I confess that I do things for my dogs that some people (NOT the people who own dogs themselves, of course) would regard with a critical eye.
For example, my 11 year old Pomeranian will not eat anything that comes directly out of the refrigerator. It must be warmed in the microwave first. And I don’t hesitate to do this little kindness for him. Who wants to eat cold ground beef, right?
The thing is, I know he has trained me to do this.
If I set a cold dish on the floor for him, he eyes it disdainfully and then looks at me as if to say “Seriously? You expect me to eat that?” And dutifully, I heat his meal for him.
So I am not judgmental when my clients sheepishly admit to doing something really really nice for their best dog pals.
The coldest winter in recent memory had many dogs hesitating to go out to do their business. Yes, we most certainly DID shovel out a potty place for them after a snow storm. One client laid a towel path from the door to the outdoor facilities so her Min Pin wouldn’t suffer cold, wet paws along the way. I consider that genius, not appalling.
Pretty much anything parents would do for their children, smitten dog owners will do for their canine companions, including:
cook meals for them, like chicken, brown rice and fresh vegetables;
take them for a “walk” in a stroller at the mall, especially on cold winter days;
arrange play dates;
enroll them in day care;
dress them in a warm jacket on winter days, in a raincoat and boots for sloshy days, you get the picture;
brush their teeth for them;
hire someone to clean up after them.
Keep in mind that, just like spoiling our kids, spoiling our dogs can have behavioral consequences.
Don’t expect your dog to be grateful for your generosity, or to wait patiently for the gifts you bestow upon them. The more you give, the more demanding your pampered pup will become.
So if your dog pesters you for fresh water, barks at you until you serve up the treat she gets whenever she comes inside, or bumps your elbow at the table until you give him a piece of your steak, remember who is training who.