoring strangers he started to dig it.  He's an attention whore.... 

It sure beats carrying them if they are a large breed. 

I used to carry our last great dane puppy around in one of those "baby pouches". We would joke that if you carried a great dane puppy around for an hour every day, and kept doing it as the puppy grew to adulthood, you'd develop some great upper-body strength without all that tedious time at the gym.

I totally agree with everything you said Huskymom. I don't think dressing a dog is humanizing them at all.  I'm always happy to see a small dog with a coat out and about instead of staying inside!  Same with dog boots, raincoats, or feeding the dog healthy food for optimal well being, spending a lot on pet care, or anything like that.   To me it's all about the deeper issues, understanding that an animal's thought process is not the same as a human.  It's sets the dog up for failure and the owner for disappointment.  I've actually been asked if I would want to sleep in a "cage" and if not than why would I make my dog?  My dog LOVES her crate, she goes in there whenever she needs some quiet time.  Stuff like that to me is what it means to humanize a dog,

I treat my dog humanely [characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, esp. for the suffering or distressed; merciful, kind, kindly, kindhearted, tender, compassionate, gentle, sympathetic; benevolent, benignant, charitable] and make it known she is part of our family.

I also believe different breeds have different needs. Most people who continue to state "I treat my dog like a dog" typically (if not factual) have a dog over 20lbs. Most medium and larger breeds have different instincts and higher levels of prey/fight in them. This calls for a certain lifestyle and certain treatment.

Dogs that are under 20lbs also need a certain lifestyle and certain treatment. Most people who "well I treat my toy dog like a dog" typically (if not factual) have this barking, obnoxious, starved for attention dog. Toy/Small dogs were bred to be companion pack aniamals that require high human contact and equal attention.

My Pomeranian "Kayla" has typical dog rules to abid by; and I spent the full year training her appropriately. She is allowed to sit on my lap, on the couch, and sleep with us in our bed. Kayla dislikes hand-bags & strollers; she prefers to be carried like you would a toddler on your hip. Yes she wears clothing, booties, etc (1) she hates the snow (2) she enjoys its. Consistant human contact, affection, and social status is what made her the pleseant dog she is. Kayla knows whos boss, just as a child does, but she knows she is "equal" to me.

The statement "I treat my dog like a dog" should be banned. Instead it should be "I treat my dog according to his/her own specific needs."

I enjoy this thread topic; it is a very good one. It is also interesting to see all of the member's opinions and to watch the patterns.

Pomeranian <3

I treat my dog humanely [characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, esp. for the suffering or distressed; merciful, kind, kindly, kindhearted, tender, compassionate, gentle, sympathetic; benevolent, benignant, charitable] and make it known she is part of our family.

I also believe different breeds have different needs. Most people who continue to state "I treat my dog like a dog" typically (if not factual) have a dog over 20lbs. Most medium and larger breeds have different instincts and higher levels of prey/fight in them. This calls for a certain lifestyle and certain treatment.

Dogs that are under 20lbs also need a certain lifestyle and certain treatment. Most people who "well I treat my toy dog like a dog" typically (if not factual) have this barking, obnoxious, starved for attention dog. Toy/Small dogs were bred to be companion pack aniamals that require high human contact and equal attention.

I think you underestimate large dogs.  My lab wants human contact all the time.  He loves people to the point that we have had to train him NOT to greet every single person he sees.  He also is a total Velcro dog--he always wants to be near me and know what I am doing.  My pit mix loves to follow my husband around and snuggle with him.  As far as drives--I don't think that has anything to so with size.    Many terriers are under 20 lbs and WAY more prey driven than my lab or my pit.  There are some toy breeds that were bred to do things other than be companions.  Dachshunds were bred to go after badgers, etc....  

My 55 lb. lap dog:

I have to admit that some of my family and freinds feel that I've allowed my dogs to dictate my lifestyle.  I argue with them that I have chosen to have dogs and breeds that require a lot of attention and time.  My lifestyle is dictated by my choice to spend a lot of time with my dogs and to give them the best treatment possible.  IMO, the best treatment of a dog is that which creates a healthy animal that is obedient and meets their purpose of being a pet, companion or working dog.

Here, on this forum, we have a lot of fun and chuckles by posting pictures and writing captions of what we think the dog might be saying.  I believe that we all understand that this is done in fun and the dogs aren't really saying these things.  Perhaps a newcomer to the forum with a milder obsession than mine will find this a little...strange.  The enjoyment that I receive out of reading, writing and sharing some personification of my dogs is simply a hobby.

sillysally

I think you underestimate large dogs. My lab wants human contact all the time. He loves people to the point that we have had to train him NOT to greet every single person he sees. He also is a total Velcro dog--he always wants to be near me and know what I am doing. My pit mix loves to follow my husband around and snuggle with him. As far as drives--I don't think that has anything to so with size. Many terriers are under 20 lbs and WAY more prey driven than my lab or my pit. There are some toy breeds that were bred to do things other than be companions. Dachshunds were bred to go after badgers, etc....