Is Your Dog Spoiled?
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Many of us dote on our dogs. We love them as members of the family, giving them plenty of walks, delicious food, and all of our attention.
But is it possible to spoil a dog?
The answer might surprise you.
Dogs don’t develop a bad attitude in the same way that a person might. They don’t, for instance, begin demanding a certain level of service or start believing that they’re entitled.
However, spoiling your dog too much can lead to some problematic behavioral changes, many of which can be quite unpleasant.
Some owners, for instance, can get into the habit of accepting their dog’s bad behavior. Your dog might be:
Chasing people in the park
Barking incessantly at night
Eating from the dinner table
Destroying furniture
But owners can often make excuses for their pets, saying things like “oh my dog is just like that. It’s part of her personality.”
In this post, we take a look at some of the signs that your dog is spoiled and what you can do about it.
Your Dog Is Overweight
Dogs should maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives. But if they eat too much human food, they can wind up putting on weight. A few extra pounds isn’t going to hurt them, but they can easily become obese. And that’s when the trouble can start.
Think about how much food you’re giving your pooch from the dinner table. If you notice you’re feeding them a lot, scale it back to dog-only food. Avoid feeding them sugar and other junk if you can help it.
Your Dog Is Scratching Up The Furniture
Dogs need to know who is boss and how they should behave while living in your home. If they don’t, they’ll just do whatever they feel like doing.
If you’re having trouble with your dogs causing damage at night, you can put them in a large dog kennel. This way, you can prevent them from causing trouble while you sleep.
If you’re still having issues, you might consider your dog’s lifestyle. Are you too permissive? Do you take them out for walks regularly enough? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then you might want to rethink their schedule.
Your Dog Is Overly Protective
Dogs should come to your aid if they think you’re in trouble. But they shouldn’t become aggressive with every new person who interacts with you. That’s a sign that something is wrong.
Usually, over-protectiveness comes from a lack of socialization. Your dog just hasn’t spent enough time around other dogs and people to accept them.
The trick here is to get them out of their comfort zone. Regularly taking your pooch to the park, for instance, presents them with lots of other people and animals. Over time, they will become more relaxed about what they see and learn that others are not a threat.
So in summary, to avoid spoiling your dog, you can socialize them from an early age, avoid excessive feeding, and train them. You can provide treats, but only in moderation.