How much have you humanized your dog?

Question

There are plenty of people here that claim to seriously pamper there precious wittle doggies, and others (myself included) who subscribe to the idea that canine=canine and not canine=furry human.

I have found that the majority of people who spoil and pamper their pets have little concept of canine behavior, canine psychology, and often assign their dogs human emotions.

How many of you admittedly humanize your dog? What behavioral issues have come of it? And how many of you deliberately treat your dogs like....well....dogs?

Answer 1

All the pampering and sweaters and nail polish and strollers and home-baked treats and diamond collars and Prada Pet Bags and personal mink beds and "oogie-woogie cutie mama's bestest boy!"  can't take away from the sheer pleasure of sneaking down to the pond and rolling in the fresh goose sh it.

Dogs will still be dogs.  But their people seriously need to grow up and realize that dogs SHOULD be dogs.

Answer 2

Brilliant question! :)

You're absolutely right -- often the people who "spoil" their "fur-babies" are the same people who attempt to rationalize why the dog marks the house ("he's mad at me for leaving him home"), or snaps at them when they try to move him over on the couch ("he was in a grumpy mood").

Their dogs aren't canine...they're little people, so why should there be any need to understand how a dog's mind works?

Yes, I occasionally put silly hats on my Dachshunds for fun, and I do hold an Annual Siberian Birthday Party every Dec. 1st (my first Siberian's birthday) for all of the dogs...vanilla ice cream, a raw beef bone, and a little slice of meat pizza.

...but I realize these things are for *me*, not the dogs, and I just don't think it's possible for me to "humanize" my dogs. I can't even think that way. I love my dogs, but they are dogs. Most of them sleep outside, eat raw meat once a day, and are expected to keep their damned paws on the ground when they greet me.

Answer 3

Yup! I have.I have a toy chihuahua and she loves to sleep in bed with me. She will lay on her back, head on the pillow, under the covers with her little front paws out of the covers. She is the sweetest thing. She snores too which is funny as h**l to watch when she is all tucked in.

Answer 4

I did both.

For my Pitt,my Rott and my mini Dachshund I treat them like the dogs that they are. and they are well adjusted animals.

Now as for my Chihuahua/terrier mix and my Rat Terrier. I treated them more like kids than dogs. They both almost died on my when they were puppies and I know that is why I tended to treat them more like little kids than dogs.

As for behavioral issues that had arisen from this were. My Chihuahua/terrier mix licked obsessively showed signs of aggression when he was sitting by me and someone else would come by me.

As for my Rat Terrier she had no manors so to speak at all. She ran wild and was very destructive.

It did not take me long to realize what I was doing and correct my behavior towards my dogs. they are now very well trained and seem well adjusted.

I do understand how people can humanize their dogs. but what I do not understand is how once they see how it effects their animals how they can continue to do so.

Answer 5

we took boomer and mollie into our home, i think that was enough, they act like they are our kids, boomer if he don't get his way, sulks just like a kid, mollie, if i had a handbag big enough she would go anywhere with me.  and dare i gave them a bath with the water hose outside, they would never forgive me!  they get a shower with warm water inside with fluffy towels, and they each have their own beds.  

Answer 6

I do not humanize my dogs at all.  They would be worthless to me if I did.  I don't need a 75 pound lap dog!  They are my dogs and I love them but I also show and work my dogs too!  

I cant have a dog have an off day because God forbid he didn't get enough pets for the day!  

Pampered pets don't have a place in my home.  I'm not a premadonna why should I own one!  

Answer 7

I spoil because it has been "earned".   Another words, Pilot has everything he could ever want in his "happy go lucky doggie life", trips to the park to play with his best buddies, the beach, camping trips, hikes, mountains, streams, lakes, adventures, small treats, pigs ears, toys, hunting games, hide-n-seek, sticks, jogs, ice cubes, dad and mom time, brushes, hugs,...etc.  

