Myth Monday #1: Dogs just want to please people.

Welcome to my new weekly post called “Myth Monday”. Every Monday I will discuss a myth about dogs, dog training, or just animals in general. Join me as I dive into this week’s myth…dogs just want to please people.

I think it’s safe to say that most people that own a dog, love their dog unconditionally. No matter how bad they are, how many times they chew up your favorite pair of shoes, or how often they pee on the floor….we seem to love them anyways. Dogs provide us with many different things. The average household dog can provide comfort, safety, exercise, and petting a dog has been proven to lower blood pressure, heart rate, slows breathing, and relaxes muscles (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/). They can even help reduce stress and anxiety! However, these things are not provided by your dog because they know it will help you. It’s done for a more practical reason.

The myth that dogs just want to please people is used quite often (I’ve even heard it used by trainers!). Your dog did not bring you his toy because he wants to please you right? He brought it because he wants to play! The same goes for every single thing that your dog does throughout the day. It’s the good old idea of “well, what’s in it for me?” Dogs are scavengers. If you see wild dogs or street dogs you will see a variety of behaviors that you will not see your average household chihuahua doing. Street dogs are in survival mode. They hunt for food, usually in trash left by humans…I saw a video during my studies of dogs at the dump in Mexico and it was wild. There are dogs everywhere and they live in harmony. Those dogs aren’t fighting, they aren’t trying to kill each other, there is no aggression because the dog across the way walked past. Nothing. These dogs live by their own rules and they scavenge from the people around the dump. These people feed them, give them water, and sometimes even get close enough to give them a pet or two.

Now, these dogs do fight, but only for survival. They don’t waste energy fighting over attention from a human or other stupid things our dogs might fight over in a normal household. They fight over food, water, and other resources. These dogs know that it’s going to be hot and energy cannot be wasted in fights and needs to be saved for hunting and other survival needs. These dogs answer to no one and they sure are not pleasing anyone.

Why am I going into all of this? Well it’s simple really, you can take the dog out of the dump but you can’t take the dump out of the dog. Although our dogs do not need to scavenge for food or water, their primal instincts are still there and they are still part of what motivates them every day.

Now you’re wondering, so why does my dog listen when I tell him to sit? Or come when I call him inside after he went to the bathroom? Why does he snuggle up to me in bed at night? Well, the truth is that all of these things have something in it for them. Your dog probably sits because you give him a treat or a “good boy” when he does it. He probably comes inside when you call because he knows he’s getting breakfast or it’s cold out and he wants to get inside in the warmth. And he probably snuggles up to you because he wants to feel safe and warm. As you can see, all of these things answer the “what’s in it for me?”

Some people may say “my dog does it because he loves me” and yes, dogs most definitely can feel love and attachment, but it isn’t the same as what you and I experience. Their attachment is based on security, food, water, and all of the other things that you provide them with and in turn…you receive their affection and their kisses. Your dog looks at you as a provider, a caretaker, a leader. You aren’t simply the head of the pack, you keep your pack safe and provide them with everything they need for survival…and that is why when you ask your dog to sit, he will sit.

So love your dog, provide for your dog, lead your dog…and he will be there to please you, but just know that it doesn’t come free!

*Click here to see a video of some Mexico City dump dogs. These dogs interact with the people that provide them with food and water, but these dogs live in the dump. You may wonder why no one goes out there and rescues them and the answer is simple…they’re happy where they are. These type of dogs rarely do well when confined in a home. They are used to roaming and doing as they please and they are usually not cuddly house dogs. These are wild dogs and although their lives may be shorter than the average house dog, these dogs have learned to survive and even thrive in the dump. As you will see in the video, these dogs are not emaciated…they are well fed and look rather healthy (although a bit unkempt). I hope you enjoy this little side note.