C is for Choices

The human-dog relationship can be described as a human-dominated power relation in which dogs often have little choices The inability to make choices can be a hugely frustrating aspect for our dogs. For many companion dogs, being able to make choices is a very infrequent occurrence. We decide if or when they go out, where they go for a walk, when they are fed, what they are fed, where they sleep and when they are left alone. Dogs are probably one of the only species that cannot decide when they toilet!

Look for opportunities to give your dogs choice in their life. They will thank you for it.

 

References:

Pattison, Kristina & Zentall, Thomas. (2014). Suboptimal choice by dogs: When less is better than more. Animal cognition. 17. 10.1007/s10071-014-0735-2.