Dogs, Cats and Other People -- Natural born beggars
By Matthew "'Uncle Matty" Margolis
Dear Uncle Matty: What is your stance on sharing food with your dog? I recently read an article about the positive bonding effect there can be from sharing food with your dog (as long as the food is safe for your dog to eat). Is there any value to this? If so, is there a right way to do this so that you don't turn your dog into a whining machine every time you eat something he wants (which is basically everything you eat)? My belief has always been that you never share your food with your dog because most human food is too rich and some human food is toxic and even lethal for dogs. -- Lisa C., West Palm Beach, Fla.
Dear Lisa: The best way to do this is NOT to do it! Dogs are natural born beggars when it comes to food and will usually woof down anything eatable whether it is good for them or not. Cats are more discriminating -- they take more time to decide whether or not the food being offered is a good idea, and they are less likely to consume people food.
Sharing your food with your animal is not a healthy approach to caring for your pet. People food is likely to give pets indigestion, cause diarrhea, and create an overweight condition. People food tends to have too much salt and/or sugar, and both of these in people quantities are unhealthy for pets. Dogs are dogs. Cats are cats. And both species need diets that are nutritionally appropriate for the species and for the individual needs of each pet.
And what's with the "bonding" thing? That's like saying your dog will feel closer to you if you wear matching sweatshirts. It's ridiculous. Wear matching sweatshirts if it makes you happy. Your dog couldn't care less. He make like the attention he gets when you put on the sweatshirt and "ahhh" and "coo" over his appearance, but you can "ahhh" and "coo" without the shirt.
Bonding by sharing food? What was the author of that article thinking? If you insist, get down on all fours and dig into the kibble or some fancy kitty feast. Slurp a refreshing drink by sharing the water dish. If your dog is possessive over his food, you may have a problem. I doubt that your cat will want to share any part of the experience. And yes, Lisa, sharing food at the table will most likely turn your dog into an annoying, impossible, whining beggar.
This bonding idea is more of the current trend to humanize pets and treat them as people. This takes life with Fido to the extreme and the ridiculous. Dogs are happy being dogs. Cats are happy being cats, and they are happier if you make it a point to understand their behavior. Don't try to turn them into little four-legged people. Look at your dog from the dog's point of view. Consider your pets' health if you really care. Provide a diet that offers the best nutrition for your animals' species, age and weight. Feed your pets before your mealtime, and don't allow them to beg while you are eating.
Bond with your pet through the training experience, daily walks, providing moments of undivided attention, kind words and loving strokes, playtime, rides in the car (if your pet enjoys excursions), a healthy diet, and good health care. Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate Web site at www.creators.com, and visit him at http://www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to [email protected] or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.
Copyright 2006 Creators Syndicate Inc
From ArcaMax
PURRRRR, WOOF
By Matthew "'Uncle Matty" Margolis
Dear Uncle Matty: What is your stance on sharing food with your dog? I recently read an article about the positive bonding effect there can be from sharing food with your dog (as long as the food is safe for your dog to eat). Is there any value to this? If so, is there a right way to do this so that you don't turn your dog into a whining machine every time you eat something he wants (which is basically everything you eat)? My belief has always been that you never share your food with your dog because most human food is too rich and some human food is toxic and even lethal for dogs. -- Lisa C., West Palm Beach, Fla.
Dear Lisa: The best way to do this is NOT to do it! Dogs are natural born beggars when it comes to food and will usually woof down anything eatable whether it is good for them or not. Cats are more discriminating -- they take more time to decide whether or not the food being offered is a good idea, and they are less likely to consume people food.
Sharing your food with your animal is not a healthy approach to caring for your pet. People food is likely to give pets indigestion, cause diarrhea, and create an overweight condition. People food tends to have too much salt and/or sugar, and both of these in people quantities are unhealthy for pets. Dogs are dogs. Cats are cats. And both species need diets that are nutritionally appropriate for the species and for the individual needs of each pet.
And what's with the "bonding" thing? That's like saying your dog will feel closer to you if you wear matching sweatshirts. It's ridiculous. Wear matching sweatshirts if it makes you happy. Your dog couldn't care less. He make like the attention he gets when you put on the sweatshirt and "ahhh" and "coo" over his appearance, but you can "ahhh" and "coo" without the shirt.
Bonding by sharing food? What was the author of that article thinking? If you insist, get down on all fours and dig into the kibble or some fancy kitty feast. Slurp a refreshing drink by sharing the water dish. If your dog is possessive over his food, you may have a problem. I doubt that your cat will want to share any part of the experience. And yes, Lisa, sharing food at the table will most likely turn your dog into an annoying, impossible, whining beggar.
This bonding idea is more of the current trend to humanize pets and treat them as people. This takes life with Fido to the extreme and the ridiculous. Dogs are happy being dogs. Cats are happy being cats, and they are happier if you make it a point to understand their behavior. Don't try to turn them into little four-legged people. Look at your dog from the dog's point of view. Consider your pets' health if you really care. Provide a diet that offers the best nutrition for your animals' species, age and weight. Feed your pets before your mealtime, and don't allow them to beg while you are eating.
Bond with your pet through the training experience, daily walks, providing moments of undivided attention, kind words and loving strokes, playtime, rides in the car (if your pet enjoys excursions), a healthy diet, and good health care. Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate Web site at www.creators.com, and visit him at http://www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to [email protected] or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.
Copyright 2006 Creators Syndicate Inc
From ArcaMax
PURRRRR, WOOF
