Drawbacks of having a dog – for the dog itself

The dog's welfare

Much has been written about the drawbacks of a dog for its owner: the costs, the time, being tied down. This page looks at it from the other side. What does life as a pet mean for the dog itself?

Besides the physical problems caused by breeding, there are other drawbacks for the dog's welfare. People make all kinds of demands on a dog, so that it can express its natural behavior only to a limited extent. Think of:

• eating
• walks and sniffing
• exercise
• attention and being alone
• social behavior
• sexual behavior

Eating

The owner decides when, how much, how often and what kind of food the dog gets. Searching for food itself, something that by nature keeps dogs busy for a large part of the day, largely disappears.

Walks and sniffing

The owner decides where, how often and how long the dog goes outside. That happens when it suits the person, not when the dog needs to go. Often the dog is kept on a leash, which restricts its movements. Sniffing in particular is one of the most important ways for a dog to explore its surroundings. A brisk walk on a leash leaves little room for that.

Exercise

Indoors a dog often has little room to move freely. There is furniture everywhere and the room is small to begin with. By nature a dog is made to run, search and play a lot.

Attention and being alone

The dog gets attention when it suits its owner. Of course there is interaction between dog and owner, but if the owner doesn't feel like it or has no time, that's where it ends. Many dogs are also home alone for a large part of the day while their people are at work. For a social animal that is hard. Barking, howling, destructive behavior or restlessness when the owner leaves are common as a result.

Social behavior

The dog is a social animal. For a long time it was believed that dogs live in a strict hierarchy, as was also assumed of wolves, and that the dog should therefore have the lowest rank in the family. That view is now outdated. Behavioral experts advise against an approach based on dominance, because it mainly leads to fear and conflict. Yet the idea is still very much alive. There are still trainers and owners who 'put dogs in their place', sometimes with harsh corrections.

Contact with other dogs is often limited. Most people have only one dog. Encounters with other dogs last a few minutes at most during walks, often still on a leash. Much of the behavior that belongs with other dogs, such as playing, sniffing, communicating and setting boundaries, hardly gets a chance. What people want from a dog matches its natural behavior only in part.

Sexual behavior

Sexual behavior is suppressed in a dog's upbringing, because it leads to natural behaviors that are inconvenient for people. Think of jumping up against people, excitement and chasing other dogs.

Castration and sterilization are common to prevent unwanted litters. Another reason is to suppress the sexual drive, which is often seen as an undesirable trait. It is an intervention that people mainly carry out for their own sake.

Of course there is interaction between dog and human, but it is largely a one-way street: the human owns the animal and decides. Even though many people want the best for their dog, that doesn't change the fact that in the end people impose their will on the dog. The dog is restricted in almost all its natural behaviors and needs and has to adapt to the 'needs' of people.

A dog without an owner

What would a dog's life look like without a human who decides everything? Most dogs in the world do not live as pets, but roam freely in and around villages and towns. Such dogs don't always have it easy: they have to find their own food and run a greater risk of disease and accidents. But they decide for themselves where they go, when they rest, which other dogs they spend time with and when they relieve themselves. It is precisely this freedom of choice that is missing from the lives of most pet dogs.

Read on: Why do people want pets?

Read also: Freedom, boredom and addiction in confined animals; Respect, freedom and compassion.