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Best Advice Ever Couldn't wait to get home and share the advice I heard from another dog owner this weekend. Mia and I were competing in our first conformation show. A woman said to me, "Whatever you do, treat her like a dog, let her be a dog. Don't treat her like a human. You can see what we have done to that breed." Lightbulb moment. I have heard this advice many times before but it never felt right to me as I felt I was somehow not loving my dog enough unless I loved her as much as I did any other member of my family. But it makes perfect sense when looking at it as trying to improve the breed which is what we are trying to do. Also when looking at the human breed as a whole with all our flaws. Why in the heck would we want to put all that onto our dogs? |
I agree. Dinky LOVES doing dog things that I can't even relate to. If he were human, he would not sniff grass, bark, and even lick my nose. The best part of dogs is that they are indeed dogs! |
My now passed 4 girls were loved deeply, but, were dogs, tom boy dogs, we hiked, swam in lakes, hunted and caught turtles, rolled in sand, they all did dog things, and my Cody is being raised the same, to be a dog and have fun, but he as were my girls is loved deeply and I am over protective and watchful as they are being them selves "Yorkshire Terriers". |
Yes, they are dogs; but I don't get the ranking. I feel we should treat all living beings the same way. I would never neglect my pups no more than I would have my son when he was dependent upon me. Some people say "it's just a dog" and that indicates to me that they think they are a lower species. It is concerning to me that when they say that they think it is ok to withhold certain things such as proper veterinary care. I have seen things done to dogs that astound me...and sadden me. Just a dog has to live alone in a dog house...things like that. But, we definitely should not try to think for our dogs as if they are human. That is a problem. there is a name for people who do that...I will try to find it. |
Here is the term I was trying to think of: Anthropomorphism I had a person tell me one day that a dog she had in her home attacked another dog and that she (the dog) looked so proud of herself for what she had done. She said she had the look of joy. I could not even think of anything to say to that one. |
I think this would have different meanings to different people, letting a dog just be a dog. Like Linda, I do not have any need for ranking. Good subject. Can you explain more what it means to you? I let my Yorkies do all the typical dog things, but I also talk to them pretty much like I talk to a human. I don't limit my speech to commands, which some people would disagree with. The dogs understand. They understand too much. I can't even talk to my dad about groceries we need without the dogs getting excited that they will go for a car ride to the store. :D The dogs steal my pillows and blankets in bed, but they know to leave me alone to eat my meals. We have boundaries. |
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Although all my pups were allowed to be dogs, yes, they all slept with me, sleep on the sofa, and yes, I did talk to them.You can talk to Cody and he knows darn well what you're saying. I have to spell things sometimes, soon he'll be understanding that lol. All my babies were spoiled rotten, so were my poodles. But all my pups are allowed to be dogs, just special dogs lol. |
Yeah, and I dress mine and put them in a stroller sometimes. :D Does that mean they don't run around and dig for worms (yes, they do that) and roll in leaves , run through pee where another happened to miss the pee pad? Nope...they are full fledged dogs ... well loved and cared for. |
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I let my dogs be dogs too by doing all the things dogs do, but that doesn't imply that I think of them as "just dogs." And I don't think it implies that of others either. When I read the OP, it reminded me of showing horses (because that's what I know). Many times show horses were kept all prim and proper in a stall during their show career. We often used the phrase when a horse was retired, or given a pasture break from showing as "letting the horse be a horse." In a pasture, eating grass and getting dirty. Because stall life isn't "natural" for a horse. Since the op came about this while at a competition this is the same thought I got from it. That to not forget that she is a dog and to give her opportunities to do what dogs enjoy doing so they also enjoy their "work" if they show. Just my two cents. :) |
I never understand that statement honestly. I let my dog be a dog but I do things to her that some would call treating her like a human but they all have reasons. Like I use a stroller for Callie mostly at pet events so she is not stepped on and with all those people it startles her and she wants to be picked up but is to heavy, she wears clothing but that is because she gets cold easy. I imagine this is left to interpretation. |
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I have loved reading all the replies and the fact that everyone has a little different take on it. The lady who gave me the advice definitely meant it the way Cha Cha paraphrased it. We were at the show and everyone was primping and grooming for hours on end. My girl is only a nine month old puppy and was exhausted so she was pretty much curled up in my lap messing up her coat and trying to tear out her bow. So that is what was meant but was not my lightbulb moment. I am a social worker and adore human beings and the entire craziness of our human condition but when she said look at what we have done to our breed, it resonated. Dogs are just not as complicated as humans. They are ruled by a few basic needs and when you meet them, they love you unconditionally. I felt like it was time to rejoice in that simple fact and just take some breaths and enjoy. I was in the middle of all the stress and chaos of a dog show teeming with animals and it felt good to just revel in all that dogness. My daughter says I am starting to talk like a crazy dog lady but I am thinking many of you will understand. |
I definitely understand what you're talking about and I think it's great that the show ring is encouraging dogs to be dogs and not little human babies and everything that comes along with that.. I see Teddy as a sentient being with his specie-specific needs, thoughts and feelings. In reality, I view him as an individual and I do not try to make him be the son I never had, for example. He is a male, grown DOG which means he wants to bark, play in the grass, lift his leg (indoors and outdoors!), smell like a dog (smell others as if they were dogs), etc. I think we do animals an extreme injustice when we try to reduce them to our wants, desires, mannerisms etc by projecting all of our humanity onto them. I love my little Sir Rupert Teddykins just as much as I love humans. So, yeah, I get what the woman was saying. Good for her and good for you for taking her advice as it was intended. Good luck in future shows! |
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