More and more people view their pets as part of the family, which is a really good thing. That’s where our pets belong, and that’s how they should be treated. But aren’t some people or companies crossing the line between pets being animals and humanising their food and even clothing? In this article, we look at how companies and people might (unknowingly) ‘push’ the humanisation trend.
Morning coffee
In South Africa’s cities, it is not uncommon to see people stop at their favourite coffee shop for a takeaway coffee en route to the office. This trend most probably started in movies produced in the US, where people are seen running around with takeaway cups of coffee. And then the trend spilt over to South Africa, with various coffee shop franchises opening here as well – meaning that competition between rivals has become fierce.
So, what did Starbucks do to stand out from the crowd? They tapped into the new frenzy of people humanising products for pets and launched the Puppuccino. This doggy treat is nothing but a small cup of whipped cream for dogs that owners can buy when they get their coffee fix while walking their dogs or having coffee at the outlet.
Doggy doughnuts
The well-known doughnut franchise Krispy Kreme sold doggy doughnuts two years in a row in the US to celebrate Halloween. The Pup’kin Spice Doggie Doughnuts include flavours like Pup’kin Spice Original Glazed, Pup’kin Spice Cake, Pup’kin Spice Maple Peanut and Pup’kin Spice Cheesecake Swirl. These doughnuts are actually doughnut-shaped biscuits that contain ingredients like pumpkin, peanut butter and carob. No harmful ingredients are included in them.
This is ideal for pet owners who like to spoil their dogs when they spoil themselves with these human treats.
Refreshing beer
Having a beer on a hot day is quite refreshing for some people. Anheuser-Busch, the manufacturer of well-known alcoholic beverages like Stella Artois, launched the alcohol-free Busch Light’s Busch Pumpkin Spice Dog Brew for dogs. This brew contains pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and water and is believed to be fine for dogs – even though there isn’t much research on the benefits of pumpkin for dogs. On the other hand, there isn’t much evidence that pumpkin is bad for dogs either.
The bottom line for this article is that people have created a product that’s basically beer for dogs.
Fashionista
The trend of dressing up dogs in clothing that resembles outfits designed for humans has been around for many years. Various fashion designers have been designing outfits for dogs. These fashion houses include Ralph Lauren, H&M, Moschino and Adidas, to name a few.
Why are they doing it? Because some owners want to dress their pooches in similar outfits and find it cute. They have money to spend, and they are oblivious to how their dogs feel.
Humanisation of food
The above are examples of extreme cases of humanisation, but not all humanisation is bad. Worldwide, there is a big trend in food humanisation, not to create food that resembles human food but rather to make the content and packaging more appealing to pet owners. For example, pet food manufacturers want to make food that sounds appetising to humans. They use animal-friendly ingredients and flavours and make the food sound like gourmet dishes. The packaging is also designed to appeal to pet owners, who are the ones buying the food and snacks for their pets.
Where to draw the line
Katherine Brown, dog behaviourist, explains why we need to be aware of humanisation. “It’s about not understanding that a dog’s ultimate need is to be allowed to be a dog, whatever that may mean for an individual animal. It’s about interpreting a dog’s behaviour and communication in a human way.
“When we attribute human needs to a dog, like dressing up, we dismiss his own needs, and the result is often a dog who is anxious and fearful, has difficulty handling various situations and is more likely to display fear aggression. When we misinterpret a dog’s behaviour, we create fear, confusion and uncertainty – which again can lead to fear aggression.
“Research shows that people are not very good at interpreting dog behaviour, especially those behaviours associated with fear. So in the absence of reliable knowledge, we tend to project human motivations, emotions and thoughts onto our dogs. Not only is this incredibly unfair, but it also results in a deterioration of a dog’s behaviour and wellbeing, and is potentially dangerous,” says Katherine.
Conclusion
Dogs should be allowed to be dogs. Owners need to tend to their pets’ needs and allow them to do things that dogs naturally do – like rolling on the grass or in the mud and playing in the rain. Whenever you’re in doubt, ask yourself – am I allowing my dog to be himself or am I humanising him? It is also advisable to consult your local vet and a reputable behaviourist to get professional advice.