However, he is expected to "respect, obey, listen, and do as we ask".  Since he does all of the above, he gets a bit more than "should we say" the average dog!

Oh.....and he has the freedom to be outside or inside via his doggie door.  And, it's NOT gold trimmed!!  Ha ha ha!!

Ummmm...."mini" humanized, but somewhat "not".   It's called, "BEING FLEXIBLE".

Answer 8

Well, after reading all the answers to my question I asked earlier, I am sure that my dogs are treated like dogs and my husband is just jealous!

My dogs have never worn clothes, they have never been and will never be in a purse, stroller or any other method of transportation other than my car. They enjoy being around other dogs. Eli enjoys being around people, Molly, not so much. She is a work in progress. We are her 3rd or 4th owners. They don't eat table scraps. They eat Canidae twice a day and always get the same amount of food at each serving. They do follow me everywhere I go, but, they aren't trying to sit in my lap or put their heads in my lap while I'm doing what I have to do in the bathroom. I do spend 30 minutes to an hour outside with them every day kicking a ball, playing fetch, swimming, walking, etc. I do buy them new toys all the time.

BUT, I have made efforts to train them. Eli is well-behaved. He knows a plethera of commands and will obey them. I may have to repeat them 2 or 3 times when he is distracted. I wish that weren't so, but, it is. My husband can yell a command once which will send Eli to a cowering obeying behavior. I purposely chose to not have my dogs be afraid of me.

For instance, if I (or anyone other than my husband) am getting ice out of the dispenser on the door of the fridge, Eli sits by quietly waiting for his piece to drop on the floor. If my husbadn is getting ice, Eli goes nowhere near the fridge. My hubby has to call him to him (touch command). Eli goes with his tail half tucked over to the fridge and waits for a positive sign before he goes to the ice. This, quite frankly, pisses me off with my husband. There is no need to make a dog be scared of you. They should know that you are the boss and that they have no option but to obey you, yes, but scared, no.

So, no, I don't think I'm guilty of humanizing my dogs.

Add:

My dogs sleep in their crates with the occasional treat on the weekends of being left out, which, at some point means they both end up in our bed. They are allowed on one piece of furniture and will get down as soon as they hear the words "get down". I have been guilty of moving ME around them to get comfortable. This may be the worst "pampering" I am guilty of, IMO.

Answer 9

Rachel, I can honestly say that while I love my dogs to death, they do get treated like dogs. I have children and I have dogs....I do not confuse the 2. My dogs know what they can and cannot do, what I allow and what i will not tolerate from them. I can be the biggest softee or the meanest b*tch sometimes. The bottom line is....the dogs need to know their place in the house and I'm there to make sure they don't forget the rules. That being said....I still grab hold of my dogs jowels and give a small kiss on it....like I said, I'm only stern when I need to be!

Answer 10

Ah, late for the party, as always.

I think it depends on what a person's idea of "humanizing"...it's fairly subjective.

Saki (the little one) is allowed on the furniture when I give her permission but immediately hops down on the word "Off."  Belle is allowed to put her head in my lap and gaze sadly at me for attention all she wants because I am constantly trying to teach her that soliciting attention from people is a good thing.  I speak softly to them and kiss the tops of their heads occasionally but I have never believed they're "getting even" when they do something I don't want. I jokingly pretend they're grumbling to themselves during a bath or nail clipping but am fairly sure Saki is NOT wishing me down into the 7th circle of h**l.  Pretty sure, anyway. :-)

I guess I don't humanize their *emotions* because I am fully aware that they cannot think in the complex manner humans can.  I call them my "furkids" jokingly but they have never ever come above a person - no matter how much I may like them more than most humans!

They get good food, get groomed regularly, they get special treats from time to time and receive good snuggle time in the evenings while I watch tv, but I know they're dogs.

So...when I DO humanize them (putting words in their mouth when I get a certain look), I do it not because I believe that's what they're thinking but because I find it entertaining.

