Let Dogs Be Dogs: The Hidden Costs of Humanising Our Pets

Why treating your dog like a tiny human might not be as cute—or kind—as you think

Quick Summary:

Humanising dogs—treating them like little humans instead of animals with natural instincts and needs—can lead to anxiety, behavioural problems, and broken trust. In this guide, we break down what it really means to respect your dog as a dog, why it matters, and how small changes can dramatically improve your dog’s wellbeing and behaviour.

At Jordan Dog Training, we’ve seen it all—dogs with wardrobes for every season, strollers instead of leashes, and behaviour breakdowns caused by the well-meaning belief that dogs should never be told “no.” Don’t worry—we get it. You adore your dog, and you want the best for them.

But sometimes, “the best” gets lost when we treat dogs like people instead of respecting them as dogs. They’re not little humans in fur coats—they’re amazing animals with their own ways of thinking, learning, and communicating.

When we humanise our dogs—even with love at the core—we often cause more harm than good. This blog explores what that looks like, how it affects dogs emotionally and behaviourally, and how we can all do better by our best mates.

What Does It Mean to “Humanise” a Dog?

Humanising (or anthropomorphising) means giving dogs human-like emotions, logic, or motivations. It often shows up in everyday language:

• “He’s doing this out of spite.”
• “She’s being dramatic.”
• “He knows he’s guilty.”
• “She’s jealous of my partner.”

In reality, dogs aren’t emotionally wired like us. They’re not calculating revenge or acting manipulative. They’re responding to stress, confusion, environment, or reinforcement.

🧠 Understanding How Dogs Actually Learn

Dogs learn through association and consequence—also known as classical and operant conditioning.

• If a behaviour gets rewarded, it’s more likely to be repeated.
• If a dog barks and gets attention, they’ll bark more.
• If they’re ignored or redirected calmly, they’ll try something else.

Dogs don’t “know they’ve done wrong.” They might slink or look “guilty” after chewing the couch because you’re upset, not because they remember doing the damage. That’s a stress response to your body language—not remorse.

Why Humanising Can Cause Real Harm

🧠 1. It Breaks Down Communication

Dogs speak body language. When we read their behaviour like we’d read a person’s, we miss what they’re actually saying—especially when they’re anxious or overwhelmed.

📌 Example: A dog yawning, lip-licking, or looking away isn’t “being rude”—they’re asking for space. If we miss that, the dog may escalate to barking, growling, or biting.

For more on reading canine body language, see our blog on understanding dog behaviour.

🐾 2. It Causes Emotional and Behavioural Stress

Many of the most common issues we work with—reactivity, separation anxiety, leash frustration—are made worse by dogs being treated like fragile humans.

Real-world examples:

• Dogs carried everywhere instead of walking and learning lead skills
• Dogs that panic when left alone for five minutes
• Dogs who become possessive or anxious from sleeping in bed with their humans
• Dogs not trained because they’re “spoiled” or “don’t like rules”

For help with these issues, check out our blog on separation anxiety.

🧬 3. It Ignores Breed-Specific Needs

A kelpie isn’t a cavoodle. A greyhound isn’t a German Shepherd. Every breed—and every individual dog—has hardwired needs based on their origins.

Working breeds need to work. Scent hounds need to sniff. Sight hounds need to run. Ignoring those needs creates frustration and restlessness.

Learn more about your dog’s specific drives in our breed profile library.

🛑 4. It Undermines Healthy Boundaries

Many dog owners struggle to say “no” out of guilt:

• “I feel bad leaving them alone.”
• “I can’t say no—they give me that look.”
• “They hate walking in the rain, so we don’t go.”

But healthy boundaries aren’t mean—they’re necessary. Just like kids, dogs feel safer when they know what’s allowed, what’s expected, and who’s guiding the ship.

📺 5. Media and Culture Feed the Problem

The internet is full of funny, humanised dogs—talking buttons, sassy memes, dogs dressed like toddlers. It’s cute, but it gives a distorted view of what dogs really need.

Dogs aren’t here to act like us. They’re here to be dogs—sniffing, chewing, barking, chasing, playing, and exploring.

❤️ 6. Empathy Isn’t the Same as Anthropomorphism

Empathy is good. It’s essential. But it’s not the same as projecting human emotion onto dogs.

• Empathy says: “I can see my dog is stressed. Let me help them feel safe.”
• Anthropomorphism says: “He’s being dramatic to get attention.”

Dogs need understanding—not interpretation through a human lens.

Common Ways We Accidentally Humanise Our Dogs

Humanising Habit	Why It Can Backfire	What To Do Instead
Hand-feeding from the table “because they’re family”	Reinforces begging, contributes to obesity, and can trigger food guarding	Feed a species-appropriate diet in their bowl or use kibble in training games
Avoiding socialisation “because they don’t like other dogs”	Increases the risk of fear, reactivity, and behavioural instability	Use calm, controlled socialisation to build confidence
Skipping training because “he’s too clever for that” or “she’s too sensitive”	Dogs without clear expectations often become anxious or defiant	Use positive reinforcement training to build clarity and trust
Letting them decide everything (walk route, play timing, access to space)	Creates anxiety and insecurity due to lack of structure	Offer freedom within healthy boundaries — not free rein
Treating them like toddlers who “just need love”	Encourages clinginess, over-dependence, and behaviour issues	Love them as a dog — with structure, enrichment, and emotional support suited to their species

A Note on the “Consent-Only” Training Trend

There’s a growing belief that dogs should consent to everything—every interaction, every walk, every handling experience. While the intent is kind, in practice, this can leave dogs underprepared for real life.

Dogs don’t always “want” their nails clipped or to walk on rainy days. They may resist training or social outings. That doesn’t mean we avoid those things—it means we help them build resilience to cope with them.

✅ At Jordan Dog Training, we support respectful, dog-centred training—but also believe in kind leadership, gentle boundaries, and preparing dogs for the world they live in.

Let Dogs Be Dogs

Dogs don’t need to be treated like humans to be loved. They need to be understood, respected, guided, and supported.

That means:

• Letting them sniff
• Letting them rest
• Giving them jobs to do
• Setting boundaries they understand
• Allowing natural behaviours in healthy ways
• And being there to help them through things they find hard

That’s not just love. That’s great dog ownership.

DOG, NOT HUMAN: A QUICK CHECKLIST ✅

Ask yourself:

• 🐶 Am I setting my dog up for success—or giving in out of guilt?
• 🐶 Do I understand my dog’s breed and natural instincts?
• 🐶 Have I given them healthy outlets for energy and enrichment?
• 🐶 Do they have calm leadership and boundaries they understand?
• 🐶 Are they learning how to cope with the real world?

If you’re unsure, we’re always here to help.

Need a Hand?

At Jordan Dog Training, we’ve been helping families raise happy, confident dogs for over 20 years. Whether you’re just starting out or navigating unwanted behaviours, we’re here with practical, positive guidance that works.

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📌 JDT Blog Library

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is intended as general guidance and is based on our experience as dog trainers and behaviourists. It is not veterinary advice and should not replace consultation with a qualified veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health, wellbeing, or behaviour, we always recommend speaking with your vet to ensure the best care for your dog.

Give your amazing dog a pat from us 🐾