The takeaway: It's totally fine to treat your dog like a child, just don't forget that they're a dog and may need a specific and separate set of rules and boundaries in order to cohabitate with others.
Now, Scientists have taken the unconditional love you have for your dog to the next level, confirming that it's very similar to a mother-child connection. “I don't have a child but I have nieces and nephews and I could say I absolutely love my dog like a child” says Wendy Diamond, Chief Pet Officer at animalfair.com.
As writer M.A Wallace puts it: “We love [dogs] because they aren't human, then spend their lives treating them like people. We don't really want them to be animals — wild, free, ultimately unknowable — we want them to be like us, but more static and predictable. Something we can control.”
Many people who love their dogs make the mistake of expecting them to enjoy the same things people do. Even worse, well-meaning pet owners often expect a dog to behave as a person would in certain circumstances. This is not only unkind and unfair to the animal; it can also be downright dangerous.
And if like us, you really respect our canine brethren you'll know that the best way to hold them is like babies. It gives them the respect and attention they so badly need. We've rounded up some of the best dogs being held like babies moments on the internet to prove our point.
A dog's first instinct in the face of danger is to run away. And being held prevents him from doing that. It's also possible that your dog has had a negative experience with a restraining hug.
It comes as no surprise that pet lovers and owners treat their pets like their own kids, as dogs and cats are known to be very intelligent, loving, sweet, and caring. This study even found out that the brain activates and lights up similarly for mothers who have human kids and furry kids.
Yes, you can love your dog too much. To truly understand this you have to look at the correlation between love and behavior. A basic tenet of behavior is that animals, including both dogs and people, will repeat behavior that rewards them in some way and will not repeat behavior which does not.
Some become Velcro dogs through learning or negative experiences. Those who were abandoned, who lost their owners and were then re-homed, may live in fear of abandonment and may therefore develop an over-attachment. Others learn to become clingy because their owners, often unknowingly, reward clingy behaviors.
Domestic dogs must see their human as the alpha. This means that under your pup's love and affection exists a tremendous amount of respect for a dog to see you as the pack leader. If your pup shows certain signs, they have granted you the role of alpha.
Researchers in Japan found that just by looking at each other, humans and dogs experienced a spike in the hormone oxytocin. It is the same hormone that surges in mothers and babies when they exchange looks, and has a role in maternal bonding, trust and altruism.
There's a long, fancy word for treating dogs like humans, and it's called anthropomorphism. Anthropomorphism is defined as the “attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to non-human entities and is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology” (Oxford Dictionary, 1885).
Some experts believe that dogs know we are a different species, so they wouldn't consider us eligible for their furry four-legged group. That said, dogs often treat us as like we're part of one big happy pack. They can be incredibly loyal and loving to their family members.
So, yes, a puppy can definitely think of you as his “mother” — that is, his provider and protector — and develop as strong an emotional bond with you as if you were blood-related. Your puppy will also quickly learn to pick you out among strangers, both by sight and through his powerful sense of smell.
Dogs still prefer to follow adults than children
Dogs also stay within the same proximity of their adult owners nearly 73 percent of the time (39.7% among shelter dogs). “We still have a lot to learn about the dog-child relationship” Udell says.
Canines are smitten with babies and can form strong connections because of the amount of time spent together. Both a baby and a dog, especially a young pup, have a common desire for a playmate and someone who will give them attention.
Velcro Dog syndrome is a phrase people use to describe the behaviour displayed by clingy breeds. It is not, however, full-blown separation anxiety and as a responsible pet owner, it's a good idea to make sure you know the difference. So-called Velcro dogs will often: Follow you from room to room around the house.
Cuddles & Sleepy Snuggles ?
Dogs choose to sleep where they feel most comfortable and at ease, so if your dog enjoys sleeping in your bed, or likes to snuggle up to you for a nap, they feel trust in you that they will be safe to do so.
To be safe, you should not kiss dogs on their heads. Most dogs, at best, tolerate humans kissing them.
Dogs use actions called "play bows" to ask other individuals to play and also while they're playing to punctuate play bouts to admit they're wrong and say something like, “Sorry I bit you so hard—this is still play regardless of what I just did.
Why is my dog putting his paws on me? In addition to a way to say "I love you," your dog might paw at you if it needs something like food or a potty break. Anxious dogs might also paw at you for comfort or to request some space. Other dogs may paw at you to signify they need some activity time.
As mentioned, pet-directed speech and baby talk have a lot in common. They both are slower, more melodic and of a higher pitch than adult-directed speech. What this means is that humans might naturally adjust their way of talking when they know that the person or animal they're talking to doesn't speak your language.
They bring us joy, comfort, and unconditional love. According to a recent study cited in a Psychology Today article, treating pets as family members can have significant benefits for our well-being, including reduced stress and improved mental health.
Many of us who have been around dogs and babies have noticed that dogs seem to treat babies differently than adults and older children. They are often more gentle, curious, and protective of infants. While dogs likely don't know a baby is a baby they are aware that babies are small, fragile, vulnerable and helpless.