The Problem with Treating Pets as Children
While it may seem like a small problem, it really isn’t. Treating pets as children or little humans can and will create problems in your household. The pampered pet may continuously compete for your attention with your spouse. While you sleep soundly in your bed with your dog, your partner must spend nights on the hard couch, watching TV to pass the time.
This will eventually create more and more problems in your relationship. Your spouse will begin to get angry because you are essentially treating your pet better than them. Relationships have ended over too pampered pets, and even the court systems are starting in on the trend. Now, pets are beginning to be treated as children, and battles are fought over who will get the pet once a divorce occurs. This only adds to the idea the pet has in its mind that they rule the household.
Cesar Milan, better known as The Dog Whisperer works with pet owners to stop treating them like children and more like the pets they are supposed to be. Many owners are afraid that telling their pet no, or disciplining them when they do something wrong is bad. They are afraid of hurting their feelings, and eventually give into whatever they want and desire to do, because of this. Their dogs become unruly and take over the entire house.
With the continuous pampered treatment, pets will eventually become spoiled. Cesar has worked with dogs whom have become so spoiled they will only eat ‘people foods’ that are prepared a special way, they will only sleep in the finest situations and often this means, in bed with one owner while the other rides the couch. Not only does this treatment cause spoiled behavior, it can also cause violent behavior as the pet is used to being treated one way with things being done in one way. This irritates the pet and they become aggressive, or even refuse to eat and play. In a sense, they become depressed.
So, how can you prevent this behavior? The answer is simple really; don’t over spoil your pets! They are animals and should be treated as such. It’s ok to buy a new toy now and then, it’s ok to give them treats, but over doing it should never occur. Being constantly pampered allows them to feel they are in charge. You don’t want a pet that won’t eat dog food anymore, or a pet that won’t sleep on the floor. It is important they know they are a pet, and they know their place. When they do not know this concept, problems can arise.
How can you stop this behavior? If you’re afraid of completely stopping the behavior all at once, and don’t want aggressiveness to be a problem, wean them off of what they like the most. If they sleep in your bed constantly, reclaim it with your partner. When they jump up, push them onto the floor and continue to do so until they get tired and start to realize that is not where they belong. Don’t let them take over the house! It is yours, you worked hard for it, and it’s time you showed it.
If your pet is used to eating people food, and turns up its nose at pet food, buy it and place it in their dish anyway. It’s important not to give in and let them have what you are eating. Let them know they won’t get anymore food until what is in their dish is gone. The behavior stops today. Be persistent, it will pay off.
It is important to remember that the behavior will not get better in one day, especially if it has continuously occurred for months or even years. It will take time.
