Yep, it's the "dog mom" and "fur baby" debate and people weren't having it. I saw comments from "my dogs ARE my babies" (that's me) to "why can't people mind their own business" and "this post is spot on."
YOUR DOG IS NOT A BABY
Today's culture is absolutely ruining dogs.
People are treating their dogs like people, and no matter how much you say it, or what you believe, they're not kids, they're dogs... An apex predator with forty-two teeth on its head and bite pressure that can break bones.
They deserve to be treated like dogs!
Somehow treating your dog like a dog has become a taboo subject and it's due to today's mentality.
I can't say no to a dog.
I can't go with a dog in the cold weather.
I can't let a dog get muddy.
I can't give a dog a job.
If your dog is fit, he is too skinny.
We are walking into a world where giving your dog a job is cruel beyond belief, but having a 30kg overweight dog with diabetes who is unable to move is absolutely fine. Something totally warped, twisted and wrong.
They are dogs! Treat them like dogs. You can't have any animal and pretend he's a baby. Hello, this is my whale, this is my baby. It does not work like that.
We have to push back on this current mentality because it is literally killing the dogs. Dogs are dying every day simply because no one told them what rules they were supposed to follow or because they weren't given a much needed job.
Let's start honoring our dogs for the absolutely amazing creatures they are. The dogs are magnificent, majestic, intelligent and robust. For me they are the best animal on the planet so let's stop killing them and treating them for exactly what they are not.
Honor your dog.
~author unknown
I didn't get it. What's so wrong with referring to our dogs as our babies or fur kids? How am I harming them? In the discussion, words like "damaging" and "irresponsible" were used to describe people who use these terms. This wasn't the first time I've seen this argument, but this time, I decided that I wanted to learn more because I respect Michele Lilienthal - so I knew I was missing something.
While The Primal Dog was busy dealing with the slurry of comments on this post, a fellow pet parent, Melissa Dooley, was kind enough to clarify and she generously gave me 90 minutes of her Saturday to dive deep on this topic over the phone.
And now I get it.
Not Everyone Sees Their Dogs as Dogs
Melissa explained that the post isn't about pet parents in the fresh food community. Despite our passion, we're doing something right by understanding that although some of us call our dogs are babies, we know that they are dogs (carnivores) and we treat them as such by feeding a species appropriate diet.
But there is a community of folks out there who don't just call their dogs their babies; they TREAT their dogs like babies...
- they think crate training is abuse
- they think muzzles are abuse
- they think raw feeding is abuse
- they carry their dogs everywhere
- they won't allow their dogs out in the rain
- they get upset a pictures of northern breeds in the snow
- they think rough/vocal play is dog fighting
I used to know someone who would fit well in this community; she very much treated her dog like a small child and, as a result, her dog was anxious, unsocialized, and overweight.
The message is that by not respecting our dogs, they are living under the daily stress of having their nature suppressed.
3 Ways I Respect My Dogs' Nature
This conversation has been on my mind for several days and while I do respect that my dogs are dogs and I love that about them; I began to wonder if I could do more. The Primal Dog suggested letting our dogs do the jobs they were bred to do - but what does that mean for mixed breed dogs?
This is what I came up with...
1. Feed a Fresh Food Diet - the easiest way to respect my dogs' nature is to feed a species appropriate diet. Sunday morning, my dogs enjoyed rabbit heads much to the chagrin of my partner. I've always fed ground raw with some whole raw thrown in (quail, duck necks, duck wings). With
Real Dog Box, I'm able to
step up my game with rabbit heads, duck heads, and more.
My dogs enjoy whole raw and chews several days a week. Not only does this satisfy their chew drive, it makes meal time a lot easier.
2. Walking in the Woods - when it comes to exercise, I walk my dogs and play with them in the yard. We're having a great time, but I decided to do something new.
Our neighbor created dirt paths between our properties and I now walk my dogs on those paths. The dogs love it - lots to sniff thanks to the wildlife in the area and the many plants and trees.
3. Nose Work Games - our dogs sniff everything - so, why not turn that into a game while giving them an opportunity to "hunt" for their food. I purchased large muffin tins and I'm saving small and medium sized boxes for nose work games with the dogs. I'm using super smelly treats (organ meat, fish treats) in our games.
- I hide the treats beneath balls in the muffin tins.
- I hide the treats beneath boxes and scatter them around the house or yard.
I can't play these games with the full pack because it creates stress when this should be fun. So, I play with the dogs one at a time or I partner the dogs with their playmate: Rodrigo and Zoey, Scout and Apollo.
It's Not the Endearment, It's the Actions
There were many people who shared that they cringe when they hear the popular terms we've adopted for our dogs - dog mom, dog dad, fur baby, baby, etc. - and see the language as part of the problem.
I disagree.
I think the problem is that people don't understand that the best way to love our dogs is to respect their canine nature. Yes, my dogs are rescues, but I don't focus on their background and coddle them; instead, I focus on NOW and we have fun. I don't have time for agility or other training classes, but I do have time for games, long walks, and exploring.
PRO TIP: If you have a small yard, don't have hiking trails nearby, or you live in an apartment - check out SniffSpot.com. You can rent someone's larger yard/property for 45 minutes - just you and your dog(s). I used to take my dogs to a five acre, wooded property that's 30 minutes away. It was clean, safe, private, and the dogs had
a blast running, exploring, and playing.
