Who doesn’t love their pet? The unconditional love of a pet is one of the most beautiful things on this planet but for some, showering their pet with goodies and spoiling them could lead to bad behaviour and more. Spoiling a pet could range from giving it anything it wants, to excusing or even ignoring its bad behaviour. Saying things like “Oh, she doesn’t know what she’s doing” or “He enjoys it so much though” are classic signs of you spoiling your furkid. A dog for example, needs boundaries and without set boundaries, they can become aggressive, demanding and territorial with their possessions and also owners. In cases of severe behavioural problems, the pet may even bring harm upon the owner or someone else.
Here’re a few signs to look out for to see if your pet is too spoiled.
- Anxiety and confusion which can lead to excessive barking.
- Unwanted territorial behaviour like marking or spraying in cats, snapping, growling and even biting.
- Unwanted aggression from fear like lashing out, growling and biting.
- Demanding attention by jumping on you, begging, whining and barking.
- Physically unhealthy which includes obesity from being overfed, obsessive chewing and licking certain body parts.
- Pulls on its leash when you bring it for walks and lunges at every other dog.
It isn’t anyone’s fault that they are spoiling their pet because sometimes, it’s just a matter of hormones. When your pet looks deeply into your eyes, it causes our brains to release oxytocin, a hormone that fosters love and bonding much like between a mother and her child.
Additionally, spoiling your animal could be because you feel lonely or nervous about something. It’s only human to like being cuddled and soothed by our furry mates. Lavishing your love and attention on an animal could be a way for you to substitute for a partner or a child but this could lead to problems detailed before. There’s nothing wrong with loving your pet as much as a human family member but it is an animal first and foremost and thus, should be treated as such.
Unspoiling your furkid
If you’ve realised that your pet is indeed very spoiled, good job because that’s step one. You need to show your animal who is boss and earn its respect and desire to listen to you.
- You are your pet’s leader and thus, you’ll need to provide a safe and secure environment for it. This is so it feels secure and there’s no need for it to protect its owner, itself or its territory.
- Spoil it positively with a daily routine of exercise, play and of course, plenty of pats and tummy rubs (if it likes it).
- Reward good behaviour such as being calm with positive reinforcement. However, if your dog is overweight or obese, try rewarding it with a favourite toy or with pats.
- Be firm, fair and gentle in your training so your pet will know that you’re now the boss and you will tell your pet where to sit, eat, and sleep.
- If you need to leave the house, don’t make a big fuss. Just calmly leave and enter and it’s best to not show any excitement or anxiousness because your pet will pick up on this.
- Don’t give your dog or cat treats when it’s being cute because it is being demanding. Rewarding this behaviour reinforces that this isn’t wrong.
Most importantly, this will require a lot of patience. Sure, your pet might throw a tantrum or hissy fit now and then, but you’re undoing months, if not years of spoiled behaviour. Keep at it and you’ll have a well-balanced pet in no time.
References: Bark Busters; Livingsafe.com.au.
