A dog is not a person

Why should we not forget that a dog is a dog?

A dog was once a reliable partner for humans, helping with hunting and guarding homes. They were treated with respect, recognizing their value. But the modern world has brought new trends, and one of them is the humanization of dogs. More and more often we hear about dogs as “children,” “sons,” “daughters,” and even “hairy husbands.”

This attitude certainly has its place, but it is fraught with danger. A dog is not a miniature human. It has different needs, a different psychology, different instincts. It cannot think abstractly, experience the same feelings and emotions as we do. By humanizing a dog, we often project our desires and expectations onto it, forgetting about its true nature. We often impose our standards of behavior and expectations on it, which can lead to serious problems in relationships.

A dog is an egoist. It acts based on its own interests. Everything it does is aimed at satisfying its own needs. Don't be offended if your pet doesn't express gratitude for everything you do for it. A dog simply doesn't know how to do it.

Many problems in relationships with dogs arise precisely because of a misunderstanding of its motivation. When a dog ruins things, shits in the wrong place, or doesn't obey commands, we tend to blame it for being malicious. In fact, the reason often lies in our mistakes: improper upbringing, lack of attention, lack of physical and mental exercise, or the inadequacy of the conditions we create for the animal's needs.

A dog is a predator. It has its own instincts that we cannot always control. For example, it is completely normal for a dog to eat carrion, protect its territory, or dominate other dogs. This is in its nature. If we want to live in harmony with our pet, we must accept it as it is, we must accept its instincts and learn to work with them.

Of course, there is a downside to this. Many dog ​​owners, despite all the recommendations of experts, continue to make the same mistakes. They do not train their pets, do not pay enough attention to them, and then wonder why their dog does not behave the way they would like.

What to do?

Study the dog. Try to understand its needs, instincts and behavioral characteristics.
Provide the dog with physical and mental exercise. Walks, games, training - all this is necessary for the dog to feel happy and satisfied.
Create clear rules and boundaries. The dog must understand what is allowed and what is not.
Be consistent. Do not change the rules of the game on the fly. The dog must know what is expected of it.
Contact professionals. If you have problems with training a dog, do not hesitate to contact a dog trainer. But, what is important, this dog trainer must have positive experience working with your breed!

In conclusion, I would like to say that the relationship with a dog is a big responsibility. This is not just entertainment, but serious work that requires knowledge and patience. If you decide to get a dog, be prepared for the fact that it is not a toy, but a living creature with its own needs and character. Accept it as it is and try to create comfortable living conditions for it.

Remember that a dog is not a person. It cannot replace our friends, family or children. But it can become our faithful companion and give us a lot of joy.

Let's stop turning dogs into people and start respecting their unique nature.

© Tatyana Lazko, co-owner of the kennel "Strider in Diversity kennel"