Personifying Your Puppy: Why Treating Your Fur Baby Like an Actual Baby Could Be Bad for Them

So you got a new puppy and are ready to make them your fur baby! You made sure to get them clothes and shoes, are planning to take them shopping, and hire a daycare service to watch them while you work. But be careful, treating your puppy like a human baby might actually harm them. 

An American poll found that in 2023, 97% of dog owners believe their dogs to be part of the family, while 51% think they are as important as a human family member. Another poll suggests that 81% treat their pets like people, and 25% call their puppy ‘child’.

While vets suggest there is nothing wrong with treating your dog as part of the family, some personifying behaviors can lead to:

• Neglecting your dog's needs;

• Behavioral issues;

• Health problems

To understand more about the consequences of personification, Paction spoke to Andrea Dinan, a Toronto-based awarded trainer and founder of City Dogs, a behavioral and training centre that specializes in dogs that live in big cities. 

Training

“Dogs don’t have morals” 

You leave home for a long day at work, and you come back to find your favourite pillow completely destroyed and its pieces spread throughout the house. Conveniently, your dog did not come to greet you like usual and is instead sitting in your bedroom next to the remains of that pillow with his tail tucked, ears down, and ‘puppy eyes’ facing you. 

You might then conclude that your dog is feeling guilty because he knows he did something wrong. But… Can they actually feel guilty? 

Dinan says that they can’t. 

“I don't believe they feel guilt. I'm pretty strong on that one,” says Dinan. “I believe that they have a very strong sense of a pattern. When A happens, B happens, C happens. I get in trouble.” 

According to her, what we judge as “guilty” behaviour doesn’t mean the dog feels bad about what they did, but rather that they realize their owner isn’t happy about it and that means it will get yelled at or punished. 

“Dogs don't have morals. Every behavior that a dog does is because that feels right for them and their genetics at that time. So, with training, you can get in front of these behaviors. That's what I focus on. I don't focus on correcting behavior because I don't want them to keep repeating it.”

The trainer explains that while you and your puppy might share some basic emotions and needs, there is still no evidence of dogs having complex emotions like guilt, jealousy, or loneliness as many might believe. 

“I also do think that dogs do have emotions. But they're rooted in the basic, whether their basic needs are being met or not,” she says. 

Ignoring bad behaviour

As pup parents, you would expect the best from your fur babies. Instead of acknowledging the issue, you might find it easier to excuse your doggo’s bad behaviour. 

Some people might think that their dogs bark or eat their furniture because they are “mad” their owners have left. Dinan says that ignoring this behaviour can actually reinforce it and perhaps even keep you from acknowledging your dogs’ needs.

“Again, the basic needs… every dog is completely different,” she says.

Dinan explains that behaviours like constant or demanding barking can be a sign that your dogs’ needs are not being met. “It's definitely step one, and the needs could be exercise, it can be mental enrichment, it could be sickness, it could be [that] they're just not ready to be alone yet.” 

The objective of the training is not only to teach your dog how to behave properly but to help you understand them better and ensure that their needs are met, fostering a trusting relationship between puppy and parent. “I feel like training can actually help a relationship if it's based on what the dog needs and what the dog likes.” 

You don’t need to bring your dog everywhere

If you are the kind of fur parent who would never leave your puppy alone to go anywhere, be careful, you might be overwhelming them. 

“They don’t need to be taken everywhere. That is where they are not like children.” 

Although every dog is different, some dogs need space and time to relax, separate from their owners. “Dogs need about 13 to 16 hours of sleep a day, and if we are taking them everywhere, they are not getting proper sleep.” 

Going out to the mall or grocery shopping and being told to just tag along, sit down, and be quiet might be too stressful for your dog, especially if you live in a big city where there’s a lot of stimuli. 

By taking your dog everywhere, you might also be teaching them to not know how to be alone, and potentially creating a dependency, which might lead to separation anxiety. That is when your dog becomes extremely anxious and restless in your absence. They will not eat but will bark, pace, scratch, and destroy everything around the house, and even have symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting. According to Dinan, this condition is “a real thing” and difficult to treat. Besides being disturbing to owners and neighbours, it is also traumatizing and extremely stressful to the dog. 

Some puppies might enjoy your constant company or even the company of other dogs in daycare. But others need their separate space to sleep, relax, or even do their own activities like play with toys or lick mats. That’s why you shouldn’t assume your dog is lonely, and consider their feelings as animals. 

Health 

You are having dinner with your family, and see your fur baby next to you smelling, drooling, begging for a little bite. So, you sneak him a little piece of your meal here and there. After all, he is part of the family and you don’t want him to be left out. But feeding your dog exclusively pet food is an act of love that can avoid a series of issues such as: 

1. Digestive problems & Intoxication hazard

Your steak might be delicious and smell like a dream to your dog. But it can be hard on its tummy. Human food is often too fatty or rich in nutrients for a dog’s delicate digestive system. Eating off your table might lead them to vomiting, diarrhea, or even more serious issues such as pancreatitis.

Certain ingredients that are common in our diets can also be extremely toxic to dogs. Some examples include garlic, grapes, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and candy. Processed food may contain preservatives or artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which is especially harmful to pets. 

So, next time your puppy is eyeing your food, resist the urge to sneak them a piece and remember you could be saving their lives. 

2. Obesity

Your puppy’s smaller body needs less amounts of food. Although every dog has their own needs according to breed, size, condition, and activity level, generally they need much fewer calories a day than we do.

For reference, a typical 10-pound dog needs approximately 350 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight. In contrast, a human male adult needs between 2,200–3,000 calories. 

Although it might seem like one or two bites of your food will not make a difference in your dogs’ caloric intake, a piece of cheese for them could be equivalent to an entire meal for you. Frequently feeding your dog a few pieces of your food can lead to significant weight gain over time. 

While chubby puppies look super cute, dog obesity can lead them to joint or mobility issues, heart disease, breathing problems, and other things that can eventually make your fur baby live less than expected. 

3. Picky eating

If you constantly feed your dog from your table, they might realize your food tastes better than theirs and then refuse to eat their food. If you are wondering why your dog won’t eat their food but eats everything else you offer them, it might be because they know they will get fed ‘the good stuff’. 

Clothes & Cosmetics 

As more and more dog parents treat their puppies like real babies, the market for dog-adapted products grows, including more options for clothes, shoes, perfumes, and other cosmetics made for pets. 

It is true that clothes for pets can serve a purpose, besides being super cute. In the winter, a sweater, socks, or a jacket might make your pet resist the cold, and enjoy their daily walks while being comfortable. Similarly, little dog shoes might keep their paws warm, clean, and even safe from sharp objects on the ground. 

But make sure you don’t forget that your fur baby is a dog, and prioritize their comfort over looks. A little dress in the summer for your fur princess might look super colourful and cute to you, but watch out for signs of overheating, mobility restraint, or discomfort. 

Some doggos might be more sensitive than others, and clothes or cosmetics could irritate their skin and fur, make it hard to move around, or simply make them not feel good.

So before raising a puppy remember: besides being part of the family, they are still animals.