Congratulations, it’s a…Dog!

Gus likes to hold wrapping paper; should it be deduced that he wants to wrap presents? Hint: “No”!

I wasn’t born with a well-developed skeptic muscle; it took years of heavy lifting. Believe me, my BS meter is as “ripped” as an NFL linebacker nowadays! Nothing trips the trigger like reading open-ended statements such as, “scientists (or experts) say…or, studies show…”. What immediately comes to mind is, “Who are these scientists (or experts) and/or how were the studies conducted”?

Most natural sciences use observable subjects (behavior, processes, etc.) and then, often, makes inferences from what is observed. It stands to reason that the more past experiences one has, the better – more correct - deductions will be made – usually.

You see, there are several, generally emotional, biases that can “disfigure” our choices and conclusions. One is the need to get paid. Therefore, often, scientific findings lean heavily toward the ideology of whoever is paying for the research. Another bias is commonly referred to as a “world view”. A swig of science often comes with a hefty world-view chaser. Slightly researched articles are just as likely to be just someone taking their personal views out for a walk.

It has been proven that it’s very possible to take any side of any argument - no matter how flawed – and convince large groups of people of its reality. I can provide the name of one expert, (unfortunately). Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, from 1933 to 1945 was quoted to have said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” The subsequent proof has been horribly replayed, over and over again, throughout history.

Yes, that example is a bit over-the-edge but misinformation is gobbled-up by the gullible masses like a large-mouth bass on a wounded minnow. Yet, this is not to say that all misinformation is purposely propagated with malice, nor that people that fall for bogus information are somehow inferior.

Just what exactly qualifies someone as an “expert” is a bit difficult to pin down and is extremely subjective. Usually reserved for studies in natural or physical science, the term “scientist” has been tossed about rather carelessly as well. No matter the title one assumes, nothing prevents authorities of one area of study from wandering out of their field to graze on subjects they are no more qualified to speak on than anyone else.

 “So, exactly what triggered this diatribe?” you ask. Well, I’ll tell yuh.

Mostly due to my odd sense of humor, I made the mistake of wasting a few minutes one evening watching video articles on a popular media platform with free videos on subjects such as, “How Can You Tell Your Dog Believes You’re Its Mom” (or Dad, I guess). Yeah, let’s just take this one for an example.

I will not grace the creator of the article/video with any undo publicity by offering his/her web address; besides, there were a few of them. The general belief was that a dog that follows you about, lays next to you, licks your face, etc., must have designated you as its mother. Guh!

It is understandable that some people that have a need to feel motherhood might wander off in that (somewhat diluted) direction; the similarities are quite compelling. It takes a qualified therapist to determine if this viewpoint from the human perspective is rational but my question is, “Is it healthy for the dog”? The mind-set of human to dog parenthood is heavily influenced by human bias. Indeed, the anthropomorphic elevation from canine to human offspring can be a very strong and one-sided emotion that deserves serious evaluation.

Sure, treat them like babies while they’re babies but encourage growth and maturity.

When I say “bias” I mean that the owner has a preconceived notion and, in this instance, is actually looking for behavior that supports their notion that they, the human, must be seen as a mother figure by their dog. If it is important to the pet owner that they are perceived as something like a mother, all interaction will follow that course. The human shows a positive response to an action the dog makes and, dogs being dogs, the behavior is repeated by the dog to elicit the positive interaction from the human. Let’s take some of the examples from the video that was used as evidence that a dog casts the role of mother upon its caretaker.

Behavior - Doggie Kisses: There are so many reasons (some) dogs tend to lick people but they will generally all boil down to one thing; the dog is getting something it wants out of it.

Yes, it could be a greeting – there’s little doubt. Emotionally healthy dogs enjoy the security they get from interaction with others - dogs or humans - and, as always, some require more than others. It could be something as simple as checking out what you have recently eaten or placed on your skin. Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and will likely pick up on the scent of food - lotions or lip balm - around the mouth and fingers of folks. Even the mineral salts on our skin from perspiration will attract the attention of some dogs.

Dogs have several reasons to lick - recognizing a creature as its mother is NOT likely among them.

What is highly unlikely is that the dog sees you as some ancient, prehistoric, manner of dog parent and is trying to get you to regurgitate your food for them to eat. Yes, “That’s what wolves do!” was one misguided statement offered as a sign that a dog has christened a mother from the rabble of humans. Ridiculous!

Observations: (Wolf) pups likely get their first taste of blood by licking the leftovers from around their mother’s mouth when they greet her return to the den. They will then seek this scent and adult wolves instinctually provide food they carry in their stomachs when the pup’s actions signal that they are ready to be weaned.

To be clear, in packs of wolves with multiple canid relations, it is not just the mother that the pups greet in this manner. I am not convinced that it is just the action of (wolf) pups licking the mouth of adult wolves that induces regurgitation. Of course, whining and face licking intensifies once the pups learn that food might be obtained from the mouths of adults when greeted in that fashion.

It has been my observation that the adult wolves can, and will, begin to regurgitate food at their own volition; before the pups reach their faces. Add to these observations the fact that face licking of generally all members of the pack continues far into adulthood without the reinforcement of being fed.

