We all assume that a pampered pooch is a happy one, but is it really beneficial to them? Can it cause behavioural problems that we could've prevented had we not bought all those treats and sparkly dog bowls?

I'm looking into writing an article whether it is right to spoil our pets, and I want to talk to dog owners who either

a) have no problem admitting that they spoil their dogs and spend a large percentage of their income on their family pets

or, b) Take a strong stance against spoiling their dogs, and have specific reasons why.

I would really appreciate your input, and I hope to get published in one of the dog glossies (teehee). It would only take a few minutes of ur time to answer some questions and you could get a picture of you and your dog in a magazine!

You can either email me at katherinerosestanton@gmail.com, or reply to this thread and I'll ask you a few quick questions.

Thanks in advance for your help

Katie

[wishbone]

Sometimes, dog deserves some yummy treats, new toys or any other spoiling things when they did good. But on real spoiling, older dogs deserve it for it is the great time for them to enjoy such things. Dogs at right and in training age should not be spoiled...

there is nothing bad if you are going to spoil your dog

Spoiling is not bad...However, it depend on how you spoil your dog...

[fioca98]

Definitely YES!! I love to spoil my dog.... all the love and money in the world is not enough for my little pooch!

Material posessions mean nothing to a dog, so if buying fancy stuff for your dog is what floats your boat, go ahead. Just know it's you you're spoiling, not your dog.

As for spoiling your dog by being overindulgent and not imposing any rules or limitations, ABSOLUTELY NOT! That will spoil your dog, in the truest sense of the word (to ruin or corrupt). The dog will develop all kind of nasty behaviours (barking, posessiveness, nipping, destructiveness ... basically running wild and not listening).

If you truly love your dog and want to do best by it, give your dog a calm assertive pack leader (you).

Spoiling with treats, toys, fancy beds, good food, whatever you want to spoil them with... that's fine.

A lack of discipline or allowing the dog to run rampant and do anything they want to... that is the wrong kind of spoiling and shouldn't happen.

I find it just ok,as long as you still have the manipulation on him/her.

[mrandrei]

Oh my dog is such a spoiled brat! It's ok to spoil your dog for as long as you're able to train him to obey you and look up to you as the authority. I spoil my dog but I know the limitations.

there are different breeds, like working class breeds. i believe all dogs like the attention, but i don't feel like its good for them to be spoiled. they want to feel needed and just love helping us. i do my best to balance it out.

Originally Posted by mrandrei

Oh my dog is such a spoiled brat! It's ok to spoil your dog for as long as you're able to train him to obey you and look up to you as the authority. I spoil my dog but I know the limitations.

Well put, I agree.

Define "spoil".

My dogs are well indulged. They get lots of treats and toys. They're allowed to nap with me in the afternoons...whenever I have an afternoon that gives me time to nap, LOL. Whiz sleeps with me at night. Oli sleeps wherever he wants. They get to go for rides in the car, just because they like it. They get hugged and kissed, and I often indulge them with little things I know they love.

But they also have manners. They know how to behave, both at home and when we're out and about. They don't bark excessively. They never bite. I don't consider them spoiled. Just overindulged.

To me, "spoiled" means the same thing as "ruined." Ruined dogs have few manners, and seldom use what manners they might have. Ruined dogs bite whenever they don't like something you're doing, or if they just don't like you. Ruined dogs bark, dig up the carpeting, chew on your belongings, and are often treated like little children who can do no wrong. Their owners either think it's funny when they bite, or won't believe their little darling would do such a thing. To me, these dogs are spoiled. And no, it's never right to spoil a dog in that manner.

[lil mutt]

Not all pampered pooch are health pets... Remember that too much or lack of anything can be bad for your pets.

If by spoiling you mean letting them sleep with you, get on the couch with you etc. then yes I see nothing wrong with it. On the other hand if you mean letting them run rampant and do whatever they wish, then yes its wrong. A dog just like a child is happiest when there is structure in their life, and they know what you expect of them.

I would never let my dog do/have whatever he wanted without restraints.

my puppy gets lots of love from me, but i don't consider myself spoiling her. like a previous poster said, define your idea of spoiling.

i think my dog's previous owner must've spoiled her by feeding her human food. when she came home at first she didn't eat whatever brand dog food i gave her consistently. yet she made a beeline to the trash can, kitchen table or anyplace she smelled human food.

even though i've disciplined her about this, she barely hesitates to go after a good whiff of people food as long as she thinks i'm not watching. that's something you might wanna consider if ever your pet is babysat for an extended period by someone else; you might be spoiling her and making her difficult to care for by somebody else.

but in training her to behave properly and understanding commands you wanna praise and reward her effusively as it results in an obediently eager to please dog. when i was younger i thought rewarding a dog with treats for good behavior was cheating but i kept seeing the undeniable results of that method. i might've been dumb then but i wasn't stupid.

[claycath]

I have to admit I spoil my 4 dogs but within limits. I always buy them a chew bone when I go grocery shopping, I often buy them toys & I play with them sometimes 5-6 times a day. They also sleep in my bed & I have no problem with them sitting on the furniture. At the same time, when I give them a treat, they have to do a trick first and they have been trained to be well behaved.
So are they really spoiled or not?

As long as you still discipline them properly.

As per previous posts it depends on your definition.
I see spoiling them as giving them lots of praise and boosting there confidence.
A great big raw bone is spoiling them.
Giving them too much food so they get fat is just being unresponsible, it's not spoiling them.
Buying expensive stuff for them is probably spoiling yourself as it is making you feel proud of the glittery collar or the pink ruffle. All fine but I doubt the dog is overly interested. I bet they would prefer a mountain hike or a big raw meaty bone.

[Lara's mom]

Are my girls spoiled? Probably. They have more toys than most human children. I cook for them. When I go out, I always bring home a treat for them. When I have steak for dinner, so do they. We all sleep cuddled up together at night.

I believe that my home is their home. They are allowed on the furniture and I don't expect them to move for guests - they were there first. Nor do I lock them up in a room when I have guests. I don't leave them alone for longer than an hour without getting a babysitter. I spend as much time as possible outside with them where they can run off leash. They know that my pocket always contains treats and they aren't shy about asking for them.

On the other hand, they are both very gentle and friendly dogs. They know all the commands they need to know in order to keep them safe. I've never taught them those tricks that are good for nothing but entertaining humans.