It does bother me though, when my boyfriend's mom calls herself "Grandma" and thinks Ethan (boyfriend's dog) is lying next to a baby he's never met because he is protective over her and not because she smells weird and interesting and I find it just a bit creepy when people give me cards from their "dog", complete with a real paw print.  Unless that card has cash in it, I don't care that Fido wishes me a Happy Birthday.  :)  I know, I'm heartless.

Answer 11

I treat my dogs like part of my family.  Not necessarily like furry humans.  But, they are like my kids.  They only get dog food to eat, they are well trained, the pup still sleeps in the crate, and none of them sleep in bed with us at night.  They eat after we do, and wait until we say it's time for a walk.  I have a cocker spaniel that's been trained when I say time for a walk, so goes to get her leash and brings it to me...sits with it in hanging out of her mouth waiting for me to put it on her.  But, they lay on my lap pretty much anytime they want, or on my chair, and we walk around them if they are laying in the middle of the floor.  We talk to them as if they were small children, kiss them on the head, tell them we love them, etc.   So, while they are treated like "dogs"  they are also treated very very well...This treatment has caused no behavioral issues.

Answer 12

I think that there is a fine line between loving your and treating it respectfully and thinking that it is your child.  I think each and every one of us here and YA dogs have to admit we humanize our dogs SOMETIMES. For instance, I call my dogs my babies, but don't paint their nails and dress them up.  I clean them when the are dirty, but let them roll in disgusting things if they want to. I don't carry them around in purses, but let them walk and roll on the ground, and sometimes I join them in their delighted rolling.  They know their commands and obey me. When they do not, I do not coo over them and excuse it for having a bad day. They are corrected.  I snuggle with them, kiss their heads, and yet let them splash around in the creek like dogs do. And yes, I do call them my "Snookums pookie poos" sometimes. 9IN PRIVATE) Long story short, while I love my dogs and pamper them in some ways, they are dogs, and that is the biggest gift of all I can give to them.

Why do you think that a lot of chis are so aggressive? They think of them as their little "Snookum wookums".

Answer 13

My dog is a 'dog'. I am not applying human psychology on him and I am constantly trying to better my understanding of the dogs world. That being said: I will get him the best food, I will visit the vet 2-3 times for the same problem if I have to and I will drive miles away to participate in activities he enjoys. Would that be considered spoiled and pampered!...for some yes, for some no.  

Answer 14

My dogs are dogs and get treated as such.

They sleep outside in the shed on their dog bed.

They are loved and respected for the dogs that they are.

Answer 15

My two Dobermanns would run riot if they were given so much as an inch, so no I definitely would not humanise them, nor do I see them as furry people.

Tori and JJ are canine members of the family and treated as such. They are given the best health care, allowed on furniture but will get off on command, allowed on the bed but again will get down on command. They have coats, but only for inclement weather not to look cute.

They are obedient 95% of the time and are only rewarded by praise or an occasional treat for good behaviour. (The other 5% is a work in progress, as I am currently modifying my training after receiving some excellent advice).

They are treated as canines and valued for what they are. They also know their place and don't have behavioural issues.

Answer 16

For the most part our dogs are dogs. They get no special treatment, besides the occasional table scrap here and there. That is about it.

I love my dogs, but I don't do like most and call them my children... I don't dress them up.. I don't let them walk all over me. I treat them like they need to be treated with love but firmness. I have spoiled a dog before and let her do whatever she wanted, she turned out to be a complete hellion who wouldn't listen to a word I said. After her I decided never to make that mistake again.

My dogs are my family but they are at the bottom of the line.

Answer 17

The closest I come to humanizing my dogs is My 4 lb. chi has a sweatshirt she wears in the winter.  One sweatshirt, not a whole wardrobe.  She would freeze out side otherwise.  Other than that canine=canine.