Deduction: Perhaps, begun as a greeting and reinforced by food at an early age in wild canids, it seems more likely that (face) licking is something akin to a general greeting, sneak a taste of what was for dinner, an acknowledgement of subordinance, seeking reassurance, or, probably, a combination that varies with the dog and situation.

Of course, all of this supposes that you don’t often puke up something for your dog to eat when it licks your face. You should know that most people don’t do that.

Aaanyway, it almost certainly has nothing to do with being identified as a dog’s mother.

Behavior - Dog Follows Closely: Also referred to as “Imprinting” in the video, was another behavior assigned as proof that a dog sees you as its mother. Again, there are as many reasons why a dog is prone to this behavior as there are dogs and, again, it is more likely that the dog has something to gain - in its way of thinking, anyway.

Imprinting(*) is an instinct that improves the chances of survival for precocial young by following a creature (again, not necessarily its biological mother) for protection. I believe that psychologically healthy (adult) dogs are more intelligent and (should be) more self-secure than baby chicks or ducklings. Don’t you?

My dogs often follow me to and fro; the amount of anticipation and excited behavior displayed being dependent upon my possessing food, my direction of travel, clothing, and accessories. Funny thing though, they don’t react that way with their “real” mother?

Dogs soon learn that hanging out nearby their human counterparts will often bring desired outcomes; food handouts, trips outdoors, a game of fetch, etc.

Over the years, and many dogs, we have had pairs that have included mothers with one of their offspring. NONE of the offspring followed the mother around beyond puppyhood. When I stop to think, I don’t recall any adult offspring offering special acknowledgement towards the female - nor the other way around. They would just as likely steal her bed, sneak her treat, and push her out of the way to be greeted by people.

Hey, come to think of it, that really does sound like our children!

Deduction: Seriously, beyond the need for milk and nurturing, a dog’s needs change and, hopefully, matures. Often, dogs hedonistically seek what they want and humans become the source for resource; items such as food, shelter, comfort, play, and security are usually the intended targets.

Therefore, a dog that is constantly at the heels of a particular human is just as likely displaying insecurity and is satisfying the need to feel secure. That just means the dog is satisfying a need; the only individual of the pair that sees the act as motherhood is – again - the human.

And, that brings us to the last behavior - Leading and Checking Back, (During Hikes): It was observed by the narrator that many dogs will take the lead when on a hike and will check back often. The inference from this observation was that your dog is making sure the trail is safe for you and checks back to make sure you are still safe - that, as its mother, you are being protected. Bah - Humbug!

My dogs lead the way because they want to find game, simple as that. Other dogs are most likely looking for something to chase, eat, or roll in. As some of my dog-owning friends/clients have noticed, sometimes their dogs don’t check back all that much and, in fact, get too far away. That doesn’t mean their dogs are checking the trail far in the distance for the owner’s safety nor does it mean their dog doesn’t necessarily care for them if it doesn’t return often. It more likely means their dog is very independent; a mentally healthier dog in most cases.

Deduction: A dog that won’t leave your side or let you out of its sight is, more likely, displaying signs of insecurity and is looking for protection from the human, not the other way around. As dogs mature, they should develop greater self-security and will tend to venture off in landscapes they find familiar. Often, as they mature, hunting dogs must be trained to remain close or check back with their human counterpart.

However, not checking back with its human counterpart can mean that the dog prefers searching and exploring more than the companionship of the human. A sign that it is, perhaps, too independent and feels that it can find its own prey. That can reflect a lack in bonding(*) during puppyhood or, more likely in hunting dogs, the dog hasn’t found (been shown) the human as necessary in the hunting process. Whatever the reason, the lack is in a team or pack relationship; not that of a mother/offspring.

Just because it has a magazine, isn’t evidence that the pup intends to read it.

Conclusion: I have observed that a biological mother (dog) doesn’t necessarily receive (or give) any greater acknowledgement than any other dog by its appropriately matured offspring. That there are some similarities but it should not be considered on par with human child (and grandchild) rearing. That dependence should be reasonably reduced over time - not encouraged. Real children should be nurtured toward greater independence as well and deservedly held in higher esteem than pets. Indeed, most “experts” would agree that this is a more rational mindset due to a natural desire to continue one’s lineage. (Yes, that was satire.)

Dogs look to humans for many things including appropriate leadership. By supplying leadership and other necessities, your dog should be affectionate as well as showing a sense of, self-assured, well-being. Inappropriate amounts of coddling can stifle mental maturity and produce insecure barking, separation and other anxieties.

Epilogue: A healthy human-canine relationship should be mutually fulfilling; each having something to offer the other. Even in situations where one of them is not healthy, take for example a human suffering in some way, dogs can reduce the amount of time the human has to dwell on their pain or situation. The human, in turn, should return the favor by supplying food, shelter, exercise, and appropriate nurturing. In the end, there is mutual reliance – not one-sided (s)mothering.

I despise a referrence toward being a “pet-parent”. It was once rightly characterized as a friendship; this relationship between humans and dogs. Having been created with the ability to comprehend and appreciate the differences, I find it unreasonable (and undesirable) to accept a role other than “leader” for dogs. Afterall, it’s what they truly need.

(*) In my definition, Bonding is NOT the same as Imprinting. Bonding is a closeness that resembles close friends or team-mates, not clinging to a biological need for survival.

-          Enjoy Your Dog!