Pets
fromPsychology Today
2 days agoThe Clout of Companion Animal Psychology for Dogs and Cats
Zazie Todd aims to improve the lives of dogs and cats through scientific understanding and compassionate care.
Picture this: your friend's golden retriever rolls over during a backyard barbecue, exposing that soft, pink belly. Everyone reaches down to give those irresistible tummy rubs. The dog's tail wags, everyone laughs, and it becomes the highlight of the afternoon. We've all been there, right? That exposed belly seems like the universal dog invitation for affection. But what if I told you that sometimes, that belly display means the exact opposite of what we think?
When it comes to the dog, I take this as a teaching moment. I gently ask Quill to release the shirt. When she does, I praise her. I do not punish her or criticize her for her shirt thieving behavior. Instead, I reward her for what she is doing right. I am kind and patient, and she is curious and happy to learn. And it works. This little dog quickly learns what is expected of her and she begins to do the right thing.
From the moment a dog becomes a pet, the collar is part of her new reality. It is the primary marker that this dog "belongs" to someone: the collar holds ID tags with names, phone numbers, and addresses, and it lets strangers know that a wandering pup isn't lost to the world-just misplaced.