Answer 18

canine = canine and they deserve to be pampered, spoiled and allowed to be dogs.

Just because my Chi wears clothes in the winter does not make her a human.  She's a dog who would be cold without her sweater!

Yes, she is my fur baby.  Yes, she has been trained that my Mom is Gramma and she knows that Gramma has cookies.

I have seen animals exhibit fear, anger, happiness, love and grief.  They have "human" emotions.  Emotions are not solely the property of humans!

People tend to "humanize" everything.  If you disagree, please never mention the "man on the moon".  Please never think that you see a face in the pattern of anything in nature...that would be "humanizing" nature.

The only "behavior problems" that exist in my household...are the rescues that are in my charge for rehab and rehome.

Answer 19

Great question Rachel and some brilliant answers so I’ll keep this short..

I own a dog, not a furry baby therefore he is treated like the dog he is.

Contrary to popular belief (among the people who don’t see dogs as dogs)

He is not;

abused

Neglected

Unhappy etc etc

Because he is treated like a dog.

The best gift you can give to a dog is to let them be a dog.

Answer 20

The greatest act of kindness a person can provide to a dog is to treat that dog like a dog. My dogs are cared for like dogs, not humans. Why would I ever want to degrade them?

When it comes down to it, a dog should be allowed to be a dog. Humans can attempt to restrict their behaviors and instincts as we have done to ourselves, but you see dogs are much better than we are. They will never conform to our social restrictions. They are forever true to themselves. They're dogs.....and there is nothing wrong with that.

"Do not make the mistake of treating your dogs like humans or they will treat you like dogs." -Martha Scott

Answer 21

i spoil and pamper to an extent. they have a kiddie pool that's available if they want it for hot days, i don't make my seniors go out through the front door to go out because of the stairs (the back door has 2 steps).

i'm alone with the dogs ALOT and i talk to them constantly.

but i don't dress them up or expect anything more than what they are capable of.

Answer 22

i adopted a 10-ish year old yorkie/pom from the shelter i started working at a while ago. i supposedly "spoil" him, according to my boyfriend anyway. i take him wherever i can, i put an occasional sweater or jacket on him, and he sleeps with me everynight. i dont consider that humanizing him though. he has zero behavioral problems at all, except hes a bit clingy sometimes.

for the most part, i treat all my dogs like what they are...dogs.  

Answer 23

My dog gets treated like a dog. She walks on the ground, not in a purse. I don't paint her nails or dress her up all the time, I train her to obey and I don't make humanized excuses like "oh, she woke up on the wrong side of the bed today" if she misbehaves, etc.

I do enjoy doing "pet-owner" things. I enjoy buying new collars (yes, I'll admit she has a pink collar with butterflies on it, and her ID tag is a rhinestone heart), taking her places with me (only dog-friendly places, like the pet store), giving her toys and a variety of chew sticks, things like that.  I don't have birthday parties for her, but I do get her special dog-food-gravy and extra treats for her birthday, though I'm fully aware that she doesn't know what day it is, it's more for me than for her.

But I know she's a dog. And she'll be happier if she's treated appropriately for her species, not treated like a human.

.

Answer 24

Good question.

I guess the most simple way I can put it is that my dogs are as important to me as humans.  They live with me, I spend more time with them than any other human being on earth, and in some ways they need me.  So, this in many ways does begin to take on a human role, simply because most people would say these things about another human being.

I do not treat my dogs like little people in a fur suit, though.  Simply because I know that is not what's good for my dog.  My dogs are "spoiled" by species appropriate raw meat meals, not little pink fur coats; by trips to the national forest to run their little tails off, not trips to the mall in a handbag; by toys that stimulate them and keep their minds busy (like agility equipment in the back yard and puzzle cubes in the house), not piles of rawhide so they stop bugging me.  

Answer 25

I love him, and pat him, and call him George.

