Human vs Dog Behavior that Causes a Common Effect that we Never Notice
Are we more Affectionate with our Dogs when they're Cleaner
With most dog commercials what do you see? You see a dog having fun, the owner and the kids having fun everybody frolicking in grass or sand getting dirty. Let's be honest when you see these commercials it makes us so happy because dogs in general make us happy. But unlike these commercials, as a dog owner are we not always frolicking with our dogs. I'm sure most of us dog owners have seen a commercial where you imagine yourself in the same situation and there are no smiles on your face especially when your dog is dirty or filthy.
Two dog commercial premises come to mind; the classic trying to give the dog a bath and it goes terribly wrong and everyone ends up taking a bath or the dirty pawed dog walks through the house leaving a trail of dirt behind them. In each one of these premises the owner or family ends up laughing it off or enjoying themselves in this situation.
As a dog owner and dog lover I can say this is not usually the case. In my experience with my 85 lb blue nose pitbull things usually do not work out like that. If my dog didn't want a bath, he DID NOT TAKE a bath. It was not a joyous occasion. If my dog were to walk in the house with dirty paws he was not easy to stop, because any attempt to try to stop him would end up with him running all over the house, pushing multiple things over, jumping on furniture and on me. Making everything and I mean everything covered in dirty paw prints. Have you ever had a paw print on your chest?
Oh yes, I said chest.
With an energetic dog it is very possible…
When these situations happen you get mad, it's not the dogs fault the dog is being a dog. But you as an owner, as a functioning adult or a person that knows better fills the dog is doing this on purpose. In which the dog should be punished or sent to an area that house where the dog is secluded from everyone else.
Very similar to when one would have kids. When children are babies they get away with a lot; getting dirty, tantrums, making a mess etc… Which they should and as they get older they begin to get in trouble for these things because they begin to know better. But for dogs their brain doesn't work that way, they continuously will be at a child mindset for the rest of their life. Nevertheless as a functioning adult or a person that knows better, you understand when you get older and can’t get away with things neither can your dog.
What happens because of this?
Separation!!! In a dog mind the worst punishment.
Your dog runs in the house, you try to stop them but can’t. You put them out.
Your dog gets on the couch with muddy paws. You put them in the garage.
Even though your dog loves being around you and you love being around your dog you feel that is the fast punishment you can dish out.
Once a dog gets past one years old the worst punishments are given for eating something they weren’t supposed to eat or making a mess. Making a mess include; tracking dirt, sand or poop in the house, destroying something.
You would not believe how many times my dog walked in the house after running around in the mud and having to be put in his kennel. During family parties everybody wants to take the dog outside and play with him, at different times, in the grass but once he goes outside in the grass and plays he can't come back in the house and walk around the kitchen, get on the couch and furniture he would have to stay in the garage. One of my best friends came up to the Bay Area California from LA, California after being away for 4 years. He comes in happy to see me. My dog, 85 lb and not understanding personal space jumps on him getting his new pants dirty with paw prints. It would not have been that bad but, I was the first of five people he was supposed to visit that day. So, my dog has to stay in the garage.
It is a very subtle cause and effect situation. The dirtier a dog is, the more time the dog spends alone. It is not always the intention of the owner a lot of time it's just easier to “put the dog away”. Then there is cuddle time. It is very common to cuddle with a dog, cuddle time happens on the couch, chair or bed. People that do not allow their dogs on furniture do not have cuddle time. Why can’t dogs be on the furniture because their paws are dirty from being outside. Just another example of separation because of a dirty dog. So try it, keep your dogs cleaner and see if you spend more quality time with them.