Why do people treat their dogs if they were their kids?

[Lilie]

Mine are just dogs.....although they really enjoy when I put the phone to their ears when daddy's out of town so daddy can talk to them.

[Draugr]

My dog is my child, and I consider him equal to a human, to a certain extent. I don't particularly care for children, so he fills that void in my life.

This does not mean I have the same expectations of him or treat him as human. I know he is a dog and I treat him as such and I have reasonable expectations of him because of that.

This does mean, however, that when I am making decisions for him, I give them equal care and weight as I would any decision I'd make about myself or another human. That is what I consider "treating a dog as a human or as your own child" - at least, when it shows up in a non-insane matter. It just means you give the same respect and level of thought you'd give a human or your own kid. At least that's what it means to me.

I didn't vote for this option, but, I DO consider dogs, in general, to be above some humans...even a large portion of humans. Dogs do not display the same kind of horrible, judgmental behaviors that people do - and then have the gall to rationalize it away as being "moral" or whatever other lies people tell themselves. They are better "people," in character, than a lot of actual people are.

Humans in their entirety, though, no. Which is why I didn't vote for that option.

[Gracie's My Girl]

Originally Posted by gsdraven

I don't fit into any of those categories. They are dogs and are treated as such but they aren't "just dogs".

This. I love my dog to death and she means more to me than being "just a dog"...but I would never see her as my kid.

[ozzymama]

I know at one time my animals filled the childless void. They aren't just dogs, but they are far from my children. My child's life will always be before mine. If money were tight and we couldn't buy the dogs Christmas presents, it wouldn't negatively impact them or our feelings for them, we wouldn't feel worthless because they have one less Kong, but I would sell whatever I had to to make sure my daughter had presents under that tree. If I couldn't put them there, I would hate myself.

When I first had my daughter it used to bother me the way so many conversations turn to similarities between dogs and kids, because now that I have both I see the difference for me. It's just one of those things everybody is and has different opinions on.

[PaddyD]

My dog is just a dog but I have to admit I spend more time caring for her than I did my kids. One reason is that kids can do things by themselves or with friends and don't need parents watching out for them on a daily basis in the way that dogs do. I didn't have to walk my kids on a daily schedule or pick up their poop (at lease not for 13 years). Kids and dogs are different, have different needs and can't really be compared beyond a few general topics. You don't read a dog to sleep (I hope) or listen to their problems or accomplishments or worry about their ability to grow up, move away and establish their own identities and lives.

[Stella's Mom]

I have 3 human kids and 1 furkid dog and 2 furkid cats.

Our furkids need attention, food, guidance and care just as our human kids. I guess that is why I seem them that way.

[jesetta_1980]

I voted my own child, I do however have a 10 year old "human" daughter. People crack me up because they feel the need to post "my children come first." IMO, that's kind of a given. Otherwise, you probably shouldn't have kids let alone a dog. I don't think he is equal to my daughter, but he is next in line. I definately like him a lot more then most humans I encounter as well.

[Lucy Dog]

Dogs are dogs, they're not humans. I don't call my dog my daughter and I'm not her dad. She's my dog and I'm the human.

With that said... she sleeps where she wants, what's mine is hers, she's spoiled rotten, she gets new toys and treats every week, i feed her the best food i can afford, she goes everywhere with me outside of work (but comes sometimes work too when possible), and she's always treated like one of the family.

But in the end, she is a dog, not a human or child.

[blehmannwa]

I don't think that there is any comparison between my dogs and my kids. To me it's like comparing apples and paperclips. They both are members of my family and I care for them in different ways. My dogs are with me more than the kids. Actually, Havoc can remind me of a demanding toddler with destructive tendencies and poor impulse control.
He'll be a year old tomorrow!!

[BGSD]

You can't really compare a dog and a human. A dog is a dog. The dog knows you're not a dog too. I see my dog as a good, loyal friend though.

However, pets generally do trigger certain things in the brain similar to how children would, but I do think that some people take it overboard.

I always get weirded out when the vet calls me my dog's daddy or something similar.