Um, no.  My dog is a dog, and is treated as such.  Yes, he is allowed on the furniture - but he moves when I tell him to.  Yes he gets treats - but only when he has done something for them.  They are not handed out like candy.  I have a minimum level of polite behaviour I expect from any dog - and any dog of mine will at least meet, if not surpass that level.  

As as side note, I get grief from family members that I am "too hard" on my dog - but then they turn around and say how well behaved he is.  I guess they don't see the connection?  

Answer 26

I treat my dogs like they are dogs but I do say that one of my dogs thinks she is a human because when she is outside she loves to sit on the patio chairs and stare at me (As in, let me in, please!) through the window and she loves to jump on my trampoline. She also, whenever my mom and I walk to weinershnitzel (sorry about the spelling!) she loves to put her paws up on the counter (it is an outdoor order-like place) and smile (at least it looks like it!) at the people working there until they give her one of the dog treats that they have.

I definitely don't pamper my dogs, like I don't pay a TON of money to get them groomed or anything or buy them special beds or anything. They get baths in the backyard from the hose and sleep on the floor in my room (sometimes on my bed if I let them!). They are dogs and thats how I treat them.

Answer 27

I do both, my dog is very well behaved as a dog, she knows what she is allowed and not allowed to do, but I also think she is human, cause she knows to well what I don't like, for instance, I have a cat that scratches at my sofa, my dog picked up on my yelling at the cat, and now will chase the cat away when she claws, funniest thing ya ever saw, but she does stuff like that all the time,

Shes a pitbull/boxer

Answer 28

Canine does equal canine indeed Rachel...not fury human!!

unfortunately most people are blind to this fact and are not interested in learning about dog behaviors or dog psychology!

Excellent question!!

ADD: See Rachel...my devoted fans are proving me correct one more time with the TD I keep getting...morons!!!!

Answer 29

I love my dog like I love my children....he is very well mannered and often listens better than my children...I never dress him up, except a bandana on occasion. Although I love him, a dog is a dog....I may cry a river when he dies.....but if it came to a survival...I would eat him.....I love him but I love my actual children and myself more....I wouldn't eat my children though...I do love animals but I do eat them....sorry peta...

Answer 30

I think people who treat their dogs like "children" are guilty of (among other things!) PROJECTING their desires for having an obedient, cute, portable, unconditionally loving CHILD onto an animal that, in actuality, has little in common with a human child.

Rarely have I seen these people (many are friends or relatives of mine) actually do any research on the breed (that's another aspect of it -  it always seems that it HAS to be a purebred!) before getting it to determine if their lifestyle will be compatible with that of the dog.  

Rarely have I seen any consideration given to how much dog-with-dog interaction ALL DOGS truly need and are frequently left alone for long stretches of the day and evening, while the human owner goes out for drinks after work, or to the gym, or to hobby class, etc....

Long ago, I chose to only have CATS because cats are less social animals, are far more self-sufficient, and are much more tolerant of long absences than dogs are......  but when FATE decided to put a 14-week old puppy on my doorstep in Jan. 07, I knew my lifestyle would change because of it.  

This included paying for obedience classes as well as adopting another animal from a local shelter so the puppy would have a playmate while we were at work (time spent in doggy daycare proved how happy he was and worn out in the evening!).  The carpet had to be replaced with laminate, a dog door had to be cut into our backdoor, and chemicals had to stop being used to control weeds in the back as well.

I keep referring to your last questions.... I think I do a mix of both.  I pamper (sleep on my bed, get treats, trips to Petsmart, one gets professionally groomed regularly, etc.) two dogs that have added immense love and joy to my life, but whom I KNOW ARE STILL DOGS (get walked daily, don't wear clothes, don't come before my friends/family members needs, etc.)

Which brings me to my final point:  Having these two dogs was a great pre-cursor/practice to getting pregnant last year and actually having a baby!  Who knew these two showed up to get my house ready for a REAL circus!