Anthropomorphism: what is it?
According to the dictionary, anthropomorphism consists in attributing to an animal or an object human reactions and feelings.
This is quite common among dog owners who, in most cases, see their dog as a child and then confer intentions on it that are in reality only a reflection of their own feelings.
Anthropomorphism is not "dangerous" when you are aware of it and when it does not directly impact the education and socialization of the dog (such as giving a human name to your dog, putting a coat on him when he doesn't really need it, putting knots in his “hair”, etc.).
On the other hand, it is when anthropomorphism becomes a real obstacle to the good educational, physical, intellectual and social development of the dog that it becomes really harmful.
The most common anthropomorphic situations
I suggest you list the most common but above all the most dangerous anthropomorphic situations with regard to the true nature of the dog and which impact the relationship established between his master and him.
My dog takes revenge when I'm away
This is most certainly the most common and absurd anthropomorphic situation. Many owners mistakenly believe that their dog is hatching Machiavellian plans to make them pay for being home alone.
Revenge is actually a human vice. Dogs do not have enough intellectual capacity to develop revenge strategies against their master. And good for them by the way!
People who see the destruction of their animal as revenge hide their face completely, often not to admit that "maybe" , lack of expense, boredom or bad education are part of the problems that cause the stupid things done.
It's finally a way of not assuming the mistakes made. It is easier to say to yourself that you have a dog with a "resentful" background and that after all it is like that it is his nature, rather than to question yourself and ask yourself: what am I doing or not doing enough to cause my dog to act like this.
To read also: My dog is resentful, my dog takes revenge: a myth?My little dog is too fragile to meet his congeners
If you have a medium to large dog, I'll put my hand to cut that you have already met a master with a small dog who, when you approached, hastened to carry his dog in his arms .I am even sure that you have already seen a master walking his little pet dog in a carrying bag or worse, in a stroller or baby carrier. Or maybe you even have a small dog and you are always afraid of the damage that an encounter with another doggie could cause?
Small dogs are often considered fragile beings who should not be rushed. What a horror to imagine that a cute companion dog playing in the mud with a more rustic breed! However, making a difference between a small dog and a big dog is risky because preventing a dog from being a dog is dangerous!
Whether small or large, a dog needs to meet its congeners! Admittedly, meetings must be controlled so as not to accumulate too negative experiences, but please, let's stop carrying small dogs! They have four legs, let them use them!
Wanting to “protect” your little dog from its peers, you make it a dangerous dog because it is completely desocialized. And it is then from this little dog that the others will have to protect themselves. What a shame, isn't it?
My dog knows when he's done something stupid
You come home and your dog hides in a corner or comes crawling at your feet with his puppy dog look. You know it: he did something stupid and comes to implore you not to scold him.
Well you got it all wrong! This attitude is absolutely not related to a possible request for forgiveness. It's actually a reflex that your dog has in response to his habit of seeing you come home systematically upset.
Be aware that an experiment has also been carried out on this subject to prove that dogs do not react this way only when they have done something stupid. Indeed, whether the dog has really made a mistake or whether it is another person or another animal who has done this mistake, his reaction to the return of his master is strictly the same.Thus, it is therefore proven that anthropomorphism causes many damages, to the point that the attitude of the master becomes anxiety-provoking for the animal.
My dog needs to eat a variety
Cliché much less serious but yet often observed: the desire of dog owners to diversify their doggie's meals as they would for themselves.
Preparing cooked meals for your dog can be a very good thing, but pay attention to the reasons for which this food choice is made.
If it's for economic reasons or to be sure to give good quality food to your dog: so be it! But if it's only to vary his meals and he doesn't get tired of his daily rations: don't waste your time because dogs absolutely don't have the same requirements as us!
In addition, wanting to cook for your dog at all costs requires a lot of time, on the one hand, but also very good knowledge of the specific needs of your dog, the quantities needed but also what you absolutely must not give it to him.Be careful: your dog is not a child, he does not have the same nutritional needs as us humans and some foods are toxic to him!
In addition, some owners push the vice by continuing, even after the puppy's first development period, to systematically give him three meals a day. This is a serious mistake and overfeeding causes real he alth problems in dogs!
Know that it is not mistreating your dog to give him "only" a meal in the evening. Remember they are dogs! They do not need a wide variety of products or to have three meals a day, or even to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day. And if you are not convinced: ask your veterinarian for advice, he will be able to give you precise information on your dog's needs.
My dog smiles when he bares his teeth
Dogs don't smile to express their joy: they have many other ways to communicate their immediate well-being. It is important to learn to read and correctly interpret the communication signals of dogs.
It is very dangerous to consider that a dog showing his teeth is smiling! And this is often what causes bite accidents, especially on children.
My dog is yawning, he's tired
In the same vein, interpreting a dog's yawn as a sign of fatigue (as one would interpret it for a human) is a serious mistake that can also cause the dog to adopt aggressive behavior.
Just like showing his teeth, yawning is a way for the dog to show his discomfort. If these signals are interpreted anthropomorphically, then there will be a risk of biting.
Conclusion
Of course there are many other anthropomorphic situations that pose real problems, such as systematically going to "consol" your dog when he vocalizes, washing him very regularly, putting nail polish, interact with it by making long sentences with subject-verb-object, etc.
" But in any case, the most important thing is to be aware of it and to do this: nothing better than to call on a professional in canine education and behavior to guide you towards the best attitude to have and teaches you to speak dog."