The Dangers of Anthropomorphism - Experts Say It's A Mistake To Humanize Your Dog!

[Belles]

Anthropomorphism is a word that means to assign human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects. Humanizing a dog happens all too often as their human swears, “my dog doesn’t know he’s a dog!” I assure you he does.

BOISE, Idaho — "Oh, isn't he cute? My little smootchie-wootchy!" Some women talk baby-talk to their boyfriend or husband.

Some folks talk baby-talk to, well, babies.

And some of us talk baby-talk — to our animals.

"You shouldn't use the D-word, as far as we're concerned," Diane Turner said. Turner is the proud owner of a pug named Madison, and, as the local pug meet-up group organizer, she's speaking for the entire pug-owner world.

"Madison is my baby, and that's the beginning and end of everything."

So, what's wrong with this picture? Some experts say that humanizing your pet — anthropomorphism — is just not the right relationship.

"People humanize dogs and don't understand their psychology as pack animals," Cesar Millan, also known as the Dog Whisperer, said on his Web site. Millan has made a business — and a small fortune — by helping people live happily with problem dogs. He's been known to turn a nonstop barker/biter into a pussycat in a matter of 30 minutes.

"I begin by showing the dog that I am the pack leader," Millan said. "I fulfill the dog's need through exercise, which is walking the dog in the correct way. I give the dog rules, boundaries, and limitations ... and then affection." Millan said that especially in America, dog owners tend to overdo it on doggy love. They "give affection, affection, and more affection, when what the dog really needs is exercise, discipline — and then affection." Turner contends that, at least for her pug Madison — and any other pug for that matter — the outpouring of affection is in no way detrimental.

"She is our baby; they're part of the family and have the consideration anyone else in the family has. They send (Madison) cards, she sends cards, gives and receives Christmas presents.

"They're obviously not human," Turner acknowledged, a bit begrudgingly, "but that doesn't make them any less a member of the family." And, she adds, it's not that Madison runs roughshod over the household. Turner believes in disciplining Madison — but more as you would discipline a child.

Millan says, though, that treating dogs like people can cause problems and, more often than not, it just doesn't work.

"Many of my clients call their dog their soul mate or their baby, but the dog tears up the furniture and drags them all over the neighborhood on a walk," he said. "The client pleads with the dog to behave, cajoles the dog, and offers her treats with no change in the dog's behavior."


Dogs are animals, Millan said, and they respond to calm-assertive leadership — "not emotional arguments or negotiations." Dogs have found themselves in an odd predicament by living with humans, he said. In the wild, canines don't need humans to achieve balance. They have a pack leader, work for food, and travel with the pack.

But when we bring them into our world, "We need to help them achieve balance by fulfilling their needs as nature intended them to be." Millan's formula: "exercise, then discipline, and finally, affection."

"As the human pack leader, you must set rules, boundaries, and limitations and always project a calm-assertive energy." By adhering to his formula, Millan said, you'll be able to connect with your dog in a deeper way.

On the other hand, pug owner Turner said there's no need to restrict affection.

"Madison has rules, she knows she has limitations. And she is very apologetic when she knows that she's done something wrong. She comes and gives me kisses — just like a child would do."

[Belles]

And also, some trainers really have a specialty - like Cesar with his pack mentality. I once observed 3 different horse trainers all take a 3 year old unbroken horse and they had 40 minutes to get through the basics, get a saddle on the horse and ride it. Each of them had very distinct methods, yet each of them was quite successful in getting the saddle on and mounting for a ride. It was just a demonstration of differences in training and that you can use a multitude of different styles to achieve the same end.

I had to laugh at Renee's comment.. I remember we had Axel, our rescue GSD at his first day of obedience training with our trainer (she is a champion Schutzhund trainer - see, makes Cesar look like a pussy cat) and we were walking out of the parking lot to our cars and the woman in our class with her dog was walking with her husband and I overheard her say, "You know, I'd almost say that Uschi was training me, not Bella!" We giggled at that, because that is the one thing I hear more often from people.. lol.

[Barbara]

That's right, Ashley; dogs who are treated like spoiled babies become...spoiled , confused and sometimes quite aggressive dogs. Sadly, it's the dog who suffers the most. A human does not anthropomorphize a dog for the dog, they do it to fill some need within themselves. It's ultimately a very selfish thing.

[Belles]

But, I have to confess... I do love to snuggle with them and give them kisses and tons of love and affection. It's hard when they come up to you, wagging tails, head down, ears flat.. kind of like Dopey on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs... it's as much for me as for them, I'm afraid.

[Belles]

Axel sleeps in his kennel at night. The girls have their beds, although Aki lays on the tile floor.. ughh.

I like kissing the "German Shepherd Dots" on the sides of their faces. I also love kissing the torn part of Axel's right ear and all of his scars.

[Belles]

ROFL, and Sasha has been asserting her dominant side more and more. The other day I looked at Axel's face and he had two more little bloody spots.. from Sasha's teeth! They play so rough.. OMG, it's shocking sometimes, but I just let them play. Breaking it up is an effort in futility. As long as there is no blood.. it's fair game. *sigh*

[Barbara]

Well, I have to say that I'm a huge dog snuggler...if they tolerate it. The oldest can take it or leave it, but Loki loves to lay in my lap at night when I'm reading the paper. He's a pretty big dog so this can be somewhat awkward. Hunter likes to "hug" and "kiss", he'll wrap his paws around your neck and press his face into your face. I'm a big snout kisser, too, even though Skylar will look at me like I'm nuts if I do this to him. Of course, all three sleep in my bed, Loki with his head on my pillow. Sometimes Loki will migrate from my bed to my son's bed...I'll find them the next morning all snuggled together, with Loki's head on my son's shoulder. You can never give them too much love and affection.