Many people today refer to their dogs as their “fur kids.”  I do it too.  Perhaps you talk to your Dog in baby talk, a more high-pitched sing-song tone of voice.  Well that’s okay, in fact a new study from the University of Lyon in France shows that puppies in particular get excited when we talk to them in this way.  The study found that puppies particularly respond to women who speak to them in baby talk, while older dogs tend to ignore it.  It is believed that possibly this helps them learn words, similar to how a human baby does, although this has yet to be proven.

I know many people today who treat their dogs like their children.  In my personal experience this is particularly true for people who have never had children of their own, or their children are all grown up and have flown the nest.  I’ll admit that’s true in my case too.  For example, when I was busy raising my kids we always had dogs around, but they never got spoiled rotten like my dogs today do.  I was too busy being a mom to give the dogs any extra attention.  Don’t get me wrong, I always made sure they were well fed and cared for, but I didn’t form the same attachments to them as I do today.

But look into your dog’s eyes and tell me he doesn’t have thoughts and feelings and deserve to be loved and treated well.  Just like a baby your dog depends on you for all of his needs, and he always loves you in spite of your faults and shortcomings.

So many people today live such busy lives that they don’t have time for much more than working and coming home to relax at the end of a long day.  Having a dog means there is always someone there who is excited to welcome you home.

Stop the Craziness!

While I love my dogs with all my heart, I don’t go as far as some folks do.  For example, I have never thrown a birthday party for my dogs and invited all of their “friends.”  I don’t dress them up in silly costumes, although I do put a sweater on Chuey when it’s cold outside, but that’s as far as I’ll go.  I don’t let them eat off my plate or sit at the table, they eat out of their dog dishes on the floor like dogs.  And I never let them lick my mouth.  That may be okay for some people, but to me that’s crossing the line.  While I’ve even witnessed people who French kiss their dogs, that completely grosses me out!

My dogs have comfy soft beds that they like to lie in when I’m working at the computer, but they do sleep in my bed at night.

Stuff That’s Good for Dogs

There are certainly some things I do believe you should spoil your dog with, so here’s my list:

A comfy bed – perhaps even an orthopedic one if your dog is old and has arthritis aches and pains.

A healthy diet and clean water.

A good Pet Insurance plan.  One trip to the vet for a serious accident or illness could cost thousands of dollars, so a good comprehensive pet insurance plan can save you tons of money in an emergency.  I speak from experience, because in November 2015 my Cash had a serious bout of pancreatitis which landed him in the vet hospital for four days on IV fluids and antibiotics.  That one illness ended up costing me over $4000.  A pet insurance plan would have been a Godsend at that time.

Safety restraints in the car.  A rambunctious dog in the car is a recipe for distracted driving, not to mention that you and your dog will both be safer if he is properly restrained when riding in the car.  I cringe every time I see someone driving with their dog in their lap, especially if the dog is standing up on the driver’s lap with its paws on the steering wheel.  Did you know if you crash your car into something at 50 mph an unrestrained 10-pound dog will exert 500 pounds of pressure?  So imagine that force your head, it could very well be lethal.  What if you have a big dog?  Well a dog that weighs 80 pounds can exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure in a 30 mph crash.  Not only do I have a hammock style cover over the back seat of my car, I also use a special seat belt restraint harness for my dogs.

Another pet peeve of mine is seeing dogs riding in the back of a pickup truck.  Of course it’s dangerous for the dog, but also for other drivers.  What if that dog went flying out of the truck and hit your windshield?  So incredibly dangerous!

Final Thoughts

A dog is not a person.  They don’t need a lot of “stuff,” but what they do need is what it takes to provide them with good mental and physical health, walks, play time, a healthy diet, and lots of love and attention.

Do you do anything over the top with your fur babies that makes you wonder if people think you’re crazy?  Fess up and leave a comment.  You’ll probably find out you’re not alone or as crazy as you feared.

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