The New Age of Our Animal Companions - July/August 11

by Pat Hennessy

Throughout history our culture has shaped the role of humans, from hunters and gatherers to the industrial revolution. As we evolve our society and attitudes change, and it has been a fairly dramatic transformation since the dawn of the 20th century. With that change, the animals on our planet have had to adjust accordingly. For many centuries horses were a mode of transportation and now, in western culture, they are an animal of sport and leisure. Our canine companions partnered with us during our hunting centuries and evolved with us working livestock on our farms. Now they serve a different role as members of the family.

New Roles for Our Animal Companions
Today our roles and population are much more diverse. Much of the population is away from their homes multiple days per week, leaving their canines alone and without a job. Another large portion of the population is married without children, single, or empty-nesters and their animals fill the companionship gap. This is a new role that has been thrust upon our canines and felines, and one that may be more difficult for them to fulfill due to the human part of the equation. If we can learn to understand our animal companions’ species-related needs and adjust our expectations accordingly, it can be a perfect match — probably exceeding what you would find on an internet dating site: wanted a warm loving companion, someone that will listen to me without judgment, not be too demanding, and love me just the way I am!

Questions to Consider
So, you want to know if you are compatible with your animal companion? Let’s get started. Here are some questions to consider.
1 Do you agree to love, honor and cherish your animal companion until death do you part? Since the animal lifespan is shorter, that means you make a commitment to take care of them through illness and old age. It also means that you need to make arrangements for their care in the event of your untimely death.
2  Do you agree to provide food, shelter, health care, environment enrichment (e.g. toys, activity, exercise), and companionship? This is no different than the commitment you make to your human little ones.
3  Do you have adequate funds to care for your animal companion? Remember, all costs are higher on a larger breeds — not just food. Boarding is higher, veterinary services are higher, crates and bedding cost more, etc.
4  Do you have adequate space and an appropriate lifestyle for the breed you have chosen (pure or mixed)? You will need to do some homework on the breed (and it will be a bit more research on a mixed breed based on some educated guessing and temperament assessment).

Different Needs To Consider
While some medium-to-large breeds are less active and may do well in a townhouse or apartment, there are also some medium sized breeds, such as a Border Collie, that may appear to be the right size for an apartment but will go stir crazy if not given a high energy work-out or activity.
If you want a dog to be active with you and go running, hiking, or camping you might want to consider a sporting breed or specific hounds, such as a Rhodesian Ridgeback vs. non-sporting or miniature dog.

• If you have children, you may want to consider a larger dog with an even temperament, one that won’t be injured easily if stepped on and won’t be intimidated by fast movement or loud noise. Temperament will have to be assessed and cannot be “assumed” based on breed.
• Do you have any health issues that you need to consider (and this one is a high priority to ensure you can make the lifetime commitment – which can be up to 20 years for some breeds)? You may want a less active dog (or a cat) if you have, for example, a bad knee. If dander is a problem, you would want to consider the type of coat and may not want a densely coated or longer haired dog or cat.
• What are your goals for the relationship? Is this dog going to be an additional member of a 4-member family (mom, dad and two children)? Is this dog going to be an only companion (if you are single)? Is this dog going to replace an empty nest (for you and your spouse)?
• If the dog is an addition to the 4-member family, everyone must be in favor of the addition. Someone must be designated as the primary care-giver. Rules must be established for all the family members. Everyone must be consistent in giving the dog direction (cues such as come, sit, stay, etc.). If the direction is not consistent, then the dog’s behavior will not be consistent. Consistency in training is the key to compliance and family harmony. The dog must learn to follow rules, but so must all the family members.
• If the dog is a single companion, he may be a great foot warmer on a cold night and the best snuggler to watch a movie, but if you like to cuddle or hug him don’t keep that death grip for too long, as he may feel a bit claustrophobic and his preferred show of affection would be a big sloppy kiss vs. a hug. If he is a little guy, then you must be mindful to provide as much (if not more) “floor” time as lap time (this makes for a balanced and “grounded” companion). He is probably the greatest listener when you have had a bad day at work and that is one attribute that sets him apart from all your human relationships. Another aspect of listening that he will need is to learn at least a minimum set of cues (e.g. come, sit, stay), so that you can have two-way communication. These cues will give you a variety of options when the need arises for him to respond with a behavior. Last but not least, to provide harmony in your human-canine bond, he will need to have some “doggie” time – which would mean walks or play time in a location away from his regular yard and an activity or two that allows him to use his doggie skills (retrieving, digging, sniffing, etc.), and some supervised socialization around other dogs.
• If the dog is filling the empty nest, she will certainly enrich your lives by providing the companionship you miss from children without allowing her to take on the role of a child. You will have the teaching and leadership role (to set the rules and give her the positive guidance to learn the rules). She will have the role of providing you the wonder and absolute delight that your children did when they were young — giggling, acting silly, or looking in amazement when you gave them something colorful and new. What we have to remember is that even though our dogs are “like” our children, they are still canine and need to process information like a canine, need to read their environment like a canine, need nutrition formulated for a canine, etc. Dogs learn visually and take in a lot of information from scent. They will watch you put on your shoes and know it means you are going out the door. For them, sniffing a fire hydrant is like reading a newspaper. While your dog might beg for a bite of your grandchild’s peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it is more appropriate to let him enjoy a freeze-dried liver treat. Understanding our companion’s species, helps us in building a better relationship.

A Part of Our Lives
Companion animals have been a part of our lives for thousands of years. Their roles have changed with ours as time goes by. Their service and dedication to us sets them apart from all of the animal kingdom. The best way to honor that service is to recognize who they are, treat them with love and respect, knowing that they will return the favor. We are their ambassadors and should do our duty to earn that trust and respect.

Pat Hennessy is the founder of N2paws, LLC, an organization that provides a holistic approach to companion animal care through behavior education, energy work, and positive training methods. Pat is a Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDT and member of the IAABC, IAATH and AWA. You may contact N2Paws via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , phone 816-522-7005, or visit the website www.n2paws.com.