It is always necessary to accept the responsibility of covering the physical, mental and social needs of any pet before welcoming it into our home, in fact, our pet should be considered "one of the family ".
However, when being a member of the household is taken literally, we treat the dog in a way that, far from being beneficial to him, is contrary to his nature and can affect negatively to their behavior.
In this AnimalWised article we address the question of whether it is wrong to treat a dog like a baby.
Similarities between dog and man
Firstly it is important to know the similarities between our canine friends and us, these similarities must be accepted in the same way as the many differences that separate us, only then, we will be safe from making a serious mistake, humanizing the dog or treating it as if it were a baby.
Dogs are social mammals just like us, that is, they need to live in a group in order to survive and also achieve a full state of well-being, their sociability means that, like us, dogs do not tolerate well loneliness.
Another surprising aspect about their sensitivity is that due to their sensory acuity dogs also respond very positively to music, something that was already noticed in the past, hence the famous quote "music tames the beasts".
Differences that must be respected
We cannot use the similarities we have with dogs to treat them as true equals, since then we will not be respecting their animal and instinctive nature.
Dogs have a great ability to detect stimuli, because their senses have much greater agility than ours, and they are also completely instinctive, and this seems to be very difficult for us humans to understand.
It is a serious mistake to project onto the dog emotions that are not typical of the canine species, such as revenge. No dog disobeys or causes a little chaos at home because he harbors a sense of revenge. Only by respecting the similarities and differences between dogs and people can a beneficial and productive relationship be created for both parties.
Treating the dog like a baby is a very serious mistake
Although we are dealing with a puppy, we must be very careful not to treat it like a baby. For example, when we repeatedly invite a puppy to climb on us, endearing as this fact may seem, we must assess whether we will have this same opinion as an adult We must understand that the dog needs order and a coherent environment.
The absence of limits and the lack of discipline directly leads the dog to suffer behavioral disorders and even to be aggressive. Complications resulting from lack of discipline can be very serious.
The dog needs an active routine, very different from that of a baby, in which we must include exercise, walks, obedience practice and socialization. We must understand that the dog has a nature of its own that includes sniffing urine, drooling and performing unconventional acts for us humans. Understanding that the dog is not a human being is totally compatible with a loving and affectionate attitude towards him, it is simply not the same as a baby should receive.
Tips to enjoy a happy and balanced dog
Avoid the main mistakes of humanization and give your dog the attitude he needs to see in you to feel happy in the womb of his human family:
- Do not pick up your dog (this can create a great feeling of insecurity)
- The love you give your dog should always be accompanied by limits and discipline
- Your dog's needs are not the same as yours, as the owner you must attend to his needs, that includes daily physical exercise
- The dog needs contact with other animals, therefore, you must socialize it from puppyhood
