Common Sense Approach to Pet Ownership

By Amy Fernandez

Lately, every media source seems to offer daily doses of pet-themed news. Dogs are especially reliable attention grabbers. From that perspective, it’s understandable. On the other hand, most of the content makes me wonder what the hell is going on with American pets. For instance, last night’s news tantalized viewers with hints about the most innovative concept in dog care. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who stayed tuned for that closing segment. And we were treated to a showcase of pricy exercise programs, canine gyms, doggy personal trainers and fitness equipment, along with apps and websites to whip America’s portly canines into shape.

Media sources ensured that we knew exactly how fat they’ve become because October 9 was National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Related stories featured expert interviews from members of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Generally, owners were advised to consult a veterinarian before modifying their pet’s (obviously bad) diet or, better yet, enlisting a nutritional specialist. The strangest story featured low calorie meals for dogs that weirdly mimicked human recipes for everything from cocktails to dip and dessert. Mostly, “pet parents” were sternly admonished about overindulging their pets.

Most of our dogs happily participate in almost every aspect of our lives, including snack time. As breeders, we can generally do this without going overboard. A taste of pizza or a few chips won’t sink anyone’s ship. But every breeder has dealt with pet owners who refuse to follow any sensible dietary guidelines. Regardless of advice, detailed instructions, or food samples, sooner or later that dreaded phone call informs you about their pet’s dietary ills. Close questioning usually reveals indiscretions like a pound of liverwurst or a box of jelly donuts.

Dogs and humans share the same appreciation for junk food packed with fat, salt, and empty calories. That’s why we learn to sample these treats rather than scarfing down an entire cheesecake. Owners who successfully surmount these temptations remain surprisingly susceptible to the lure of a whining, pleading –totally calculating, opportunistic canine. That’s the nature of love, but it also explains why 52.5% of dogs and 58.3% of cats are obese. But this isn’t news. In 1844 Prince Albert killed his beloved Greyhound with kindness. Demanding only the best for her, he devised a diet of heavy cream, unsalted butter, and liver pate. She had already survived an accidental shooting, but Prince Albert’s loving care did the trick. He blamed her demise on negligent staff members who disregarded his careful feeding instructions.

My point is that fat pets abound, but it’s not because owners don’t care. If anything, they care too much. However, in recent years this has become a banner issue for AR activists seeking reasons to condemn the role of companion animals. In Britain, home of the AR police force, the RSPCA frequently confiscates fat dogs and charges their owners with animal cruelty. Hopefully, things will never spin so far out of control here, but these news stories make me wonder about that.

Last week we also learned about an innovative program in southern California that utilizes a Hollywood stage set to habituate dogs to the flying experience. Although it’s quite costly and time consuming, those classes are filling up fast. Personally, I had no idea that my dogs needed this and I’ve flown all over the world with them. Back in the day we socialized dogs, introduced them to varied experiences at hand, and left it there. In theory and practice this effectively created generalized resilience to unfamiliar experiences. In other words, most dogs developed coping skills and the ability to transfer them to challenging situations without needing a special class.

Superficially, these innovations are promoted as solutions to common problems that undermine the human/canine relationship. However, the underlying sales incentive is undeniable. Pet marketers didn’t discover the concept of creating issues to sell products. But in this case, I fear that it’s causing owners to obsess about manageable or nonexistent issues and ultimately perceive their dogs as curious aliens rather than willing team members that have been onboard for this bumpy ride throughout our shared history.

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Posted by admin on Oct 28 2013. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.